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The Nimbl Ultimate is the shoe worn by the riders of Visma | Lease a Bike, and the shoe with which Primoz Roglic, Jonas Vingegaard, and Sepp Kuss won all three Grand Tours in 2023. Handcrafted in Italy, extremely stiff and very lightweight, they are designed to deliver comfort and performance on the road. But how do they really stack up, and are they worth their very high price?
By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©3bikes.fr
First spotted on Greg van Avermaet’s feet starting in 2017, Nimbl shoes gradually gained popularity among pros, worn by Vincenzo Nibali, Pierre Rolland, and Chris Froome, before really making a splash with the entire Visma | Lease a Bike team starting in the 2023 season.
This is incredible exposure for a small company that handcrafts several models of high-end cycling shoes entirely by hand in Italy, with a starting price of €449. That’s the price of craftsmanship. Overwhelmed by demand, the company doesn’t even have an official importer in some countries, so the best way to purchase them is still to order directly from the brand’s online store—though you won’t be able to try them on. To buy Nimbl shoes, you really have to be committed and take the risk of relying solely on the size chart available on the website.
Worn by the pros
The lineup includes models with laces or Boa closures, varying in stiffness but always featuring the same outsole mold. The Ultimate models are the shoes worn by the pros, offering a good balance between simplicity, fit, comfort, and ease of adjustment while riding, thanks to the two Boa Li2 dials. They’re available in white with three different Boa colors and branding options (white with black branding like the pros wear, silver with silver branding, or gold with gold branding like the model tested), or in a limited-edition all-black version.
They feature the stiffest sole in the lineup, made entirely of carbon fiber and reinforced for even greater rigidity. This sole has a slight arch and is fairly wide at the front, offering plenty of room for the toes. It rises slightly up the edges of the shoe at the front, creating a sort of stop for the feet on the sides. As you move toward the heel, the sole rises higher and higher toward the sides of the foot, creating a shell at the back that limits deformation while pedaling.
The three cleat mounting holes are positioned fairly neutrally—neither too far forward nor too far back. However, there are no markings or reference points to guide you when changing cleats. Three small holes at the front of the sole and five others in the middle are designed to drain water in case of rain. At the front, there is a protective guard to limit damage in case of contact with the front wheel, but unfortunately, it doesn’t extend high enough. Finally, at the back, an interchangeable walking pad prevents slipping and protects the sole.
The brand uses a thin, fairly stiff microfiber upper that molds to the shape of your feet over time. It consists of two parts that come together on the foot when laced up, featuring a slightly padded tongue held in place by a small Velcro strap that prevents it from slipping to either side. The upper is perforated to promote airflow, but it has no mesh sections and is constructed with a minimum of seams, which greatly reduces the risk of stretching and makes the shoes easier to care for. Apart from the tongue, only the inner heel area is padded. The minimalist design of the upper material prevents it from retaining water—whether in the rain or after a strenuous indoor training session—and allows it to dry quickly.
The included insole is fairly basic, offering little arch support. That’s a shame at this price point, since the Nimbl Ultimate retails for €499—or even €549 for those who want a special four-hole sole for Speedplay pedals, like the shoes worn by the Visma | Lease a Bike riders.
However, the shoes more than live up to their promises in terms of weight, at 180 g per shoe in size 40.5. They are among the lightest shoes on the market.
The Fit of the Nimbl Ultimate
When slipping your foot into the shoe, you’ll notice the space provided for your toes, which aren’t compressed widthwise and retain a minimum of freedom even when the shoes are fully laced. The heel also has plenty of room. The opening at the ankle is wide, and while the heel seems to be properly supported by the internal padding, it isn’t completely pressed against the instep, as is the case with the Specialized Ares, for example. The fit around the midfoot and instep, on the other hand, is very effective. Turning the two Boa dials one notch at a time gradually pulls the two sections of the upper together, firmly securing the foot. The Boa Li2 system allows for step-by-step tightening and loosening, as well as quick release by pulling on the dial. The tongue stays in place when tightened and provides excellent protection from the Boa cables, even when the shoe is tightened very tightly.
Nimbl offers only one width, unlike other brands that offer high-end models in two or even three different widths. I have fairly narrow feet, and yet I didn’t feel any discomfort in the Ultimate model. When I first put them on, I felt like they were a little loose. Walking next to the bike, I even felt like they were slipping off at the heel, making me wish I’d gone up half a size. But ultimately, once on the bike, I noticed that the fit could be adjusted very gradually and effectively, without causing any pronounced creases on the instep—which could create pressure points on the top of the foot and lead to discomfort.
Pedaling Close to the Axis
Thanks to the shape of the sole (with minimal arch) and the construction method—where the upper is glued and sewn directly to the edges of the outsole—the Nimbl shoes have no midsole, which brings the foot closer to the pedal axle. This low profile, combined with the low arch, may in some cases require lowering the saddle height by a few millimeters compared to other shoes, such as Specialized models, for example. Although these measurements are very difficult to compare across different shoe models, I’d say the Nimbls are about 2 mm higher than the Shimano S-Phyre at the cleat, but 2 mm lower at the heel.
Ultimately, the Nimbl Ultimate allows you to pedal with your foot almost flat, which personally gives me the impression that I can roll my foot more easily during intense efforts—it feels both less locked into a single position and more stable during the peak power phase than with shoes that have a higher arch.
The very stiff sole ensures that not a single watt is wasted, whether I’m sitting in the saddle and pedaling hard or standing up. During sprints, it’s especially nice to feel your foot become one with the sole. For greater stability and comfort inside the shoes, I obviously replaced the insoles right away with ones that support almost my entire foot. This helps prevent pressure points and, consequently, venous stasis, which is most often responsible for the sensation of “burning feet.”
On my first few runs, I found the Nimbl Ultimate to be rather stiff. The upper material is rigid. If I didn’t tighten the shoe enough, my foot seemed to float inside, and if I tightened it a bit more, I felt a hard spot where the Boa cable guides are. So I had to adjust the Boa dials fairly often during a run. However, this issue lessened over the weeks, and it wasn’t until my first run in the rain that the shoes clearly “broke in.” Not that they suffered any particular damage from the rain, but as they dried, they sort of molded to the shape of my feet. So they became more comfortable over time.
Especially after outings in the rain, maintaining the Nimbl Ultimate is easy thanks to the microfiber upper. With regular cleaning (using an eco-friendly wipe after a typical ride, or Marseille soap and a soft brush after a ride in the rain), there’s no reason why Nimbl shoes shouldn’t hold up well over time. These are high-end shoes with a flawless finish, though they are slightly vulnerable in the event of a fall or friction with the front wheel—or that of another rider. Note: The brand offers a 35% discount on a new pair in the event of a fall, provided the shoes were purchased on the website or from an authorized retailer.
What’s the value for money?
The very high price of the Nimbl Ultimate may be a legitimate deterrent to purchasing them, especially for a product so exposed to outdoor conditions. That said, this price should be compared to other high-end shoes on the market, many of which approach €400. For an extra €100, you get handcrafted shoes made in Italy, superbly finished, and among the lightest on the market. And barring any accidents, they seem built to last—unless worn by the least careful riders.
The NIMBL ULTIMATE shoes at a glance… Pros: stiff sole, very lightweight, comfortable fit, easy to maintain, high-quality finish Outsole: carbon fiber – Upper: microfiber – Lacing: two Boa Li2 dials – Sizes: 36 to 48, half sizes starting at 39 – Colors: 4 – Weight: 360 g per pair in size 40.5 – Price: €499 (€549 with four-hole cleat for Speedplay) – Contact: nimbl.cc |
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