Giro Empire ACC Cycling Shoe - Women's for Sale, Reviews, Deals and Guides

8.0
out of 10
3 Positive, 1 Mixed & 0 Negative
from 4 Reviews
Retail Price:
$194.95
Used Value:
$116.97
Sale Value:
$175.46

Giro went back to the past when it decided to design a lace-up cycling shoe a few years ago for a certain Olympic cyclist in the 2012 London Games, and though it might've seemed like more of a fashion statement at the time, the shoe proved that lace-ups still deserve a place in cycling today. After the shoe has shown that it's here to stay, Giro chose to let women in on the fun at last with the Empire ACC Women's Shoes. If you're like us, you may already have been wearing the Empire ACC but settling for men's sizes. There's also a chance you may have yet to discover the Empire ACC's high-end features and functionality. Either way, the shoe's availability in a women's fit is cause for celebration.

Giro starts by constructing the shoes' uppers with a single piece of Evofiber microfiber to provide a lightweight, contoured fit across the top of the foot. Evofiber is a highly breathable fabric, and it features added perforations to further promote ventilation and facilitate quick moisture transfer away from your skin. Rather than add extra overlays and pieces of material, Giro keeps the profile of the Empire ACC sleek and uniform, and the flexibility of the microfiber combined with the full lacing system allows for a customizable, second-skin fit. An Easton EC90 ACC carbon outsole provides an extremely stiff, light pedaling platform, and its low stack height brings your cleats close to the pedals to eliminate the loss of power that thicker cleat plates suffer, resulting in efficient, responsive power transfer.

Inside the shoe, Giro adds its Super Natural Fit System, which allows for adjustable arch support within the shoe depending on the shape of your arch to reduce fatigue while pedaling. The insole itself is made with X-Static fiber to ward off odors, while the outsoles have replaceable heel pads to keep the shoes going for miles.

Specifications

Brand:
Claimed Weight:
210g
Cleat Compatibility:
3-bolt road
Closure:
lace
Footbed:
SuperNatural Fit Kit
Manufacturer Warranty:
1 year
Recommended Use:
cycling
Sole:
Easton EC90 ACC carbon fiber
Upper Material:
Evofiber Teijin microfiber

Full Reviews

8
Pretty cool cycling shoe. They look fly and the sole is nice and stiff. I leave the laces looser for longer days and cinch em tight for shorter rides. I ordered a full size up from my Specialized size. After stretching them out for a few months, I probably could have gotten away with a half size up. Narrow overall but there is a decent amount of room in the toebox. Overall good shoe.
Marybeth F., backcountry.com
September 10, 2019
6
Edit: Stopped wearing these. In my personal experience shoes need to be adjusted a few times on long/all day rides. With velcro/ratchet shoes you can just reach down and make the adjustment while riding but with lace-ups that means stopping and retying. They look cool and they feel great when they're right but keeping them 'right' proved too tedious. ---- Good looking, lightweight, stiff soles but still comfortable, and came with two different color laces. Normally wear a 42 but had to go a whole size up.
Nick G., backcountry.com
August 10, 2018
10
These are great shoes. Feel solid on the pedal. Nice look and fit. I highly recommend these shoes. I have lots of high end apparel and am very pleased with these shoes. Order a half to full size larger. I like the laces. Better fit more me than clips systems.
Leslie D., backcountry.com
June 12, 2016
8
I had a chance to try these shoes out and have to say that they are incredibly comfortable while having a nice stiff sole. The uppers are light and flexible and the lacing allows for a good fit and are easy to tie up out of the way. The branding has a nice iridescent glow to it, adding a nice aesthetic appeal. I have found sizing on Giro shoes to run a little on the small side. The sizing charts don't really match up the way I normally size my shoes. For reference, I am a US women's 7.5/8, US men's 6, UK 5. Depending on the brand I am a EU 38 or 39. I went with a 39 in the Empire but would probably have preferred a 39.5. I found my toe was right at the tip of the shoe, but it wasn't cramped. I have a wider foot and found Giro to run on the narrower side, so while they are comfortable they are snug around the toe box for me. If you need help with sizing feel free to contact me at cdern@backcountry.com or 801-736-6396 ext 4826
Christine D, backcountry.com
April 23, 2016