Suplest Streetracing Carbon road shoe

These Suplest Streetracing Carbon road shoes put in a strong all-round performance although they lack the standout features of some other options at this price.

You might not know much about Suplest. The Swiss brand has only been around since 2007 and they've fairly recently got distribution through the Evans chain in the UK.

This is the top-end road shoe which is available with a ratchet upper closure (like wot we have) or for £179.99 with three Velcro straps – so you're paying an extra £45 for the ratchet version.

The uppers are distinctive. I'm used to looking down and seeing skinny, minimalist shoes. Well, as skinny and minimalist as size 46s ever get. These are noticeably more roomy than most across the forefoot. The toe box is high and the section right over the tips of your toes is rigid thanks to some clever materials jiggery pokery.

The uppers are made from 'organic grid' which is a tough microfibre material, the thickness varying around your foot. Suplest say the thicker areas offer higher reinforcement and the thinner areas increase comfort although you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference in use.

Ventilation is provided by perforations in the forefoot and the padded tongue. I didn't find my feet stayed as cool as in shoes with large mesh panels but I'm not particularly bothered by that. If you do tend to get uncomfortably hot feet, maybe that'll be more of an issue for you.

The whole of the upper from the buckle forward is one piece so there are no seams to bother you, and padding around the heel keeps things comfy back there. The heel cup is quite narrow, especially compared to the fit up front, and I found that it held my foot securely in place without any unwanted lift.

The ratchet closure is pretty chunky so it's easy to tighten from the saddle although the button to loosen the strap is small and requires quite a lot of pressure compared to others I've used.

The outsole is carbon fibre with graphics to match the uppers. We always comment on sole stiffness in shoe reviews but it seems that there's rarely any point these days. The Suplest's soles, like those of all the other high-end models we've tested lately, are absolutely rigid; there's no flex whatsoever in any direction as far as we can discern.

Two vents, one under the toes and the other under the midfoot, provide some airing while heel and toe grippers – along with your cleat once you've bolted it in place – provide some protection for the sole and do a good job of stopping you slipping on wet Tarmac. The rear one is replaceable, which is a thoughtful feature to improve longevity. The sole is drilled for three-bolt cleats (there's no Speedplay-specific version) and a textured finish around the holes helps hold your cleat in place.

The EVA insoles are neat too. They're a little thicker and a touch more spongy than most – not much, but just a bit – and I found them really comfortable.

So, comfortable, stiff-soled and secure, these are good shoes. It's just that if I'm spending £225, I want shoes that are exceptional in some way – mega-light, super-supportive, mouldable for the ultimate in comfort... or whatever. There's no standout feature here. That said, they're strong across the board so they're still worth considering, particularly if you're after a bit of extra space in the forefoot.

Verdict

Comfortable, stiff-soled, secure road shoes although lacking exceptional features you might expect at this price.