Giro Empire shoes

Anyone bought a pair of the Giro Empire lace up shoes? How have they performed long term?

Bumping this after a bit of utfs. Interested in these as well, anyone care to comment on them?

Been using them for close to a year.

Pros
Great shoes, very stiff and lightweight and if you tie them up fine you're golden. Perfect fit for my normal to slightly wide (in the toe) feet with a high arch (using the Giro red insert). Very good for short events and track where they're aerodynamic. They also look cool, are very customisable with lace colour, and get a lot of chat from young and old cyclists alike. I gather most people think they're all style and no substance but it isn't true.

Cons
If you have made even a slight error lacing them up, however, ie too tight or too loose they're a PITA and you have to stop and do it again. Very embarrassing when another cyclist passes you to see you fiddling with laces or when you have to ask your cycling buddy to stop with you. Generally, however, this is avoidable once you've learnt what works but it still happens occasionally. Also you have to sit down properly to put them on, I've taken to using a shoe horn, which is a hassle when you've been used to taking 5 seconds to put cycling shoes on in the past. I haven't tried them in full ITA summer yet but the venting has been adequate so far and they make a great Aut/Win/Spring shoe as you don't really need overshoes if you wear wool socks.

Hence why I probably won't buy another pair for road use but do enjoy using them.

I've got some republics, only using them for vintage road bike and fixie skidz in the sun as they are grey and are my sort of casual smart ride a bike shoes.
Would say they are the perfect mix between performance shoe for proper riding and casual spd type shoe.
The empire are a bit stiffer, nicer components and for road cleats so quite a bit different, but can hear you in the lace department. Thankfully over tied they do not need adjusted again

I've had a pair for about a year now, I have the non SLX ones so can't comment on those.

I find them super comfy, my cleats were set up on them during a bike fit and I think that has helped me a lot.

Don't mind the laces at all, no different to putting a pair of shoes on before I go out of the house.

I run Speedplays with the keep on covers, I've found that after about 30-40 miles there is a slight squeak from the left shoe but this is most likely a fitment issue between cover/cleat/shoe. I've worn them on 100 mile rides and had no numbness at all.

I found them pretty cold in the winter, even with wool socks on. So much so that I took to wearing both oversocks and overshoes to keep my feet warm.

I'd quite happily buy another pair again. Hope that helps.

Cheers guys, you've convinced me to pull the trigger on a pair in the sigmasports sale. A lot of online reviews suggested sizing up as they come up small lengthwise so would have liked 44.5 but wasn't available so hopefully 45s will be ok.

@tiziano

Perfect fit for my normal to slightly wide (in the toe) feet with a high arch (using the Giro red insert)

this sounds exactly like my feet, great info. Thanks again.

Fizik R3B's or GTFO >>>>>

You won't regret it I think. I love mine. Cold in the winter, but lovely in the nice weather. I think that laces are a perfect closure mechanism.

Had mine over 2 years now and they are mint. The upper looks good as new, dead stiff and super comfortable.

I have the MTB soled version. (the VR90) They knock my sidis into cocked hat. I love them.

I've had a pair since they came out (Silver) very good shoe for the price.

Mine are a size 47, same as my Fiziks and SIDIs they fit Comfortably. I never used the supplied laces (too long) but use shoe laces instead.

I pre-tension the lacing for comfort then I just tie the little bow and there is not enough excess loop to get in the way of any moving parts.

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I think they work out cheaper at Evans.

Bit CR7 no?

Mmm, I want. How's the fit? I'm relatively narrow with high arches.

Yeah they do but they were out of 45s. Only £10 more at sigmasport.

Only bad thing about my originals is the heel part isn't replaceable so I've had to drill through and put a screw in on one of them. Should probably do it to the other one as you can see it hanging off a bit on this pic:

Do these stretch with use?

I've followed the advice and I've sized up (wearing half a size bigger than normal) but they feel very snug. Not tight or uncomfortable but definitely snug. I don't know if this may translate into discomfort on a ride.

Has everyone gone for a full size bigger or will the uppers stretch a little with use?

Thanks!

Mine haven't stretched at all and get used every day.

Thank you!

Back they go for exchange!

BTW, CycleStore.co.uk have Empires in their sale at the moment for anyone thinking of trying them.

I've just gone for a set of the leather Republics and am hopeful for all day good looks and superior comfort.

woooooops

wrong thread

I tried sizing up a full size which was too big and then went back to my regular size which was too small. The half sizes weren't on sale of course so eventually said f*ck em and went for some mavic zxelliums instead which fit perfectly. Quite the opposite of the empires style wise but whatever. The Giros looked very nice though and I really wanted to like them but couldn't. BTW I've 277 mm long and 111 mm wide feet on average and I tried sizes 44 and 45.

I sized up half a size which was too small so now I'm returning them and going up another half size. If that doesn't work, I'll go back to Sidi!

Thanks for this, bought a pair of black/orange in 46 a few weeks ago but they were too small (despite my giro/easton mtb shoes being 46 and perfect fit) have ordered the patent black in a 46.5 , didn't really want patent but doesn't bother me too much, not as boring as the regular black, just excited to get them as the 46 felt amazing aside from being too short in the toe.