Home > Clothing-Gear-Tools

Shimano RX8 pares down to the essentials for super light gravel race shoes

2019 Shimano RX8 gravel shoes, lightweight gravel bike race shoes
6 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

Shimano’s latest RX8 gravel bike shoes put XC race shoes on a diet to create more refined, featherweight solution for gravel bike racing. It’s not the first gravel shoes from Shimano – that could probably go to the lace-up XC5s or even the Explorer family – but this is Shimano getting serious about gravel from a proper race perspective, to align with their new GRX gravel-specific drivetrain

Shimano RX8 lightweight gravel bike racing shoes

2019 Shimano RX8 gravel shoes, lightweight gravel bike race shoes
c. Shimano

What do you actually want in a gravel bike shoe? We’ve already waded into the debate of whether gravel riding necessitates gravel-specific shoe in recent reviews: Do you want a road-like stiff pedaling platform, or a something more accustomed to walking around the bikepacking camp? But Shimano is narrowing gravel even more here to, what do you want for a gravel race shoe?

The efficiency of a light & stiff carbon-soled XC race shoe has been the most versatile choice. But even then, there is room for improvement, keeping what is most necessary & shedding everything extraneous…

2019 Shimano RX8 gravel shoes, lightweight gravel bike race shoes

The RX8 maintains the long-lasting rubber tread lugs, the stable heel design & stiff carbon composite sole construction of their premium lightweight XC9 cross-country mountain bike race shoes. That ensures plenty of pedaling efficiency & a secure fit for gravel racing, plus some off-the-bike walkability.

2019 Shimano RX8 gravel shoes, lightweight gravel bike race shoes

But gravel racing isn’t likely to ever need screw-in toe spikes, so those are gone. And since you aren’t going to be doing run-ups, that heel cup can actually be trimmed down without worrying about heel lift, again shedding grams. Finally, replacing one of the Boa dials off the XC shoes with a velcro strap across the forefoot works just as well since you do more pedaling than climbing in a gravel race, giving good fit adjustability for less weight.

2019 Shimano RX8 gravel shoes, lightweight gravel bike race shoes

The result is dropping 60-65g per shoe vs. the XC7 or XC9, for a claimed RX8 weight of 265g per shoe (size 42) with a single Boa IP1 micro adjust dial securing closure. You still get fresh-smelling Silvadur-infused insoles, a wide size 38-50 fit range, and silver or black camo color options. There will even be a navy blue camo RX8W version with a women-specific last as well.

2019 Shimano RX8 gravel shoes, lightweight gravel bike race shoes

The new RX8 gravel race shoes will sell for $250, and are set to be available starting in August 2019

bike.Shimano.com

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

6 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
threeringcircus
threeringcircus
4 years ago

Those look awesome! The silver ones will be on my wish list for my next pair of shoes.

Marc L
Marc L
4 years ago

Got to play with these at Elephant Rock a couple of weeks ago- the finish on those silver shoes is like a hot dip zinc (like you’d see on a duct or pail): very cool and the black is a lower-key version of the same. Shimano has always made comfortable (to me), durable shoes. My XC7s have a lot of life left but something like this could very easily be next in line.

justmyopinion
justmyopinion
4 years ago

“But gravel racing isn’t likely to ever need screw-in toe spikes,” Must have only done dry gravel races

ZeGerman
ZeGerman
4 years ago

Shut up and take my monies

pm732
4 years ago

no toe spikes. how cute.

David Tollefson
4 years ago

These might need to be on my radar…

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.