Last year, Giro introduced their new Terraduro shoe at Eurobike. This was a heavy nod to the growing enduro crowd, salivating for “enduro specific” products. For the rest of us, who don’t enduro, bro – these shoes offered a new Vibram sole to a tried and true MTB platform.

I spend a lot of time off the bike when I’m photographing events or even shooting photos on a ride, often scaling rocks, jumping from face to face and then descending back down to the trail.

On normal MTB shoes, this can be dicy, only because you have to think more when walking down slippery rocks. With these, you just walk around like you’re in hiking boots.

Running around wet, muddy courses and then climbing rocks isn’t an issue here.

The Terraduro has quickly become my go-to MTB shoe. For example, at last weekend’s Whiskey Off Road, I took full advantage of the rocky outcroppings lining the course to photograph the racers from above. Scaling them was easy, even as the snow melted down, leaving the rocks slick and “DANGEROUS” – someone yelled at me for doing this.

Before it sounds like I’m crowning these as the “best shoe ever”, I will say that the Vibram sole adds a bit of weight. Like almost 100 grams for the pair – which totals 420 grammmssss duuuuuuude.

It’s kind of daunting when you hold one, compared to a regular carbon-soled shoe, but it’s a worthy sacrifice to have a pair of shoes that feel great to hike in. Or hike a bike in… Or bike to hike in. Or whatever.

Scoop up a pair in black or blazed out orange from Giro for $180