Giro ProLight TechLace – The Lightest Ever?!

For some reason, even though we first laid eyes on Giro’s wonderfully lightweight Prolight Techlace shoe at the Eurobike show last August, all the news fit to print about the production was under lock & key until today…well, here’s what we said about the Giro Prolight TechLace last year.

Here are the versions that were on display last year at Eurobike. Although the shite version will carrying-thru, the hi-viz yellow won’t.

Although there could be other shoes out there that weight less, we have yet to see them – the Prolight hits the scales at 300 per pair. The next closest in weight shoe that we’ve ridden is the old three strap Mavic Huez that weighed 410 grams.

What Giro is expecting consumers to consider with the ProLight is that despite Boa closures being all the rage, if you really want to shave grams to create an uber-light shoe, nothing beats the simplicity and minimalism of simple straps that rely on good ol’ fashion hook & loop (aka known as velcro-like) connection.

Giro’s proprietary TechLace Pro Closure is a unique blending of both traditional laces (made re-popular with their Empire shoe) and the Techlace attachment which was first used on last year’s Factor Techlace shoe. Did we mention that the pair of ProLight shoes weigh 300 grams? To hold them in your hand is to automatically induce a combination of head shake and jaw drop.

Unlike last years Factor Techlace that was available in an off-setting & wanky salmon red, the new ProLight nails a more authentic red that will help get your blood boiling.

The ProLight’s upper is built from a custom monofilament fiber that is transparent through the strategically placed cut-outs. The outsole is made from Textreme carbon fiber with a single toe vent and non-replaceable, bonded, soft rubber “walking pad.” Helping the shoe maintain its slim figure, titanium hardware is used.

The shoes will be available three colors (red, black and white) and in sizes 39-48 in whole and half sizes. Oh yeah, the retail price will be $400. For the tall asking price Giro also provides optional arch supports and their useful shoe bag.

We only had enough time to get a handful of rides in with the Giro before the embargo lifted and not only were they light on the foot with each pedal rotation, they were also quite comfortable which was surprising given their minimalist construction. The tongue was pillowy soft and the heel cup soft. Also surprising was how the stiff the shoe was, again, just based on presumptions of how stiff a shoe this light could be.

In terms of high-end shoes, the only thing we can presume might not work in the Giro’s favor would be it’s longevity. Both the heavier (almost twice as much) and pricier models from Sidi and Gaerne that are popular with RBA are known to last for at least 3-4 years. Could the Giro ProLight Techlace meet that challenge? Check back in a few months for a progress report. Until then, see your local Giro dealer to try on a truly impressive pair of high-performance cycling shoes.