When the weather turns, most riders start making compromises, especially with footwear. You’ll see them at the car, cramming chemical warmers in toe boxes, taping ventilation panels, and passing around the embro. Giro is looking to close the gap on race-day footwear and winter training shoes. Their answer is the new Giro Imperial AS, a shoe built to deliver top-tier road performance without backing off when conditions get rough.
At a glance, the Imperial AS sits alongside the brand’s flagship offerings, sharing the same forged carbon outsole platform as the Imperial II and Empire SLX II. That means the stiffness, power transfer, and overall feel underfoot remain consistent with Giro’s highest-end race shoes. The difference comes up top, where the AS version is tuned specifically for colder, wetter riding – think spring.
A Weather-Ready Upper Without the Bulk
The biggest change is the upper. Giro uses a thermo-bonded two-layer construction, combining a warp-knit mesh with a thin 0.25mm TPU skin. It’s a subtle shift, but an important one that will keep feet warmer for longer.
The mesh keeps things breathable, while the TPU layer adds structure and a level of weather resistance greater than that of a traditional race shoe. It’s not trying to turn the Imperial AS into a winter boot; it’s still very much a performance road shoe. However, the new Imperial AS is clearly built to handle early-season training rides, damp roads, and unpredictable shoulder-season conditions.
Laser-perforated venting is still part of the equation, helping regulate temperature as efforts ramp up. The result is a shoe that shouldn’t feel sealed off or overbuilt, even as it adds a bit more protection from the elements.
Dual BOA Fit for On-the-Fly Adjustments
Instead of laces, the Imperial AS uses a dual-dial BOA Li2 system, allowing riders to quickly and precisely fine-tune fit while wearing gloves or shoe covers.
The dual-dial setup allows for independent adjustment across different zones of the foot, which becomes more noticeable on longer rides or when conditions change mid-ride. Whether it’s tightening things up for a hard effort or backing off slightly as feet swell, the system makes it easy to adapt without stopping.
Giro pairs the BOA system with soft lace guides, helping distribute pressure more evenly across the top of the foot and avoid hot spots.
Proven Carbon Platform
Underfoot, nothing changes, and that’s a good thing. The Imperial AS uses Giro’s forged carbon-fiber outsole. In our experience, this sole delivers the kind of stiffness you’d expect from a race-focused shoe, translating power directly through the pedal without noticeable flex. But it’s not so stiff that you feel like you’re in a hockey skate or get hot spots like a ski boot.
The outsole is finished with stainless steel hardware, a replaceable TPU heel pad, and a reinforced toe section for added durability, small details that tend to matter more the longer you own the shoe.
Fit and Support
Inside, the Imperial AS uses Giro’s SuperNatural Fit Kit, which includes adjustable arch support options to fine-tune fit.
Combined with the structured upper and dual BOA system, the overall feel is focused and secure without being overly restrictive. It’s the kind of fit that disappears once you’re riding, something Giro has consistently done well with its performance footwear.
Built for the Full Season
What stands out most about the Imperial AS is how little it asks the rider to compromise. At 234 grams per shoe (size 43), it remains firmly in the lightweight performance category. At the same time, the updated upper gives it enough versatility to handle less-than-ideal conditions without feeling like a specialty shoe.
That’s really the point here. Rather than building a separate “bad weather” option, Giro is refining its top-tier platform so riders can stay on the same shoe across a wider range of conditions. I dig it, and can’t wait to check them out for myself.
Giro Imperial AS – Pricing and Availability
The Giro Imperial AS is available now
- $449.95 USD / €449.99 EUR / £399.99 GBP
Sizing runs from EU 36–48, with half sizes available from 42.5 to 45.5, and uses Giro’s Performance Fit.
