Best Premium XC Clipless Mountain Bike Shoe

The Giro Empire VR90 is a great clipless mountain bike shoe for cross country racing. Its rigidity and power transfer is on par with the Shimano S-Phyre XC9, and its traditional laces help make it the lightest and one of the most comfortable clipless mountain bike shoes in our review.

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Rigidity and Power Transfer

The Giro Empire VR90 uses an Easton EX90 carbon sole to provide power transfer that is best in class. There is really just not too much to say about the power transfer of the VR90, because it is as good as it gets under just about every scenario.

Traction and “Hike-a-Bike-Ability”

Off of the bike, you are not going to mistake the Giro Empire VR90 for an Enduro or all-mountain shoe. However, its ultra-stiff sole has a tiny bit of flex at the extreme toe end. This is past the point where the shoe clips into the pedal, so it does not compromise pedaling efficiency. However, it gives a bit of comfort off of the bike and an ease of walking that the similarly stiff Shimano S-Phyre XC9 does not.

Its Vibram rubber outsole is also fairly grippy, providing you with decent traction whether on a short hike-a-bike or putting your foot down in a rock garden.

Comfort and Fit

The comfort level of the Giro Empire VR90 is top notch, if it fits. Giro’s clipless mountain bike shoes run toward the extreme side of narrow fitting. However, Giro also offers the Empire VR90 in a high volume variant, which we would recommend for people with average to high volume feet.

If you can get the fit dialed in on the Giro Empire VR90, it has the potential to be extremely comfortable for such a stiff XC race shoe. The synthetic uppers are surprisingly supple, and they work in perfect harmony with the Empire’s traditional laces to create a fit that hugs your foot without creating any hotspots, which often arise from ratchets or Boa closure systems.

Finally, mesh side panels provide adequate breathability.

Durability

Durability was a factor that held the Giro Empire VR90 back. In fact, it was the only hard negative about the Empire. While its narrow fit and can be seen as positive or a negative, the same cannot be said for its questionable durability.

The upper of the Giro Empire VR90 is actually remarkably durable, holding up better than that of the Shimano S-Phyre XC9. Its lace-up system is also much less prone to failure than Boa or ratchet closures.

Unfortunately, the sole of the Empire does not hold up so well. Like the Shimano S-Phyre XC9, we would recommend saving this shoe for race days or big rides, because both the rubber and the exposed carbon of the sole shreds very quickly off of the bike. This is a shame, because the Empire actually feels like an XC shoe that you wouldn’t mind hike-a-biking in.

Weight

Many people will be immediately turned off by lace-up clipless mountain bike shoes. However, they are missing out not only on the best fitting system, but also the lightest. Everything about the Giro Empire VR90 screams ultralight, but at an industry leading 338g per shoe, the laceup system is the cherry on top of this ultralight clipless mountain bike shoe.

The Bottom Line

With an MSRP of $300 and sale prices below $150, the Giro Empire VR90 is a better value than the Shimano S-Phyre XC9 and an unbelievable value if you can find your size on sale.

If you are not opposed to the lace-up system, can get the fit right, and don’t mind trading durability for ultralightweight and unbeatable power transfer, then the Giro Empire VR90 is a race worthy XC shoe to consider.

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