Tucked into the sales space at this yr’s Sea Otter Traditional, the Q36.5 Distinctive Professional Footwear caught our eye with their sharp traces, impossibly low profile, and smooth Italian minimalism. Zach was capable of snag some photos of the early samples, and it appears Q36.5 has moved shortly, bringing them to manufacturing.
These are next-level, race-ready kicks that simply made their WorldTour debut (secretly) beneath the Q36.5 Professional Biking Crew at Strade Bianche—a correct proving floor if there ever was one. It’s solely becoming that these tremendous race slippers would formally launch on the Giro d’Italia.
The brand new Q36.5 footwear are crafted within the Italian Dolomites and formed by a quest for stunning design pushed by rider suggestions. The Distinctive Professional claims the bottom stack top available on the market (see replace beneath), weighing 225g (dimension 42) and having a complete stack top of 4.4 mm. Yeah, you learn that proper—4.4mm.
Replace: The Bont Vaypor has a decrease stack top at an insane 3.6mm and a weight of 200g (dimension 42)
Low, Quick, and Tuned
With this shoe, Q36.5 went full-gas on match, really feel, and suggestions. The carbon sole is simply 2mm thick, developed in-house utilizing a proprietary layup course of that delivers stiffness with out bulk. That low stack top ought to translate to spectacular suggestions on the pedals and effectivity.
A cupped heel design and BOA-powered Energy Strap lock your foot into the heel cup, minimizing heel slip or midfoot mush throughout all-out efforts. The up to date wider metatarsal zone provides consolation for longer days within the saddle, particularly for these with excessive arches or broader toes.
No Tongue, All Move
The no-tongue higher is likely one of the most attention-grabbing design cues from earlier Q36.5 footwear. As an alternative, you get a single-piece higher with a ventilated mesh bridge that acts like an air consumption on your foot. It improves breathability, eliminates scorching spots, and provides the Distinctive Professional a particular look.
Handmade in Italy
Each pair of Distinctive Professional footwear is made inside 350km of Q36.5’s HQ in Bolzano. They use artisan carbon molding strategies that they declare are extra widespread in aerospace than biking, and native manufacturing retains the carbon footprint in verify, actually and environmentally. With that, it’s possible you’ll anticipate that the Professional Highway Shoe gained’t be low-cost, and also you’d be proper – these Italian-made beauties are priced at $600 for the pair.
Tech Specs – Q36.5 Distinctive Professional Highway Footwear
Weight: 225g (dimension 42)
Stack Peak: 4.4mm
Sizes: EU 37–48
Colours: Black or White
Worth: $600 / £550
However Are They Snug?
Yeah, I get it; there’s plenty of speak about tech and stack top, however actually none of that issues if the shoe doesn’t match. We don’t have a solution; we haven’t ridden them but. Now, if the efficiency lives as much as the promise—and the pedigree, these footwear are on the sharp finish of race tech we’ve seen this season. Between the aggressive stance, precision match, and uncooked Italian craftsmanship, Q36.5 goals for the highest step. Let’s see if the declare meets the efficiency after we get our overview pattern. Keep tuned—these are on our radar for overview.
Verify them out at q36-5.com.
