Giro Privateer MTB shoes

I've been looking at upgrading my second-hand Sidi Eagle 5's to some Giro Privateers for general riding and CX racing. Anyone using them? Any pros or cons? Size issues?

vs.

I tried the Giros on last week and was amazed at how much better the fit was compared to my sidis. No heel slip and good room in the toes (no squishing)
FWIW, I'm a 43 in Sidi but the Giro fit perfectly in 42, which is my normal shoe size.

Saving for a pair, so cannot comment on the on-bike performance.

No one can tell you that as it's very much down to how you fit them.

Find a shop that willing to bring them in/stock them and try them out.

I tried the Giros on last week and was amazed at how much better the fit was compared to my sidis. No heel slip and good room in the toes (no squishing)
FWIW, I'm a 43 in Sidi but the Giro fit perfectly in 42, which is my normal shoe size.

Saving for a pair, so cannot comment on the on-bike performance.

I'm thinking of these too, where did you try them on...Condor?

Yup, Condor. They had a few Giro styles there.

No one can tell you that as it's very much down to how you fit them.

I'd generally agree, except when it comes to CX racing you need a shoe with a bit of flex for running. I have Giro Gauge MTB shoes - the model up from these - and they are freakin' stiff. I wouldn't race CX in them. The privateers may be flexier though.

Something to think about. FWIW I really like the Gauge model.

No one can tell you that as it's very much down to how you fit them.

Find a shop that willing to bring them in/stock them and try them out.

I was more so interested if they run bigger or smaller than Sidi's, which lowpug pointed out.

I'm wearing 44 in Sidi's, but they're a touch too big. Thinking of going down to 9.5 / 43 in the Giro's. I'd rather a bit of room than not enough. My Sidi road shoes were 43 and verging on too tight. I take 9 in Vans, NB's etc.

I was also wondering if anyone had them and could comment on the construction, etc.

A guy I was racing CX with has some and he likes them. Plus I found them for $121AUD with free shipping.

I got a pair from MTB Direct for £60, but it was a bit of a gamble as they were a bit too big as I thought they might be. Got bargain Sidis at the same time and they fitted like a shoe glove.

But for what it's worth, the Privateers look amazing.

i wear an 8 normally and a 44 sidi hurt my feet while still being slippy at the heel

42.5 giros fit perfectly loving my gauge's

Which Sidi are you talking about? Mega or normal? as there's quite a big difference in this size.

I fit 45 Sidi normal, and 44 Sidi Mega (latter is better for my wider feet).

I imagine id fit a 43 mega but never tried a mega.

The Mega are exactly as the name implied - much wider than standard Sidi.

I was more so interested if they run bigger or smaller than Sidi's, which lowpug pointed out.

I'm wearing 44 in Sidi's, but they're a touch too big. Thinking of going down to 9.5 / 43 in the Giro's. I'd rather a bit of room than not enough. My Sidi road shoes were 43 and verging on too tight. I take 9 in Vans, NB's etc.

I was also wondering if anyone had them and could comment on the construction, etc.

A guy I was racing CX with has some and he likes them. Plus I found them for $121AUD with free shipping.

121 AUD! Excellent price. Is that from an AU retailer? On my in-store try on and walk around, the privateers were a touch softer all over than the transfers. From memory the privateer has a ec70 sole while the transfer is ec90, more numbers = stiffer right? Bothe were more supportive and felt stiffer than the my sidi dominators. Also, I was fine in either a 42.5 or a 42. both held my heels in but the 42.5 had more room for winter socks. Construction looks as good as any shoe out there, certainly better than the northwaves next to it.
BTW, not talking them up, just giving an opinion. Hope they work out for you

I'm talking rubbish, just went back up to Condor... I have tried on the Privateer and The Gauge. it's the Gauge with an ec70 sole. Both still great shoes though! If you can afford the extra go for the gauge.

The Giro Republic on the other hand look rather decent.

I bought a pair giro privateers last month, using them for cx and commuting with time roc attacs which have a bit of a platform, shoes have some grip too, so you wont't slip off pedal if not clipped in, sizewise, I got them a size smaller than normal shoes, and they fit perfectly, very comfy and relatively stiff (for mtb shoes), I also think they look quite ok for cycling shoes;), don't know if that helps

Well I just bought some off ebay.

I'm not getting rid of my Sidi's, so if the Giro's don't fit for any reason, I'll on sell them.

121 AUD! Excellent price. Is that from an AU retailer? On my in-store try on and walk around, the privateers were a touch softer all over than the transfers. From memory the privateer has a ec70 sole while the transfer is ec90, more numbers = stiffer right? Bothe were more supportive and felt stiffer than the my sidi dominators. Also, I was fine in either a 42.5 or a 42. both held my heels in but the 42.5 had more room for winter socks. Construction looks as good as any shoe out there, certainly better than the northwaves next to it.
BTW, not talking them up, just giving an opinion. Hope they work out for you

Thanks for you help.

I bought them from the seller "one_red_dot" on ebay. They're based in the UK. They have a pretty big size range (size 6 to 13.5) and multiples of each size. They are easily the cheapest seller by far (another seller has them for $179AUD + $10 shipping), plus the free shipping is great.

Have ordered a pair of these to make the jump to clipless as the reviews above look pretty good and £80 didn't seem too steep. Look forward to picking myself up from the floor at every set of traffic lights for the next couple of weeks

The Giro Republic on the other hand look rather decent.

?

Looks like something you'd buy in a sunday supplement to go with your elasticated waist trousers.

*examines lakeland leisure catalogue..

Ordered a pair of these in a 43.5 (I'd usually wear a uk9/us10 in vans/most skate shoes) and they're slightly too small in the toes for me. Will be sending them back for a refund/exchange at the weekend unless anybody wants them for £80ppd? PM me if so

Trying to decide whether to size up by a half or full size. Anybody that already has a pair, do these stretch out/break in much?

Finally got these in the post today.

As I said, I bought size 43's. A quick test fit at work and they seem perfect. A touch narrower than the Sidi's, but perfect in length.

The construction looks nice, and they're a bit more subtle looking than the silver Sidi's I've got.

I'll be swapping over the cleats tonight and testing them out tomorrow.

Been around the various chain stores trying the various SPD shoes they have for £100 and downwards. My conclusion is that the Giro Privateer are by far the comfiest and has the most solid feel of any major brand in that price category. I.e. compared to Specialized, Shimano, Bontrager and Guarnier.

Disclaimer: Not tried on the road yet, first forumenger to trash a pair trough fixed gear skidding should post back here.

Only minus I could think of is lack of loop to pull shoe on at heel/carry in clip when not wearing. Wouldn't have cost more than a penny to add this feature.

I've had these for two weeks now. I have only used them on my CX bike.

I really like them and they seem to be holding up quite nicely.

My the only criticisms I have is the middle strap could be a tiny bit longer. My right foot is either wider than my left, or I have a higher arch or something, but the middle strap only has just enough velcro to close. If i have it too tight, it presses on a nerve on top of my foot and it starts going numb.

If I went a half size bigger, they would fit perfect width wise on my right foot, but would be too long in the toe.

Other than that, I really like them. Interested to see how they go in winter / mud

I've had a pair for a week and they are already broken!

The ratchet coming strap snapped off away from the strap when i was putting them on this morning. Less than 100 miles covered on road in the summer.

Not impressed. My Mavic Rush has taken three years of beating and were only retired because they made me look like i had clown feet.

Quick edit - I bought them online from Cycle Surgery. I called them to complain first thing this morning, spoke to their customer service team, they asked me to send photos of the failed part and have already dispatched a pair to me on express delivery with postage paid as well as paid postage for the damaged shoes so i can return them.

Shitty shoes but excellent service from Cycle Surgery. Would give them my money again.