Quoc’s Gran Tourer shoes stand out in a crowded market, the clean, retro-inspired design being about as stylish as it gets. Aside from the super-subtle toned grey camouflage colourway, there are lots of technical details in this gravel-riding shoe.
The upper is constructed without using stitching and, being seamless, it’s superbly comfortable and highly water-resistant. The bonded-in padded tongue section is also constructed without any gaps, making these shoes well-equipped to deal with the elements.
Inside, the shoe has a soft-touch textured liner, which sandwiches a waterproof membrane between it and the outer. The natural fit footbeds are well shaped and supportive without being overly sculpted.
The sole is extremely well put together. It’s SPD compatible, so that’s mountain bike-style pedals, and fully sealed. The special rubber compound, which looks like natural rubber, is bonded to a carbon-composite midsole for impressive power transfer.
The deep rubber outsole has also been designed to protect your cleats while walking, and provides plenty of traction off-road. It’s good to see a sole that was designed specifically for the needs of the gravel rider and tourist, or bikepacker, and not just one that’s been borrowed from an existing mountain-bike race shoe.
The beautiful finish translates into a superb feel when on the bike. The fit is spot on and flat laces, with their zig-zag lacing holes, allow for ample adjustment.
The slick heel lining did mean that when running up an incline carrying the bike, my heel tended to pop out, but as these aren’t designed to be a cyclocross racing shoe it shouldn’t occur often when you’re just out trekking or riding.
My size 45s weigh 372.9g each, so certainly aren’t lightweights when compared to road shoes, but they compare well to most cross-country shoes. They’re beautifully packaged with a cloth carry bag and some seriously luxurious Merino/tech wool socks that make the ideal companion to the GT shoes.
Quoc Gran Tourer gravel shoe specifications
- Closure: Double-Lock lace system
- Cleat: SPD compatible
- Sole: Rubber
- Midsole: Carbon composite
Quoc Gran Tourer gravel shoe details
1. Stitch free — The smooth ‘no-sew’ upper means great weatherproofing and comfort
2. Lace ups — The flat laces allow for ample and easy adjustment to get a supportive and comfortable fit
3. SPD cleats — If you want to ride clipless, the GTs are compatible with mountain bike-style SPD pedals
