Louis Garneau

Tri Lite Women's Shoes

Some may argue that a few grams won't make a big difference over the course of a race. We would ask these people to define what kind of race they are talking about--count the number of pedal revolutions and steps in a long-distance triathlon, and that argument breaks down a bit. The Louis Garneau Tri Lite Women's Shoes weigh about 200 grams (size 38) while offering excellent ventilation, a women-specific fit, and efficient power transmission.

All triathlon shoes are different, of course, but they all must perform one critical function--keep your feet protected from painful hotspots and blisters. After all, in triathlons, there's no putting your feet up when your bike ride is over. Garneau knows this, so they outfitted the Tri Lite Shoes with the HRS-90 heel retention system to keep your foot secure in the back of the shoe. Additionally, this system incorporates one-way stretch Lycra to provide support and keep the heel from lifting.

The Tri Lite Shoes are secured by two straps. The main, decentered Power Flex strap is angled to ensure proper arch support, reduce pressure, and provide next-to-skin fit. Because time lost in transition can be a race-killer, this strap secures from the outside of your foot inward, ensuring that it won't interfere with the crankarms when you want to get on your way first, and then strap up. The smaller strap near the toes fastens to the outside of the foot per usual; it secures the forefoot and allows you to dial in the fit.

Garneau gave the Tri Lite Shoes the X-LITE carbon outsole with its multivent system. It's Garneau's lightest outsole, but it achieves that light weight without sacrificing stiffness. It's also supremely thin, to put your foot closer to the peal. This aids power transfer, too. The upper is made of synthetic leather and nylon-laminated mesh for proper temperature regulation and durability. Coolmax Ergo Air insoles also help keep your feet from overheating and increase the shoe's ventilation properties.

The pull hoop on the back of the Tri Lite Shoe is minimalistic to save weight, but it allows you to pull the shoes on quickly and easily. The heel is emblazoned with a reflector for added visibility. The Louis Garneau Tri Lite Women's Shoes are compatible with three-bolt pedal cleat designs. They come in whole sizes from 36-44. They're white.