Best Budget XC Clipless Mountain Bike Shoe

If Giro makes premium shoes to compete with the top offerings from other brands, their mid to budget offerings blow the doors off of those from other manufacturers. With the Giro Terraduro a no brainer choice for best value all-mountain and enduro shoe, the Giro Privateer R was just as obvious of a choice for best value XC shoe.

In mountain biking, like in motocross, “privateer” refers to a rider who does not have a sponsor that pays for everything. These riders are the heart and sole of professional mountain biking, and they have to rely on gear that provides the same performance that factory-sponsored racers get, but at a fraction of the cost, and the Giro Privateer R defines that type of gear to a T.

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See Our Best Clipless Mountain Bike Shoe Review!

Rigidity and Power Transfer

The Giro Privateer R offers good power transfer while pedaling thanks to its co-molded nylon outsole. The power transfer of the Privateer R is not on par with top cross country race shoe options and lags just behind that of our top all-mountain/enduro pick, the Shimano ME7.

However, it is plenty stiff enough for recreational racers and anyone not trying to squeeze every fraction of performance out of both their body and their bike.

Traction and “Hike-a-Bike-Ability”

Giro’s rubber outsole is soft and grippy, providing great hike-a-bike traction for an XC oriented shoe. Its widely spaced lugs mean that you do not have as much rubber on the ground as with the Giro Terraduro, but this also allows the Privateer R to do a great job of clearing mud, particularly around the cleat area, which is most important on a clipless mountain bike shoe.

Comfort and Fit

Like most Giro shoes, the Privateer R runs on the small side, though less so than some Giro shoes. Typically, sizing up a half size, opting for the Giro Privateer R HV, or some combination of the two will dial in the fit.

Once you have achieved a good fit, the Privateer R is a very comfortable shoe, very similar to the Terraduro. A medium arch support insole and supple microfiber upper work together to wrap around your foot like a glove.

Also like the Terraduro, the Giro Privateer R uses a combination of two D-ring mounted velcro straps on the toe and midfoot and a ratchet strap below the ankle allows for a highly adjustable fit.

Durability

The soft, grippy sole of the Giro Privateer R does not live up to the Vibram sole of the Terraduro in the durability department. Frequent hike-a-bikes over rough terrain will drastically shorten the lifespan of the sole, which is a shame because it performs so well in those situations.

As for the upper, it is quite durable, if not as protected as the Terraduro. The Privateer R is still armored with a rubberized coating at the toe and heel, although this protection does not wrap around the entire shoe. Still, the upper should outlive the sole, and you should get a fairly long life out of the Giro Privateer R as long as you minimize your time in them off of the bike.

Weight

At 386g, the Giro Privateer R is an impressively light shoe, particularly for one at its price point. Its weight puts it just behind the Giro Empire VR90 and Shimano S-Phyre XC9, which cost three and four times as much, respectively. It is a rare item in the cycling world that provides both cost and weight savings, but the Giro Privateer R is just such a product.

The Bottom Line

Boasting a lightweight and good power transfer at only $109, the Giro Privateer R is an extremely solid all-around cross country shoe. Furthermore, it is sturdy enough to pull its own weight on light trail and all mountain rides, making it an extremely attractive option for all mountain riders who skew toward the tamer side of the mountain. If your days tend to get a bit gnarlier, we would recommend the Giro Terraduro or Shimano ME7. However, for cross country racers who don’t want to break the bank, the Giro Privateer R provides unbeatable bang for your buck.

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