Quoc Gran Tourer II gravel shoes review

The original Quoc Gran Tourer shoe shared the same chunky outline and deeply treaded rubber sole as the Gran Tourer II, but used traditional laces rather than any of the more modern closure systems.

The new Gran Tourer II has a two-way Boa-style dial, rather than laces, and Quoc has also made the sole stiffer than on the previous version.

Quoc Gran Tourer II gravel shoes construction

The Gran Tourer II is a great-looking shoe. The upper is almost solid, save for a grid of laser-cut pinholes for breathability, giving the Quocs a slightly retro appearance.

Despite that retro aesthetic, the upper's construction is very high-tech, with no stitching whatsoever. This makes the new Quoc an extremely weatherproof shoe.

The downside is the shoes' thickness and minimal venting makes them warm on hot days. The 756g weight for a pair of size 45s isn’t that light either.

Replacing laces with a dial-and-wire closure is a good move for a shoe targeted more towards the performance- and race-orientated rider than the original Gran Tourer was.

The dials are a little chunkier than Boa’s own latest designs, but they do offer a high level of micro-adjustability. If you want to relax the fit, turning the dial backwards de-tensions completely rather than micro-adjusting, so you'll have to de-tension and retighten from scratch.

Quoc Gran Tourer II gravel shoes fit and performance

Quoc’s ‘Natural Fit’ footbeds are fairly flat, but the material offers good give and rebound, making the shoes comfortable.

I’d prefer something with a little more arch support, but if your feet are flatter, these will suit you.

Volume is generous, too, and they’d make a great three-to-four-season shoe, because they fit comfortably with thick Merino socks on.

The superb outsole has a chunky tread, along with plenty of squish, making the shoes impressively grippy and well suited to the gravel riding for which they’ve been designed.

They Gran Tourer II is not an adapted mountain bike shoe, so there are no unnecessary threads or studs.

The internal nylon/carbon composite footplate is stiffer than the older shoe’s footplate, so they feel efficient on the bike, though the squishy tread ensures they're not overly stiff when walking or running.

With an outstanding sole and an upper that's best suited to cooler, damper conditions, the Gran Tourer II rates among the best gravel bike shoes. This makes it well suited to riding in the UK… at least most of the time. It also comes with a cotton bag and quality socks.

Quoc Gran Tourer II gravel shoes bottom line

Quoc’s usual construction quality and spot-on styling are present and correct with the Gran Tourer II gravel shoes.

All in all, the new Gran Tourer is a luxury off-road shoe that delivers performance and comfort in spades.