by Brian Mullin
Giro has gone old school with lots of new lace up shoes including the xc Empire VR90 and full season Alpineduro. They have added MIPS to quite a few helmets, including the mtb Feature and urban Sutton, and brought out the affordable and durable BMX Quarter helmet.
Alpineduro
These mid-topped shoes utilize a grippy Vibram rubber outsole, insulated construction and a clip-in nylon shank. They come in sizes from EU 37 to 48 and retail for $200. These should be an excellent cross seasonal shoe, adept at hiking up rocky and wooded terrain, and keeping your feet warm and dry in wet and colder weather. The ability to tune fit with the laces makes for a more comfortable shoe, and they should provide grip and comfort for walking with enough power to crank the pedals up the steepest routes. They have all the appearances and construction of a hiking boot design melded to a biking shoe.
Specs
- Upper - Breathable microfiber and waterproof liner, PrimaLoft Insulation, Lace closure with lace holder, Rubber tow and heel reinforcement, Reflective details
- Outsole - Molded SPD-compatible shank with optimized stout cleat zone, Vibram® wet weather high traction lugged outsole, Optional cleat cover for flat pedal use, Flexible forefoot zone for walking
- Footbed - Brushed EVA Footbed with X-Static anti-microbial treatment
- Weight - 440 grams (size 42.5)
Empire VR90
This lace up shoes has many of the characteristics of the road focused Empire SLX. They have a lightweight laced one-piece upper for comfort, and a stiff Easton EC90 carbon outsole with Vibram molded rubber tread for grip. They'll be available sometime in November and retail for $300.00. The upper is made from the stretch resistant and breathable synthetic Teijin microfiber for fit and support. It uses their adjustable SuperNatural Fit footbed, so you can tune the fit and arch support for maximum pedaling efficiency and comfort. Old school lace up shoes is showing up in many top of line models since they offer finer tuning to help fit more foot shapes.
Specs
- Upper -One-Piece Design, Premium Evofiber Breathable Teijin Microfiber, Sport Laces: Holds a Knot, Durable, and Lightweight
- Outsole -Easton EC90 Carbon Fiber, Vibram Mont Molded Rubber High Traction Lugged Outsole, Mid-Foot Scuff Guard, Accomodates Steel Toe Spikes
- Footbed -SuperNatural Fit KIt with Adjustable Arch Support, X-Static Anit-Microbial Fiber
- Weight - 315 grams (size 42.5)
Feature MIPS
The excellent Feature helmet now comes with the optional MIPS technology. The Feature MIPS has better rear coverage than an x-country helmet, yet still has 12 holes for good ventilation purposes. It comes in three sizes (S, M, L) and three colors and retails for $95.00. It uses a single-piece In-Mold shell construction to save weight and increase durability. Why MIPS? Angled head impacts create rotational violence to the brain, causing strain on the brain tissue, which can induce concussions and brain injuries.
MIPS utilizes a low friction layer on the inside of the helmet liner for inmold helmets to absorb much of the energy created by both unilateral or oblique blows to the head. For fitting adjustment, it uses their In-Form system.
Specs
- Features - Adjustable moto-style visor
- Construction - In-Mold Polycarbonate Shell with EPS liner
- Fit System - In-Form
- Ventilation - 12 Vents with internal channeling
Quarter
The Quarter is their low profile BMX helmet and is cross functional enough for pump tracks and dirt jumping. The $40 helmet has an excellent price point, and its impact- absorbing EPS liner and ABS shell should make for a durable and tough helmet.
It has riveted webbing anchors and plush padding that are easy to remove for washing and fit tuning. The bottom part of the foam has a polyurethane rubberized coating so that the helmet won't be damaged with the typical rough use it would receive while being tossed around.
Specs
- Features - Polyurethane Bumper helps to protect EPS Liner
- Construction -ABS Shell with EPS Liner
- Fit System - Fit Kit Padding
- Ventilation - 8 vents
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