TESTED: Giro Terraduro MTB shoes

Giro moved into cycling shoes after really making a name for themselves in helmets. With a line of gloves as well, and clothing as well in other countries, Giro have really branched out from just making market leading helmets. What’s great to see is that versatile models like the Terraduro shoe are also available in a women’s specific model, and not just watered down versions of men’s shoes.

Built ground up as an all-mountain shoe, not just a casual looking XC shoe, the Terraduro feels solid. Looking over it, it’s reinforced in all the places I have worn my XC race shoes out on big days in big hills. The toe is reinforced both inside and out, as is the whole lower part of the upper above where the sole joins. This area can get torn apart when hiking on scree slopes or other jagged rocks. The heel is similarly reinforced, useful if you really need to kick your heels in hiking down a slope to check a line before riding it.

The buckle has a guard in front of it so it doesn’t rip off if you ride too close to a rock or lay it down at speed, but it’s replaceable as well. The two Velcro straps are short and wide, and the D-ring they loop through allows for a tight and secure fit. The tongue rides high and is well padded on the back, so was no discomfort on the top of my foot, even if I really cranked down on the buckle.

Inside, Giro don’t have the adjustable arch support that they offer in their performance shoes like the Code – but if you have very high arches chances are you have your own insole to accommodate. There’s a nylon shank in the midsole to support hard pedalling efforts, but the toe is left a little more flexible for hiking and scrambling. The use of a Vibram outer sole really helps with this – it’s not quite Stealth rubber sticky, but it has way more grip than any other bike shoe I have owned.

I have a pretty wide foot, and often take the wide fit in other makes. Funnily enough, although Giro have ‘HV’ models for wide feet, the standard Terraduro fit really nicely, with no hotspots developing. The buckle and stout straps felt very secure, holding my heel solidly into the heel cup. The Vibram sole had great contact with both Shimano XT Race and XTR Trail pedals I used when testing the shoes. I actually barely noticed the smaller platform of the XT Race pedals – and this was a nice surprise.

As Imogen mentioned, the sole and cleat pocket did clog up a bit in clay based mud, and that’s to be expected with closely spaced tread. But otherwise, the sole gave the grip I needed when off the bike, without feeling precarious like an XC racing shoe. Given if you’re off and walking it’s normally not that easy going, this helps with safety and confidence too.

Giro have mastered a high performance trail and all-mountain shoe with the Terraduro. In use it felt a lot like my carbon soled race shoes, just a little heavier. They’re reinforced in all the right areas so should last a long time. I found the fit great, but as with any shoes, spend the time trying them on in your local shop to make sure they are right for you. Giro have also released the Chamber for more of a gravity model, and of course the Carbide or Code for XC purposes. But if you’re somewhere in-between, chances are the Terraduro is the shoe for you.

Hits:

            A strong trail shoe that is well made

Quality sole and upper

Great pedalling performance

Misses:

            Orange isn’t normally my colour

On the warmer side on a hot day

RRP: $249.99

From: sheppardcycles.com