The Quoc Gran Tourer II is a gravel shoe which uses the brand’s own one-dial closure system and features a trendy design that pairs well with earth-tone gravel bikes.
Founded in 2009, Quoc is a small London-based brand that prides itself on comfortable performance-based cycling shoes.
As the name implies, this is the second version of Quoc’s Gran Tourer design. The original model is still in Quoc’s range but uses a lace closure, and a nylon composite sole that Quoc says isn’t quite as stiff as the one found on the Gran Tourer II.
I wore the Gran Tourer II shoes on my ride from London to Tunisia (and for most of my training). As is made clear from the pictures, these shoes have been worn, scuffed and put through their paces.
Based on my experience, these are a brilliant pair of gravel shoes which I would gladly ride in for days on end, thanks to the high levels of comfort, durability and style.
Quoc Gran Tourer II features
The Gran Tourer II features a dial as its closure system, which is made in-house by Quoc. The dial includes a one-click release to get the shoes off quickly post-ride.
The dial system makes the shoe easy to adjust before, during, and after a ride. When I’ve been riding in particularly hot weather, 35 degrees, I did notice my feet getting a bit hot and swollen, so having an easy-to-use dial to loosen things up on the go has been great. However, you have to loosen off the tension entirely and then retighten which is a limitation when compared to Boa dials.
The Gran Tourer II also has a splashproof microfibre upper which Quoc says is suitable for all weathers and moulds to the rider’s foot over time. There are also air holes for ventilation and quick-drying ankle padding which should help in wet weather.
It hasn’t yet rained when I’ve been wearing these so I can’t confirm that, but these shoes are breathable, and my feet didn’t get wet even when I had to cross a small river.
The midsole is made from a stiff, nylon-composite which Quoc says delivers good stiffness and low weight without the associated high cost of full carbon composite. I couldn’t tell if the stiff midsole made me faster, but it is comfortable and didn’t weigh me down.
A final key feature is Quoc’s GravelGrip rubber compound outsole, which offers decent tread and allows for good grip on hard surfaces, making walking a breeze. This I can confirm wholeheartedly – when I had to haul my bike up flights of stairs or walk because things got too steep, the Gran Tourer IIs were a blessing. Despite the grippy compound, I’ve found the sole to be durable too.
The Quoc Gran Tourer II shoes weigh 345g per shoe in a size 43.
Compared to the Shimano RX8R gravel shoes which weigh just 296g per size 43 shoe, the Gran Tourer IIs are on the heavy side but they also come in around £100 less than the Shimano pair.
On the other hand, the Fizik Terra Atlas weigh 10g more, at 355g per shoe but cost £50 less.
Quoc Gran Tourer II comfort
While comfort is a personal thing, I’d be inclined to suggest that the shape Quoc has created in the Gran Tourer II shoes should work for a lot of people. There is ample room in the toe box, so I found them very comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
The material is supple enough to be soft, but retains its shape and security at the same time.
My only sticking point was that during some hike-a-bike sections of my ride I did notice some discomfort on my left heel which I put down to the stiff ankle box, although this didn’t form into a blister and was not noticeable when riding.
An additional element worth mentioning is that I struggle with numb feet and Morton’s neuroma in my right foot, which in the past has led to a lot of jumping off the bike, desperately getting my shoes off and flapping around to sort out the pain.
During my bike-fit, I was shown that while the Quoc shoes were the right size and width, my feet were not stabilised within them due to the basic supplied insoles, so I got orthotics with arch support and 3mm heel raisers, and I haven’t had any pain since (touch wood).
My circumstances are fairly unusual and other riders may not require orthotics to create a good fit, but I do think Quoc could supply more supportive insoles than the basic ones supplied as standard in the shoes.
Quoc Gran Tourer II environmental credentials
While Quoc doesn’t use sustainable materials in its gravel shoe range, the brand does says It is conscious of its environmental footprint in other ways.
The brand says it focusses on making long-lasting shoes which, based on my experience with the Gran Tourer IIs so far, I would suggest feels like an accurate claim considering how nicely the shoes are wearing. Quoc also uses recycled packaging and biodegradable materials in its accessories.
However, perhaps more importantly the brand plans to map and publicise its carbon footprint in the next two to three years, and it works with Tree Nation to plant a tree for each pair of shoes sold.
So far Quoc says it has planted 8,721 trees with Tree Nation.
Quoc Gran Tourer II review summary
The Gran Tourer IIs are my new favourite pair of gravel shoes. They are a little heavy and the supplied insoles aren’t the most sophisticated, but the shoes are seriously comfortable, durable when faced with gnarly gravel, easy to walk in, and they look cool too.
I have only ridden these in summer, so I can’t attest to winter riding, but I would confidently bet they would be up for the challenge.
- Buy the Gran Tourer II from Quoc (£190)
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