Dedicated winter-specific cycling shoes may be a luxury, but for the hardier souls out there who have yet to try them, I’ve long been a believer that once you’ve treated yourself to a pair, you’ll never go back to booties. Not only are they much less of a hassle, but their built-in insulation almost always makes them much warmer, too.
As is the case with most winter cycling shoes, Giro’s new Blaze model follows a familiar formula that mimics the basic layout of cross-country ski boots.
On the outside is an integrated high-top shell that Giro says is both waterproof and breathable. A proper waterproof zipper runs nearly the full length of the shell for easy on/off, the heel and toe are reinforced with welded TPU, and big chunks of reflective material grace the heel and side. Both the medial and lateral sides of the ankle bone area sport diamond-shaped pads, too, although I suspect that’s more to provide a bit of extra warmth than Giro expecting some Blazer wearers to get a little rowdy.
Speaking of warmth, hiding underneath that zippered exterior is a fairly conventional low-top shoe, insulated with a synthetic Primaloft body plus a fuzzy brushed fleece lining that also graces the inside of the otherwise non-insulated outer shell. There’s even a brushed fleece top on the insole with a layer of foil (made of aluminized Mylar, presumably) underneath to help reflect heat, and the insulated tongue offers extended coverage to coddle the front of your ankles.
Anchoring all of this a basic fiber-reinforced nylon plate with a fairly aggressively treaded rubber outsole and two-bolt cleat interface. Giro says the “ice grip” rubber is specifically formulated for cold weather, and if you need a little more traction, there are fittings for optional toe studs.
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