GIANT SURGE PRO
£275 > Team Sunweb-developed pro-level shoes
WITH THEIR WELDED MICROTEX UPPER, Boa dials and laser-cut venting, Giant’s Surge Pro shoes look like any other premium race footwear. It’s only when you flip them over that the differences appear. They feature carbon soles with forefoot plates that are wider and more rounded than most other shoes. But the thing that really sets the Surge Pro soles apart is the narrow ‘ExoBeam’ that links the wide forefoot plate to the heel plate. It not only forms a spine between the tip and tail of the soles, it also provides a central anchor point for the uppers to give them a more rounded, natural shape.
Most cycling shoes are made from a boardlast construction, where the upper (the last) is attached to a flat board (the sole). Each of the uppers on the Surge Pro shoes, however, is stitched together underneath the foot to form a ‘slip’ that is subsequently bonded to the corresponding sole.
Fit is adjusted by twin Boa dials, but with an added twist – ExoWrap. This is the name given to an arrangement that sees the cables from the lower Boa dials threaded through not only the upper but also an extra, separate flap of material that wraps around and beneath the instep. Tighten the associated Boa dial and the ExoWrap pulls the lower part of instep up and in towards your foot without producing any uncomfortable creases.
Your heel is held by a generous lining of fabric in the cups that grips tenaciously. And it needs to grip well, as the shape of the uppers and the thinness of the heel plates mean that your foot is able to rock naturally. This feels odd initially but once you get used to the greater freedom of movement the Surge Pro shoes offer (it helps if you tighten the upper Boa dial more than you’d think necessary), they provide a very comfortable yet stiff ride. To further aid fit, Giant includes vented insoles with a choice of arch inserts to provide the right level of support.
At 564g for a pair (size 45) they’re reasonably light. We’d like to see a few more colour options, as just all-black or all-white is limited compared to the colours offered by the more established shoe brands. Mind you, Giant’s Surge Elite shoes (£195) come in black and white or black and red colourschemes.