I enjoy off-road cycling and I like a lightweight shoe, so I had high hopes for Quoc's gravel offering the Escape Off-Road.
Weighing in at 314g apiece (size EU43, sans cleat hardware), they're a treat for the feet - but are these dainty slippers robust enough to withstand a summer on the trails?
![](https://images.sportive.com/thumb_654/202309/1d644e798228994b1d22954347089aa5.jpg)
![](https://images.sportive.com/thumb_654/202309/8c4cb625707551823f3d7a9491fea09c.jpg)
![](https://images.sportive.com/thumb_654/202309/7f5ba602c0baa2e5adac2b6134cf602c.jpg)
The shoes are tightened and adjusted via what Quoc call a "single dial closure system"; it's similar to Boa but the release mechanism is slightly different. It takes a few rides to relearn but it works fine - I mean I've yet to be trapped in them.
And despite the low weight, they have stood up well to gravel rides this year, including some long ones - the 215km Ekoi Stone Circle, 222km on the South Downs Way - and some MTB ones, like the Cooley Thriller.
![Photo: Michael Blann](https://images.sportive.com/thumb_654/202309/f4625b07817f7ca2a5b6455dd87a2fba.jpg)
![From summer duty on the Stone Circle to some tough MTB rides the Quoc Escapes have survived every test.](https://images.sportive.com/thumb_654/202309/73fee1e8b0e6476f9d19ac7b7fa0002b.jpg)
Off the bike they are pretty good too, thanks in part to those two removeable studs - or spikes - at the toe. A note of caution here, these are only finger tight out of the box so get a spanner on them before you ride or you'll likely lose a stud or two.
Discovering this the hard way, I was relieved to find that Quoc sell replacement spikes on their site at a reasonable £15 for a pack of eight in two lengths.
![Single dial adjustment is effective once you get the hang of it.](https://images.sportive.com/thumb_654/202309/80bc1ce5e91cf8f8c98ed05ac1156690.jpg)
![The robust tread offers good grip on hike a bike or coffee stops.](https://images.sportive.com/thumb_654/202309/0c24f1f1db709fe1ea2338eab9f5aef7.jpg)
Comfort wise, the fit works well for me. My only issue has been a bit of chaffing around the ankle which I think is a combination of two things: first the sides of the shoe are unpadded - presumably to save weight - meaning there's a quite rigid lip around the top.
This would be all right, but I also found my foot lifting slightly out of the shoe the longer a ride went on; eventually I realised I hadn't tightened the dial enough to start with so that although it felt tight, there was still some slack in the bottom of the lace. Over the course of a ride this slack would work its way up the cord loosening the shoe and resulting in the chaffing, especially in out-of-the-saddle efforts.
I now pay a bit more attention when putting on the shoes, tugging the cord a bit to make sure everything's nice and snug, and with my foot firmly bedded in there are no more issues.
![Tighten that dial to avoid heel lift.](https://images.sportive.com/thumb_654/202309/4ff0f885fcbaa004b95eb79b9a6150aa.jpg)
It's worth noting that if your gravel bike spends some or even most of its time on the road, then this is exactly the sort of shoe you want; its low weight and streamlined looks compare well to dedicated road shoes, but with the bonus of fully recessed SPD cleats and a hint of flex in the sole for easy walkability at the coffee stop.
![](https://images.sportive.com/thumb_654/202309/05bf8d99752fff3e7c90b4bd9faf8b92.jpg)
Comfort is adequate, too, but if you plan to stray into all-day territory and beyond then something with a little more padding might be preferable - take a look at Quoc's Gran Tourer XC for example, which is a similar shape but offers a second dial and padded heel cushioning for an even snugger fit with only a small weight penalty.
Bottom line: the Escape is an impressively lightweight shoe for fleet-footed adventures both on and off the trail.
Quoc Escape Off-Road, £150 from quoc.cc
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