Brand new from Giro for 2018 is the Riddance – a flat pedal specific shoe that comes into the range one step above Giro’s current Jacket shoe. Designed for aggressive riders, the Riddance was developed in collaboration with top-class trail and freeride legends Kurt Sorge, Carson Storch and Graham Agassiz. With those big names linked to the Riddance, this is a shoe that should be tough enough for big mountain riding, jumps, hucks and smashing into rocks. Giro offers the Riddance in two versions. The Riddance Mid, which has a higher cut design and an additional Velcro strap for a little more ankle support, and the standard Riddance that I’ve been testing shown here. We’ve tested and reviewed the Giro Jacket before, and while it proved to be a great-fitting shoe, we weren’t big fans of the thick and stiff sole, which also wasn’t the grippiest around. Giro has gone back to the drawing board with the Riddance though, and its latest collaboration with Vibram has resulted in what it claims to be “the stickiest shoe compound they have ever launched” (sic). Vibram calls this compound Megarip™ ISR, and in addition to grip it also list “best-in-class vibration damping” as a major feature of the rubber too. Will it be as comfortable as the dual compound Pearl Izumi X-ALP or tacky as Five Ten’s Stealth compound though? Giro Riddance Flat Pedal Shoe Features Water-resistant breathable microfiber upper New Megarip™ ISR rubber outsole EVA Midsole Lace-up design Rubber toe and heel reinforcements...