Giro Empire ACC Shoes review

The Giro Empire ACC shoes are a timeless classic, a great looking pair of shoes, just beware of their narrow fit

Cycling Weekly Verdict

If you're after the latest technological advancements in shoe wear, then other top-end models from Shimano or Specialized may be more tempting. But for me, these chic shoes are a timeless classic in what is a competitive cycling shoe market, and are more than suitable for my riding. Just be careful not to fall foul of the the snug fit which is better suited to narrow feet.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Very good looking

  • +

    Laces are comfortable

  • +

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Sizing comes up small – try before you buy!

  • -

    Narrow fit can pinch feet

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

In my opinion, the Giro Empire ACC are some of the classiest looking cycling shoes on the market and that's quite a statement, especially when they're up against the likes of the Giro Empire SLX and the Specialized S-Works 7, to name but a few. But how does its performance compare to the best cycling shoes?

They're a little bit older now than some of their Giro siblings, and don't feature the same lightweight uppers and sophisticated venting as the Giro Factor and ProLight shoes. Most notably, the Giro Empire ACCs also forgo the Boa dials that are common place on other high-end cycling shoes such as the S-Works 7s or the Shimano S-Phyres. Instead Giro opts for the more chic laces and it's this blast from the past that undeniably gives the shoes their cool retro look, but their fit won't be for everyone; especially if you like to really ratchet up the tension or ride like Mark Cavendish.

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