The laces on the Giro Empire SLX road shoe make it look like a throwback shoe but don't be fooled. Giro went to laces to please highly picky professional riders not satisfied with the typical three point closures. Soccer players, hockey players and runners all use laces. Laces provide more contact points and save about 15 grams per shoe. Giro was just as fussy sourcing the laces as the upper and the sole. The laces are made from breathable Microfiber designed to hold a knot plus be light and durable. Giro shoes have grown exponentially mainly to their featherweight and quality fit and laces prove to enhance these strengths especially for the most particular riders.

A premium breathable Evofiber SL upper hugs your foot like a second skin. Evofiber is a sandwich material that brings the best of mesh and microfiber together to make a more breathable shoe while repelling water and supporting your foot. Perforations help to enhance breathability as well.

Giro's latest Easton EC90 SLX 2 sole is made with top-end high modulus carbon fiber that maintains stiffness at a lighter weight than the previous version. It offers lightweight power transfer, and includes replaceable heel pads while maintaining an ultra-low 6.5mm stack height. Giro adds texture to the cleat area to help hold the cleat in place and uses detailed markings to aid with cleat positioning.

The included Ultralight SuperNaturalFit footbed provides customizable arch support right out of the box to maximize comfort and power transfer, making this the most natural and direct connection to the pedals you can get. The foot beds have a $50 retail valve by themselves and come with 3 different arch heights that can be easily interchanged to achieve the perfect amount of support. Being able to dial in the exact arch support/pressure goes a long way to eliminate leg alignment issues and foot pain.