Feels true to size

Feels true to width

Durable Sole

Competitive Cyclist

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

These Revenge shoes are a simpler (lighter?) version of the fantastic Aerator which is now in its fourth generation, known as the "AeroLite". Now, these Revenge shoes are made with the same top quality fit and materials, but without the titanium mesh cages that are great for very hot weather, and optional for normal weather. I can see using the black on cooler days and 2 pair (1 of each) would last many seasons, no matter how hardcore you are. I have used the Aerators for about 15000 miles and they are just now starting to look "not quite new". I have used them in extreme tempuratures. These shoes are the first to allow me to "set and forget" the strap tension. I used Sidi from 1991 to 2001 (6 pairs of Genius 3 through 4, plus a pair of Tecnos and a pair of Energy. The Sidi Genius 4 and later suck, because the arch-compression is now 2-piece and pinches a nerve when tightened for competition (unless you are very light, I weigh 170). As soon as I saw the long awaited model with Carbon Fiber sole (the "Ergo 1") and that is was not only remaining with the crumbpy (still current) arch-compression system, but the sole was not even carbon biber around the edges. Making it cheaper was supposed to be a benefit, until they change is and then the NEW sole is better than all of the other brands because THEY are not not as "pure" carbon fiber soles. It makes me sick to see and hear the hype, because these past 2 decades have been fantastic for cycling technology in so many ways. But literally every single product claims to be furthering that trend and that is just not true. REgarding shoes again, Sidi offers full custom shoes to the pros who wear them, so it was no surprise when the Sidi Genius turned cheap and crumbpy. The first 3 models (through the Genius 3, until the "Millenium" sole, which was claimed as an upgrade, but at the same time the reduced the material on the original Sidi Genius arch-compression, which combined with the ratchet, made it truly Genius at the time. When I saw the Ergo crumb shoes, I remembered that DMT had an ad for the new Ultimax Carbon Fiber shoes (as used by Jalabert and others). This shoe was not only an early adoptor of great CF soles, but they also used an arch compression system nearly identical the the original Genius, plus they had fully integrated heel cup as well. In fact, the higher visibility Nike "Lance" shoes from 2000 onward to today are all built on DMT models, Ultimax through the latest shoe based on the DMT "Flash". So, I was thrilled with my DMTs, had 2 pair, but I was not happy that the Ultimax was replaced (for 2 seasons though now it is back) with 2 pairs of new shoes that were really nice, but no mesh sections. THis is why a thrilled DMT user (and the pickiest guy EVER in cycling, but seriously I have a very severe injury on my right ankle) and I needed to make sure I would have at least one pair of shoes as good or better than my Ultimax shoes, and with at least as much cooling. The white pair used in hot weather wore out quicker then the sikver /blue pair and I started trying on alternatives. I kid you not, the Northwave Aerators and all others from 2004 onward (all the same last, which dictates the fit of all shoes made this way) are the only shoes every to feel fantastic from the time I tried them on and even during the "shakedown" rides. It is said that synthetic materials do not stretch and thus do not require break-in. This is BS because your feet or whatever body part we are talking about needs to adapt to the new pressure points. This is why when you find some shoes that treat you right, buy as many pair as you can afford and think you can use. It could be that a combination of using a similar last, and also the fact that my foot is very close to the shape the last is optimized for, but I never once had any discomfort. The mesh also allows me to stay much cooler in the 100+ degree summer days in the Sierras. They have the Aerator Race (using the now ubiquitous ratchet instead of the top velcro strap) and the Northwave Ratchet is also the besst available. In fact, it is the only strap of this style that does not ratchet, but uses a threaded system. Sidi invented it, and then devised a system that double the resolution, adding half-steps to the ratchet. Then Morthwave designs a strap with infinite adjustment! Literally perfect amount of tension with Zero stretch or possible misadjustment (velcro is not too bad, but you can't beat the NW systems. I was absolutely convinced that DMT were the very best. ANd they were, I just could not imagine Northwave being clearly even better!