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The sleek and clean look of the Giro Imperial II, adorned with the BOA Li2 Dial, definitely caught my attention. The design of the BOA Dial is simple, yet still quite functional with the ridges on the edges. In all actuality, the combination of the BOA Dial and the Giro Imperial Shoes are spot on and quite impressive. I am 5,000-6,000 mile per year biker, so I get out a fair bit to start to know the subtle nuances of my gear. These shoes with the BOA dial will slot in quite nicely for my road group rides and my solo triathlon ventures.
My Personal Historical Look At GIRO
I am a fan of Giro’s cycling shoes, as they have fit my feet quite well for a good 15-20 years. This is my 4th pair in all those years. They fit well, but every shoe is different and requires time to break in and become an extension of your ride.
What’s interesting is the progression of fastening systems that I’ve had the pleasure of taking out on the road.
First up at the bottom, are the ratchet and velcro straps that go way back. They are a bit clunky, and I’m not even sure of the model. Next up, is the Giro Factor Techlace with the stretchy velcro straps and a BOA Dial. I took a nasty fall with those, and they are scraped pretty good on one side. However, they still work great, and the BOA Dial system has prevailed. Third in line, are the Giro Empire SLX with old school lacing. I’ve had those for a handful of years, and are a wonderful pair of cycling shoes. And finally, the Giro Imperial II have next level technology throughout the shoes. First and foremost is the BOA Li2 Dial System with the BOA Cs1 lacing. A formidable force to create a near perfect fit.
Giro Imperial II Out Of The Box
All in all, Giro presents a nice package. There are added insoles depending on what your personal foot fit needs may be from an arch perspective. I was good to go with the stock setup and won’t be using the yellow or red inserts. It also comes with a nice bag to keep them secure for travel or storage.
Highlighting the BOA Li2 dial is definitely a must as they truly make the Imperial II whole. The lacing is tight and super strong, and I like the way it is weaved through the shoe with what I would call kind of a guide rail. It keeps the lacing in place, but also protects the shoe from the high tension that could cause damage.
The BOA Li2 Dial
The dial, like the shoe itself is impressively lightweight. I wouldn’t call the dial super low-profile, but the lacing does have to be able to be retracted inside. The Li2 enables multidirectional adjustments for tightening and loosening. I am inclined to think that these are built to last, as the dial platform is engineered with durability against impact, abrasion, dirt and debris.
The order of operation is fairly straightforward.
- Push in to engage
- Turn to tighten
- Turn to loosen
- Pull up for fast release
BOA Cs1 Lace
The lace is designed for flexible strength and low-friction performance. There are 49 strands of stainless steel wrapped in nylon to withstand abrasion to shed dirt, debris, and water. That’s a lot of super thin wires to combine for a powerful lace. I will assume BOA does it’s own testing to come up with the design that works best for the cyclists best interest and performance. We are a weight conscious bunch, and adding too thick and heavy of a lace would not be too popular.
Check out this snappy and really cool video. I’d do one myself, but they have it so dialed-in (pun intended). It shows and explains the use in great focused detail.
Giro Imperial II Technical Carbon Platform
The carbon sole is clean and strong. The heel pad and toe bumper are clean additions to protect the shoe while having to walk a bit. The white color will scuff for me over time. I clean them up at least once per week, but I don’t baby them either. A little wear and tear is just fine as long as the integrity of the shoe holds up.
Taking The BOA And Giro Imperial Out On The Road
There’s something quite satisfying about that click click click click ticking sound when tightening the Cs1 laces. It’s almost like the bugle call on my early morning ride. The caffeine from my espresso hasn’t quite hit, but the shoes are pretty much the last thing to put on. Mainly, because I am trying to quietly exit the house without waking the family. Once that clicking sounds occurs, it’s go time!
With two dials, the balance of how you want to be slotted in allows for multiple options. There are times, when I don’t want the forefront of my feet and toes to be too tight. Hence, I loosen that front dial. The top dial is usually pretty tight. I want that locked in around the ankle cuff and have the top connected as one to the shoe and subsequently the pedal for an optimal and efficient pedal stroke.
Those ultra-thin wires are strong enough to feel like they could cut cheese…a funny comparison, but surprisingly accurate. But when I crank those dials, I don’t want them cutting into my foot either. The tongue’s material make-up plays an important role to prevent that from happening, but I did test that on many of my rides. I would tighten the dial as much as I could to see what effect it would have on my shoes and feet. Then, I’d slowly release both dials to release the tension for a supple and smooth fit.
On that note, I do like starting out super tight to create that sock-like bond between the shoe and foot. I will then dial it back, so to speak, to prevent my feet from going numb. That ultimately allows my foot curvature to create for a snug but comfortable fit with the shoe. And as the ride (usually a fast-paced group ride) quickens, I will dial it back down for when we start attacking the climbs and sprints.
Giro Imperial II Comfort
The stiffness of the Giro Imperial II is really good with the carbon plate providing a solid foundation for maximum power. I am not a super analytical numbers guy, so not sure if there is a direct correlation to power number improvement. That said, I feel strong and agile the minute I have to put down the hammer to react to the surges in my peloton group, or when I stand to power up a climb.
The comfort level for me comes in right at a 8 out of 10. All that lightweight material and dialed in technology does make this a much more minimal cycling shoe. My sensitive feet would really like a nice cushy feel, but the competitive athlete also enjoys the slick nature, and how lightweight it is. It did take numerous weeks and rides to feel like they fit comfortably and perfect. Hence, give it some time if you have that same experience. The tongue somehow dug into the top of my foot the first few rides, but it loosened up with time.
The breathability is amazing. I have been hitting hot and long rides over the weekends in July and August, and not once were my feet too hot. The mesh upper and 20+ mph winds keep me cool in that regard.
Giro Customer Service
I did have a small issue with the tip of the tongue on my right shoe. I’m not sure what happened, but I might have tugged on the tongue too hard. The glue (I don’t think it’s stitching) came loose slightly. Not a huge deal, but I figured something like that should not really happen. I decided to contact Giro’s customer service, and they responded quickly. The issue is not something they’d seen before, but we came up with a solution that rectified the situation. The communication was clear, direct, and their responsiveness is geared towards helping their customer base.
Final Thoughts on the Giro Imperial II Cycling Shoe
High-end road cycling shoes today offer impressive performance and thoughtful design. The design and R & D that goes into that plays a definite role. The BOA name and their dials have asserted themselves as an industry leader. Many industries have taken to their technology to make their own products better. And because I am and have been a cyclist, I really do feel that the cycling world has benefitted immensely from their ever evolving product line.
The Giro Imperial shoes with BOA dials are a delight to put on before every ride. Turning that dial with its tightening clicking sound brings me that little bit of joy knowing that I am about to find some freedom and adventure with friends or by myself. It’s a pricy investment, for sure. I point to my long history of using these shoes to the durability, comfort, and overall effectiveness for all of my rides. Thumbs up to BOA and Giro for partnering to bring a beautiful cycling shoe to the cycling world. For more information, check out boafit.com and for purchase of the Imperial II, check out giro.com.