Giro Blaze MTB shoe review

The Blaze MTB is constructed differently to the bulk of winter riding shoes, with a fairly modular-feeling inner boot encased in a single-piece outer waterproof jacket.

These Giro shoes are also low in bulk, while still being warm and weather-proof.

The bottom of the shoe features a nylon outsole with moderately soft lugs that aren’t particularly aggressive in shape.

Under the mid-foot, there’s a continuation of this softish rubber for moments when you miss the pedal’s clip.

Giro Blaze MTB shoe features

The Blaze's cleat channel isn’t the longest around, however, in my experience, it extends further back in the shoe than many other winter boots.

Towards the toe is a pair of bosses for studs (if you wish to add them), along with a lug right at the end, under the toes.

Inside, there’s a padded inner-shoe featuring PrimaLoft insulation. This encloses the bulk of the foot, but doesn’t extend past the low point of the ankle.

It’s secured with a speedlace system, and has a snug (but not tight) fit along the length of the foot.

The insole has a fleecy finish and a reflective material inside to help bring heat back towards the foot. It has fairly minimal arch support.

The tongue extends moderately high up the front of the ankle.

The inner surface of the shoe has a soft fleece lining. This adds insulation and feels nice against the skin (although, most of the time you’ll be wearing longer socks).

The outer element of the shoe is built from a waterproof and windproof material. It’s smooth in finish to aid cleaning and shrug off splashes and dirt.It closes with a waterproof zip complete with a storm flap behind it. Giro claims the material has a 10k waterproofing score.

Built into the outer layer are two ankle pads, while the toe features some bump protection.

Giro Blaze shoe performance

The Blaze is a very warm shoe. Though I’ve not had chance to test it to its claimed -7°C limit, it’s noticeably warmer than many other winter boots I’ve worn. That's despite its relatively low bulk and class-leading 870g weight for the pair (size 44).

The inner-shoe construction is plush and comfortable. My feet are moderate in volume and I was able to get a snug fit without pulling the speedlace too tight, which I appreciated.

The insulation meant I was happy wearing standard socks, rather than having to add warmth or bulk out inner volumes with big socks.

I found the heel-hold to be good, and I had no issues with pressure points at the front of the foot. I would have appreciated a little more toe protection at the edges of my feet, though.

For the most part, the speedlace system works well. However, I (and another tester) found that if your rides include lots of getting on and off the bike with hiking or pushing, the speedlace loosens and needs readjusting.

Off the bike, again, I found the stiff sole wasn’t great for hiking in when tackling technical, rocky climbs in the Lake District. The lugs are softer than some more cross-country-focused mountain bike shoes, though.

The zipped outer does a good job of keeping spray out of the shoe, and so, in general use, I found my feet stayed dry. However, in particularly heavy rain, water does eventually make its way in.

The cuff at the top isn’t bulky and sits neatly under trousers. But it’s not stretchy either, so if you have broad lower legs and like to stuff thick tights or socks under its hem, you might find this annoying.

With minimal panels and stitching, it’s easy to clean the shoes and keep them looking fresh.

For my immersion test, which simulates a stream or bog-crossing, I stood in a bucket of ever-deepening water. Here, the Giros didn’t perform as well as I would expect, with water entering the shoe via, I believe, the zip.

Giro Blaze shoe bottom line

Even though it doesn’t have a bulky exterior, the Blaze is one of the warmest (non-extreme) winter shoes around.

The internal booty construction feels odd at first, but works well and gives a plush-feeling fit.

The laces slip, though, and it’s not the best when its really wet. It's best suited for properly cold rides, where there may be a few puddles to splash through