Gravel shoes need to combine the on-bike performance of a road shoe with the off-bike abilities of a walking shoe. They need to be stiff yet comfortable, light yet durable, and still provide decent traction for any sections of hike-a-bike (and tricky pub beer gardens).
Udog, or Underdog for long, is an Italian brand founded in 2021 that produces a small range of gravel and road cycling shoes. The Forza is its gravel option (with the Distanza being the lace-up version), and it is aimed at the mid-ground between casual and racing use.
Design details
Udog’s USP is its Tension Wrap System, a design which uses straps that run underneath the foot and are then part of the lacing system, theoretically providing a more encompassing and secure hold on the foot while also spreading the load.
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On the Forza, the twist-dial lace system runs through two attachment points on the forefoot, then through the TWS straps and a third point before being tightened by the dial. Operation is simple – one way to tighten, the other to loosen – and the dial is see-through, so you can actually see the small cogs inside.
Single dial closure pulls the TWS (Tension Wrap system) around the foot
(Image credit: Tim Russon)
The upper is made from a knit-style fabric with a huge pull loop on the rear and an equally large toe bumper on the front (that is really an extension of the sole). The padded tongue is attached to the upper on one side to prevent it from moving. Inside the shoe, the heel is lined with a silicone grip material for better heel retention and the basic insole is decorated with an image of a rider.
As a gravel shoe, the nylon carbon composite sole unit is compatible with two-bolt SPD cleats and has a grippy rubber outsole that wraps up over the toe section. This gives the shoe a unique, slightly bulbous look, which might prove a bit Marmite. The outsole itself, though, isn’t particularly aggressive, and the tread is not very deep, so mud-pluggers need not apply. There aren’t any bolt holes for toe studs either, further marking the Forza out as a more general option as opposed to a shoe for XC/CX/gravel racers.
The knit fabric is very breathable, and the sole wraps up over the toes for protection
(Image credit: Tim Russon)
It is a unisex design available in whole sizes from EU38 to 48, in black, white or grey (as tested), and my pair of size 44s weighed 754g.
Performance
Despite their slightly ungainly looks, the Forza was instantly comfortable – the combination of soft upper and the TWS made my feet feel enveloped and secure; a bit like wearing a very stiff pair of worn-in slippers. The forefoot was not as wide as the bulbous design suggested, and in fact was probably on the slightly narrow side, which suited me just fine, holding my foot perfectly all round, with a neat feeling belied by the clumpy looks. The toe box does have some depth, but with the wraparound sole and extended protection layer, there is not much scope for give here.
The Forzas definitely look different to most gravel shoes
(Image credit: Andy Jones)
The heel, too, was very secure-feeling and comfortable; the internal silicone dots kept the shoes feeling snug without causing friction or hotspots, whether on or off the bike.
Even up here in deepest Yorkshire, the summer test period was dry and dusty, and I was able to put lots of miles in wearing the shoes. In fact, the dustiness highlighted how well-ventilated the mesh fabric is; the forefoot of my once-white socks was peppered with a matching mesh pattern of dirt after each dry ride. Ideal for warm summer rides, but I certainly wouldn’t be reaching for the Forzas in sub-zero temperatures!
Stiffness and power transfer were spot on too, ideal for enthusiastic-but-not-racing type rides, never feeling wasteful but not as unforgiving as something like Sidi’s rock-solid Physis. The TWS system was not intrusive but worked well to provide some support around the midfoot whilst allowing other areas of the upper to move, flex, and stretch with the foot rather than holding it rigidly in place throughout.
The heel cup and TWS design provided lots of security when climbing
(Image credit: Andy Jones)
Ultimately, I’d always prefer two dials instead of one for greater control and customisation, but in this instance, one dial did the job okay and is about par for the course at the price point.
All was not quite perfect, though, as there were a couple of perplexing niggles with the Forzas. Firstly, I had to tighten them up a few times per ride, which was odd, though whenever I made a concerted effort to monitor them and the dial positions, it didn’t happen. And secondly, the Shimano SH51 cleats I used wore out very quickly on the Udogs – either I got my cleat position entirely wrong, Shimano is now using Cheddar rather than steel, or the rubber grips were so close to the cleats that I was entering the pedals at an odd angle every time. As yet, I don’t have the answer.
Tread isn’t very aggressive, and there could be more room around the cleats
(Image credit: Andy Jones)
The final oddity is that the heel on the outsole is both a bit narrow and very short, which compromises stability when walking on rough ground. In fact, the rearmost section of the heel cup sits 3cm further back than the rearmost section of the rubber sole, so it is very easy to catch the shoe rather than the sole. Perhaps some of the excessive rubber over the toe box would have been better used further back on the shoe.
Value
Despite these criticisms, the Forzas were great to use, with a good balance of comfort and performance, and I have had no qualms about reaching for them for every gravel ride recently. The aesthetics might be a bit divisive, but you should be looking at the trail rather than your feet anyway!
With a price tag of £175/ $230, Udog are operating in a very competitive arena, but despite the couple of perplexing ‘issues’ mentioned above (which may not be the shoe’s fault), I think they are well worth a try. They feel neater in use than they look, and have proved themselves very comfortable no matter how long the ride. Breathability was excellent, and thus far they seem pretty durable.
Overall, a good blend of comfort and performance for long rides
(Image credit: Andy Jones)
Similar in price and design to the Specialized Recon 2 and the Quoc Gran Tourer, but with a knit upper, the Udogs are in the right price range.
As ever with footwear, fit is more important than anything else. I had wrongly assumed that the Forzas would be quite wide from their external looks, but in fact the opposite is true, so if your feet err towards the narrower, low-volume end of the spectrum and you want some comfortable, all-day shoes that still provide good performance, then they might be just the ticket.
Tech spec
- Price: £ 175/ $230
- Weight: 754g (actual, size EU44)
- Outsole: Carbon-nylon composite
- Retention: Single dial (Twist Tech)
- Colours: 3 (Grey, Black, White)
- Sizes: EU38-48
