I recently picked these AGU AQ24 shoes up from Nashbar for just $30, and I am really happy with them. AGU is a Dutch company that makes a cycling apparel, shoes, and helmets. I hadn’t heard of them before, but I am impressed with the good value the AQ24 shoes present.
While not as stylish as a pair of Nike Dunks or Adidas Sambas, they do have a cool, low-key look with brown and black suede leather. They are stylish enough for the office and after work as well. The insoles have a strong arch in them, similar to Adidas shell toe sneakers, with fairly thin but still soles. Removing the insole reveals a hard plastic sole. The cleat is not quite recessed enough; it sticks out a little bit and can be an issue on hard, slick floors like polished marble or tile. I’ve been wearing them with Time ATAC cleats which are about as minimalist as you can get.
In terms of fit, they run a bit narrow but break in quickly. Since they are lace-up only, you’re not going to get the kind of tight fit you’d expect from a dedicated road shoe, but it’s comfortable and acceptable for commuting. The mesh panels breathe well and allow the shoes to flex a bit more around your foot for comfort. I’ve been wearing them for about a week and they still look new; I don’t have any concerns so far about them falling apart or wearing out.
In summary, at $30 these are an excellent deal and I would recommend them to anyone looking for a touring / commuting shoe that supports ATAC / SPD / Crank Bros. cleats. There aren’t any other shoes out there anywhere near this price point, and I’m already considering buying a second pair for when I wear out this set.
More pictures after the jump…
your timing couldn’t have been any better. I’m considering grabbing a pair of these, and wanted to know how they fit. Aside from running a bit narrow, length-wise, are they true to size, or do they run a bit big/small? (if by some coincidence, you can compare them to tigers, or pumas, that’d be perfect, as i’m rocking those now)
btw, thanks for the review. before this, I’d heard absolutely nothing about these shoes, and was a little skeptical based on the dirt-cheap price point. now i’m highly interested…
I’d say they run a little big in length; I’m a 9.5 mens in US size but the AGU’s are european 43 instead of 43.5, and there’s still room for me to move my foot forward and back. I’ve never worn Tigers or Pumas (more of an Adidas, Chucks, and Vans guy, myself) but these are similar to Adidas Sambas. However, the stiff sole will have a fundamentally different feel than any regular sneaker.