Giro

Imperial II Cycling Shoe - Men's

What Our Gearhead® Experts Are Saying:

"I've run the Imperial II in criteriums and long road race stages and the SYNCHWIRE knit upper is the standout — it eliminates the hot spots and pressure points that accumulate over long efforts in stiffer uppers, and the fit stays consistent even as foot volume shifts across a long day. The forged UD carbon sole is fully stiff and direct, and the dual BOA L2 system gives me the granular two-zone control I want for precise instep and forefoot tension. The SuperNatural Fit Kit arch customization is worth taking the time to set up correctly before the first ride."

At the top end of road performance, the differences between shoes stop being about marketing categories and start being about the specific engineering decisions that separate a great race day from a compromised one. The Giro Imperial II Cycling Shoe is built around three of those decisions executed at the highest level: a knit upper architecture that eliminates pressure points across long efforts, a two-zone BOA closure system that provides genuinely independent fit control, and a forged UD carbon outsole that delivers unrelenting stiffness without any of the weight that typically accompanies it.

The SYNCHWIRE™ knit upper is a one-piece construction that wraps the foot without seams, panels, or the transition zones between materials that create localized pressure during sustained efforts or foot swelling on long stages. The knit structure adapts to the foot's shape across the full ride rather than requiring a break-in period, and the integrated breathability keeps airflow consistent during high-output climbing and sprint efforts. TPU overlays reinforce the upper in key areas without disrupting the seamless fit profile or adding meaningful weight. Dual BOA® L2 dials sit at the instep and forefoot to provide independent tension adjustment across two zones, allowing riders to dial in precise closure before the start and make micro-corrections on the fly without stopping. That two-zone control is particularly valuable during efforts where foot volume shifts across the duration of a long road race or century ride.

The Giro-designed forged UD carbon fiber outsole provides a stiffness platform at the top of the road shoe spectrum, with a construction process that orients carbon fiber unidirectionally for maximum rigidity and energy return under load. Every watt delivered through the pedal stroke transmits directly and completely through the sole without flex or energy loss, which compounds meaningfully across a full race effort. The SuperNatural Fit Kit footbed rounds out the fit system with adjustable arch support that can be configured to the individual foot's geometry, addressing the fit variable that BOA closure alone cannot account for. The Imperial II is 3-bolt cleat compatible across Look Kéo, Shimano SPD-SL, and other standard road systems, and at 7.8 ounces per shoe in the measured size it sits among the lightest options available in the performance road category. For racers and high-performance riders building a setup where weight, fit precision, and power transfer all need to operate without compromise, the Imperial II delivers across all three.