Giro Code VR70 HV Shoes - Review
Giro's $249 USD Code VR70 shoe comes in two flavours: a standard version that sports a carbon fiber sole and a single ratcheting buckle, and the HV option reviewed below that features the same materials and construction, but as the name suggests, is built with high-volume feet in mind. I think that "high-volume" might be the politically savvy way of saying that someone has wide or fat feet, and I also know that perfectly describes my flippers.
The VR70 HV's wider-than-average sizing is recommended for those who have feet in the D to EE width range, which is wider than most people's feet, and the idea is to provide a snug, performance-minded fit without the crowding and eventual discomfort that comes from squeezing oversized hoofs into slim race shoes.
Giro used something called Evofiber to build the VR70's upper, which ''takes the best attributes of mesh and microfiber, and fuses them into a single fabric,'' according to the company. The perforated Evofiber material has allowed Giro to get away from having to bond or sew in mesh panels, something that should improve comfort and reliability over years of use, and they also say that it makes for a lighter final product.
Giro used something called Evofiber to build the VR70's upper, which ''takes the best attributes of mesh and microfiber, and fuses them into a single fabric,'' according to the company. The perforated Evofiber material has allowed Giro to get away from having to bond or sew in mesh panels, something that should improve comfort and reliability over years of use, and they also say that it makes for a lighter final product.
VR70 HV Details
• Performance / race shoe
• High-volume fit
• Easton EC70 carbon sole
• Evofiber upper
• Replaceable ratcheting buckle
• Two hook-and-loop straps
• Vibram outsole
• Weight: 425 grams (44.5, per shoe)
• MSRP: $249 USD
• www.giro.com / @GiroSportDesign
• Performance / race shoe
• High-volume fit
• Easton EC70 carbon sole
• Evofiber upper
• Replaceable ratcheting buckle
• Two hook-and-loop straps
• Vibram outsole
• Weight: 425 grams (44.5, per shoe)
• MSRP: $249 USD
• www.giro.com / @GiroSportDesign
A replaceable upper ratchet mechanism supplements two hook-and-loop straps.
The upper button allows you to fine tune the fit slightly or release all of the tension in a single push.
Fit is adjusted by a pair of hook-and-loop straps across the top of the foot, with the upper strap being offset to sit more over the top of the foot while a ratcheting strap and buckle system sits above all of that. The N-1 ratchet and strap are both completely replaceable should they meet an untimely demise against a rock, as well as being adjustable on the move by pressing the release button or pulling on the ratchet lever.
The Code VR70 HV's are a sporty shoe, but also not entirely lacking in protection. There's a rubber toe cap up front to help keep hard, pointy things from hurting your tootsies, and Giro has also added some protection at the sides of the shoe, places where they will probably scrape up against rocks and trees, to keep things together and shield your feet.
A thin rubber cap over the toe of the shoe adds a bit of protection.
More protection, this time along the edges that could rub up against rocks and trees.
Because the Code is made for a rider who's thinking about power efficiency and weight rather than someone who might be more concerned with comfort while walking, they employ a unidirectional carbon fiber outsole that's lighter than a steel equivalent and probably more rigid than a less expensive composite version of the same thing.
Giro laid a Vibram sole over the Code's carbon bottoms, so you shouldn't have to take your shoes off to scramble up some sketchy rock section (been there, and it's embarrassing), and the final product comes in at a reasonable but not mega-light 425 grams per shoe for my 44.5 test size.
Giro laid a Vibram sole over the Code's carbon bottoms, so you shouldn't have to take your shoes off to scramble up some sketchy rock section (been there, and it's embarrassing), and the final product comes in at a reasonable but not mega-light 425 grams per shoe for my 44.5 test size.
A relatively soft Vibram sole has been applied over a carbon shank.
Performance
I've always thought that pretty much any mountain (or road) shoe that I've ever worn has felt a bit snug when it comes to width, especially up front where my piggies tended to feel a bit crowded and squished together. It's never been so bad that I couldn't wear the shoes, but most have felt like they taper down too aggressively from about mid-foot forward. Even so, that snug fit that most shoes offer was never overly obvious to the point where I wanted to avoid it. That is, until I started wearing the wider than average Code VR70 HVs on a regular basis.
 |
 The extra volume inside the Code VR70 HV shoe is going to be appreciated by anyone with wider than average feet. |
The VR70 HV's high-volume fit instantly felt like home, and it was especially noticeable from the ball of my foot forward. The fit isn't loose at all, but it's also much less confined feeling than what I've been used to for the last twenty years. In hindsight, it's clear that I should have been using something wider all along.
Like most shoes with multiple closure systems, I tended to only ever open and close the upper, ratcheting buckle and left the two hook-and-loop straps alone after some initial fiddling. I could get my feet in and out easily by doing this, and the ratcheting strap provided more than enough range to get things just right. I could even (carefully) tinker with fit while on the move, and the release button makes it quick and easy to relieve the pressure by one index at a time or all at once. I have to say that I far prefer this system, or a Boa setup, over the laces that are used on Giro's more expensive Empire shoe.
I never needed to tinker with the two lower straps, and only used the ratcheting strap to get in and out.
While I did get a bit too much heel lift when hiking, the tacky Vibram sole kept me from ending up on my ass.
Walking in the Code's isn't ideal - I found that I got quite a bit of heel lift when I was forced off the bike to get up something - but these shoes aren't really meant for a rider who spends a lot of time on their feet. These boots aren't made for walking, you might say. Conversely, the relatively grabby Vibram sole makes the bottom of other racey shoes feel like they use hard plastic for traction, or rather for lack of it. The Code's are definitely not a bad choice for someone who has to do the odd clamber up a rock face, say, if you lived in Arizona or somewhere similar, but not if you do any lengthy hike-a-bikes for whatever reason.
Pinkbike’s Take:
 | If you have wide feet and prefer a sporty shoe over something with a ton of protection or walk-ability, the Code VR70 HVs are worth checking out. - Mike Levy |
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup
One of those things that makes it worth trying shoes on at a good dealer. A good tip is to have the dealer (or a friend) hold the shoe with you standing, and gently pull your foot up to see if the heel lifts inside the shoe
But I still want pics from the future
Pros - Lightweight, sole grip is nice when you're off the bike, arch inserts are nice, fit is great in front of shoe (for me), upper durability is fantastic. They lack a ton of breath-ability, but that's good for me...I'm always running cold and I use them for cyclocross as well. Still race in them in 80+ degrees and feel fine.
Cons - Heel cup is terrible. Your heel will likely lift unless you crank them down. After an hour on the bike, everything seems to warm up (I think because it's pretty heavy upper material), and I can tighten things evenly for the heel to stay put without cutting off circulation. Cranking them down immediately always cuts off my circulation. With something that fits so well in the front, the heel lift is pretty strange (and I have a fairly prominent heel bone). Sole longevity is not great. The vibram rubber lasts well, but I continue to rip bits and and pieces of the sole off in chunks. It comes off at the glue point to the sole rather than the rubber chunking off from itself. Have had one pair warrantied for this reason, and the new pair still does the same.
Even with the issues, I think these are great shoes, and will continue wearing them. I replaced Specialized s-works with these, and don't have an immediate desire to go back. The weight is similar, stiffness is similar, overall durability is similar (upper better on Giro, sole better on on Specialized), but the price is quite a bit lower.
dzrshoes.com/products/marco-black