Udog Cento carbon-soled road cycling shoes bring a performance and fit upgrade with new twist on dial & wire retention. Using their special Tension Wrap construction, Udog adds 2 custom oversized dials to reel in a precise fit with much more separate adjustability between the midfoot and your instep…
Udog Cento dial-retention carbon road shoes
The unique secret to Udog’s shoes is their Tension Wrap midfoot straps that give wearers a more wrapped secure fit around the middle, or waist of the foot. The idea is more comfort securing the foot in your shoe, but with conventional laces it’s not always so practically easy to create the perfect tension on different zones of the shoe. But now, with 2 dial closures, road cyclists can dial-in the fit of the combined toe box and midfoot, separately from the instep.
Why not a Boa dial?
Speaking with Udog founder Alberto Fonte, they chose to develop their own Micro Twist dial for a few key reasons. First off, dial systems can be relatively restrictive, with Boa somewhat dictating what laces, lacing layouts & interfaces are possible, especially for smaller manufacturers. So by going their own, Udog could create the retention exactly how they wanted it.
That meant using woven textile laces with high-strength hi-mod polyethylene (aka Dyneema), instead of plastic or reinforced wires. And lacing them exclusively through webbing loops for smoother action and better durability than plastic guides.
The freedom also let Udog put a single dial on the middle of the tongue for even symmetrical tensioning the front of the foot, and protected from crash damage.
Pair that with a single side dial connected to a long instep strap. Even, comfortable pressure across the top of the tongue, and a solid heel lock. Plus, it’s easier access while pedaling to micro adjust on-the-go.
As to the dials themselves, Udog wanted a larger diameter dial that was easier to operate with or without gloves. And they were able to find a solution with lower stack height than other top premium dials on the market. The result is a soft ergonomic rubber dial, 30mm in diameter, and just 10mm tall overall.
Tech details
Beside the new closure for the Udog Cento, much of the remainder of the tech is shared with their other road shoes – with a “generous toe box and a deep heel cup”. The upper is a soft laser-perforated synthetic microfiber, with tougher TPU reinforcements at the toe & heel for added durability.
Underneath is the same 3-bolt “ultra-stiff high carbon composite outsole” as found on Udog’s Cima lace-up road shoes. With a stiffness index of “11”, for what that is worth. ‘These go to eleven‘.
Inside, directional ventilation channels keep your feet cool. Sliding titanium nuts allow for 5mm of front-to-back cleat adjustment. And then on the outside, non-replaceable rubber heel & toe tread caps give a bit of walking grip.
Udog Cento – Pricing, options & availability
The new Udog Cento carbon road shoes are technically available now only as a pre-order. That means to buy these $325 / 295€ shoes now, you only have to put up a non-refundable 5% of their final retail price. Pay just 15€ now.
Then, the final 95% will be billed when the shoes are ready to ship. And Udog will deliver your new Cento shoes in mid-March 2024. Just in time for the start of next spring’s road riding season.
The Udog Cento comes in whole EU sizes from 38-48. With a claimed weight of 270g per shoe for a size 42. Shoes are offered only in white. Because white is faster, right? And Alberto says road riders these days only really want white shoes.
