Before I begin this review of the Suplest SupZera 2 road cycling shoe, I think it’s essential to tell you a thing or two about my feet. Like many others, they cause me a bit of bother. Firstly, I am always right between sizes. A UK 7 in regular shoes. An EU40 in cycling shoes however is a little on the tight side while an EU41 is a little on the big size. I also have bunions threatening on both sides of my feet while the rest of my foot is fairly narrow.
Finding shoes that fit me is often a nightmare, and has resulted in many painful rides.
Despite my irregular shaped feet, I was pretty impressed with the Suplest SupZera 2. While the EU 41 is a touch on the big size, with the inclusion of an insole, it fits really well. The three closing points also help to accommodate my slightly irregularly shaped foot too which is a bonus.
The main strap is tightened with a micro buckle, pulling the heel down and back into the heel cup to eliminate slip. There are additional silicone grippers in the heel to further ensure there is no slippage. Initially I was sceptical of this feature, as it actually quite uncomfortable when you are walking around but was happy to find it did as intended on the bike and did not cause any irritation at all.
I found the shoe pretty comfortable on medium to longish rides, although I do suffer a little numbness in my toes when I reach the 100km mark of a bike ride.
The shoe is pretty light, weighing in at 265g for a size EU39 and is equipped with a stiff carbon sole which I am happy to report offered both comfort and efficiency. In addition to this, there are rubber inserts on the toe and heel. The heel inserts are definitely starting to look a little worse for wear after 5 months but I was happy to find that these can be replaced.
I have cycled throughout the summer and now into the winter in this shoe and am happy to report that it performs well in all weathers. The substantial amount of venting both on the sole and the upper of the shoe meant my feet were comfortable when riding in soaring temperatures in California two weeks ago. A week later, back in good old Blighty I was surprised to find my feet were just as comfortable at the top of Box Hill in the pouring rain. And with the addition of an overshoe when temperatures drop, this shoe will happily take me right through the winter.
While the pink, white and grey colour combination of this shoe might not be to everyone’s tastes, I quite like it. When not covered in muck, they look pretty smart. But aside from the colour combination, my favourite aspect of this shoe’s design is the reflective detailing all over the upper of the shoe. In daylight it looks like a matt grey, but they quite literally light up at dusk from all angles. They are brilliant.
The Suplest SupFera 2 is compatible with SPD, Look, Time and Speedplay.
Verdict: Overall this is a great shoe.
Pros: The venting and reflective detailing coupled with the easy fastening system were winners for me.
Cons: This shoe doesn’t come cheap!
Price: €198
Available: Find a full list of retailers here.
Also worth a read:
Why taking time off the bike now will make you faster next year
Lose weight cycling: Everything you need to know
