Giro Terraduro shoe.

First published in Singletrack magazine issue 98

The Terraduro comes in a standard fit, which is what I’ve been testing, and a HV (high volume) fit. There’s also a women’s version called the Terradura. My usual shoe size is a UK 9 – these are labelled 9.25 and just about right for me, although with thick winter socks on they start to get cramped. As with any shoe I would definitely recommend trying them on before you buy. If this isn’t an option, then size up a quarter or half size.

The Terraduros come in either ‘so enduro’ glowing red and black (as worn by none other than Jared Graves – and me…), and a much more subtle black. As with most shoes of this type, Giro has opted to secure your foot with a ratchet plus two Velcro straps, the middle of these being offset and sporting abrasion-resistant rubber. The secure and replaceable MR-2 ratchet buckle is very positive and feels to be very durable – I haven’t caught it or released it by accident yet. The Velcro straps are still holding well and are the perfect length to secure my feet without any overlap.

The Vibram sole is a standout feature. For me the most impressive aspect is the nylon shank, which makes the shoe plenty stiff enough for maximum power transfer. Obviously it’s not as stiff as a cross-country shoe, but on long days in the saddle I didn’t get achy feet and could feel I was getting the most out of each pedal stroke.

The true test of an all-mountain shoe is how comfortable they are to walk/hike in. The shank of the Terraduro curves up nicely at the toe and allows you to walk with comfort, aided by a flexible forefoot area. This is a hard balancing act for a shoe to strike – too soft and you can feel a line where the two areas meet, too stiff and you end up with heel lift and blisters and burning calves. Giro has well and truly hit the nail on the head here though.

One area where the sole didn’t perform for me was pushing up steep and muddy tracks. The forefoot tread pattern is quite low profile, with grooves running from the end of the toe to the cleat area that don’t provide much grip. But I still think the Vibram sole is worth this slight lack of traction, because on rockier trails it’s great.

The microfibre upper has plenty of holes all around the shoe to aid in breathability. It’s done an admirable job of keeping my feet at a comfortable temperature, and unlike some of my shoes the Terraduros don’t stink yet either. Giro has provided plenty of padding around the heel cup and on the tongue: it does give a very comfortable feel, but somewhat slows the drying time.

As you’d expect from a shoe that’s been designed to hike in and keep your feet safe in some of the roughest conditions, Giro has reinforced the toe box with a very durable rubber, as well as areas on the outside edge. These have been up and down mountains, raced in and thrashed in some pretty horrible conditions, as well as soaked in warm water and jet washed. I think if I was going to have an issue it would have happened by now.

Overall:

These are a lower profile all-mountain shoe with an excellent sole, that provides enough stiffness for good power transfer and are flexible enough to walk in comfortably.

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