Vittoria is proud of making shoes in its hometown of Biella, northern Italy. That in itself could easily warrant a premium over its mass-produced rivals, but the price associated with the La Tecnicas comes more from the materials.
The upper is constructed from soft kangaroo leather, which is lined with a nylon mesh to provide structural support, making them some of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever tried.
The leather of the La Tecnica shoes has natural compliance, which means it offers a brilliant fit. And, while the twin SSP micro-adjust ratchets may not be as minimal as a Boa, for example, they offer just the same fine adjustment to further support the fit.
The sole is Vittoria’s top-of-the-line full unidirectional carbon unit that combines a 3.4mm height with impressive unmoving stiffness and generous mesh-lined air vents. Good cleat measure markings, slotted cleat bolt holes and a textured finish for grip make setting up your cleats really easy.
Good markings, slotted bolt holes and a textured finish for grip make setting up your cleats really easy
The all-up 630g a pair (size 45) weight isn’t the lightest, but I’d gladly take the extra few grams for the way these feel on my feet.
The impressive sole stiffness makes for efficient pedalling, though the upper suppleness means a bit of movement. If you’re the sort of rider who likes to hammer out big power efforts, shoes with stiffer uppers might be more your thing.
For those more inclined to long days out, and looking for that bit of extra cosseting when you ride long distances, then the La Tecnicas may well be the ideal endurance shoes.
