Thanks to close work with an hour and Olympic champion Filippo Ganna, the Veloce Extreme is the new top-end performance road shoe for NorthWave. The shoes are 100% Made in Italy and boast not only a new name but an assortment of new features. This new fast footwear has a redesigned sole and enclosure system that claims to engage more muscle, meaning more watts.
There is a lot to unpack here, so let’s start with the name…
NorthWave Veloce Extreme – What is it?
The Veloce Extreme dethrones the Extreme Pro 3 as NorthWave’s top-tier road racing shoe. The Veloce Extreme has been discreetly working under the World Tours’ most prolific riders for most of the 2023 season, with subtle tweaks for production.
NorthWave’s new road race shoe boasts hundreds of hours of testing with 50+ professional riders. The testing consists of intense lap work on ergo trainers and real-world testing on some of the sport’s most iconic roads.
The final product is a shoe that can increase riders’ comfort while giving them a better pedaling platform, taking advantage of all muscle activation.
Introducing the Powershape HT
One of the most notable features of the Veloce Extreme shoe is the carbon sole that extends to the heel cup. This design is the Powershape HT (High Tail). The design adds torsional stiffness to the overall design, but internally, it guides the foot with ergonomic and structural support.
Put side to side with the previous version of the NorthWave Powershape, the Powershape HT shows an increase in the minimum intra-rotation of the foot during pedaling.
What does that mean? It reduces the total amount of rotation of the foot. NorthWave suggests it optimizes the thrust during the pedaling motion and reduces the movement of the frontal plane of the ankle. It allows the foot to apply better power to the crank and engage more muscle.
Does that mean increased power output? Funny, you should ask…
Up your max power output by 4% and stability by 9%
The Veloce Extreme was the subject of a bio-mechanical study examining the effectiveness of the new PowerShape HT sole compared to Powershape, Northwave’s highest-performance sole.
Northwave explains, “Credit goes to the technical solutions patented by Northwave, which are aimed at minimizing energy dispersion in each phase of every pedal stroke, both in traction and push-off. Specifically, sprint, incremental, and constant power tests were conducted. ”
The asymmetric design allows the rider both freedom of movement and support. The external heel (outside) can move slightly, but the inner heel (inside) uses the Powershape arch to boost support and power.
Compared to the original Powershape sole, the Powershape HT increases stability (uncontrolled movement) by 9%, reduces perceived effort by 15% (measured by RPE, “Rate of Perceived Exertion”), and increases maximum power output by 4%. In short, less effort, more power, and Northwave has the data to prove it here.
Like the previous versions of the Powershape, the unidirectional carbon has ventilation for super hot days in the saddle. The cleat pattern accommodates both three-bolt styles and four-bolt SpeedPlay cleats without adapters.
Anatomic Retention Support 2.0
Extra arch support helps get the most from the new Powershape HT, and the updated ARS (Anatomic Retention Support) helps guide the foot into place. The new Veloce Extreme uses SLW3 X-Dial micro adjustment knobs for retention and comfort. The X-Dial knows to use a fabric-like material that gives that hold a snug feel without the burn of overtightening.
Made in Italy Updated Footbeds
Along with the new line comes an updated footbed with two separate offerings: a slim 3mm and a taller 5mm size. Both come with the shoes so the rider can attain the best fit. The footbeds boast an updated metatarsal support area that pairs well with the updated Powershape HT sole.
Availability and Sizes
Available online and in stores in sizes 36 to 48 (with half sizes from 39.5 to 45.5) and in white and black.
- Weight: 274g (without footbed) in size 42.5
- Price: $429.00 / €399.99
Look for a full review coming shortly and for more information, check out: Northwave.com
