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Does A Climber Need Special Shoes? Rapha Thinks So

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Rapha-Climbers-Shoes-Header

Segmentation and specialization are the natural course of progress. Cycling is growing, and that gives room for items to become more specific to their task. We have climbing wheels, climbing frames and now, climbing shoes.

Never shy to jump right in, Rapha is introducing the Climber’s Shoes. For $400, and available online only, they are taking pre-orders now for the lightweight shoes that have lots of ventilation. Check out the colorways after the jump…

Rapha-Climber-Shoe-ColorsThe upper part of the shoe is designed to be very breathable, with a mesh backed synthetic leather. Standard loop style velcro straps were chosen for their low weight. The sole is the Easton EC90 SLXII carbon fiber sole also used on Giro shoes. This sole keeps weight and height down, has a replaceable heel plate, and will accept Giro SuperNatural Fit footbeds.

All of this adds to a shoe that comes in a 215g. Impressively light compared to an average shoe, but still not the lightest shoe out there. Rapha says shipment is in November, and you can pre-order the shoes in white, pink or team blue direct on their website right now.
Rapha-Climber-1www.rapha.cc

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28 Comments
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j
j
10 years ago

I’m sorry, but Adam Hansen’s shoes still sh*t on these, so do Bonts.

R0b0tAt0ms
R0b0tAt0ms
10 years ago

What exactly makes these shoes optimized for climbing? Light weight and ventilated? LOL Rapha

dirk
10 years ago

How to earn money and tell crap

desnrd
desnrd
10 years ago

(deleted)

Slow Joe Crow
Slow Joe Crow
10 years ago

This begs the question, other than sounding cool, which seems to be much of Rapha’s rationale, what special shoe requirements does a climber have? As far as I can tell any pro racer needs a light stiff sole for power transfer and a strong closely fitted upper for long distance comfort, and there seem to be many routes from Taylor Phinney’s neo-retro Giro lace-ups through various moldable shoes like Shimano and Bont all the way to Adam Hansen’s unique molded carbon fiber shoes. The only special requirement I can see is aero, which is usually handled with shoe covers for TTs or occasional critical sprints.

Baz
Baz
10 years ago

Rapha make me LOL.

Derek
Derek
10 years ago

I think they look a lot better than the Giro Prolight SLX 2 which is probably what they are based off of. Is that worth $50 and 20 extra grams for the pair? To some people, probably.

BT
BT
10 years ago

Won’t the weight savings be negated by the need to carry your other specialized shoes with you during a ride?

Mr. P
10 years ago

I’m looking forward to their descending shoe.

P

Sam
Sam
10 years ago

hold on guys, there’s a hill coming up, Ihave to change all of my clothing, frame and wheels and shoes.

i
i
10 years ago

at the top of a hill: “hold up a sec, guys, I have to change shoes.”
I can’t think of a better way to spend $400…

Elephantino
Elephantino
10 years ago

You all have this wrong…They’ll MAKE you climb better

Sean
Sean
10 years ago

I think I’ll wait for the special climbing sunglasses.

WG
WG
10 years ago

We’ve had sprinter’s jersey in every major race for a few years now, so the climber’s shoes seem like a natural evolution of this concept. I just can’t wait for these to be awarded to the winner in climber’s competition at the Tour!

BT
BT
10 years ago

The shoes would be cooler if they had little wings on them.

JBikes
JBikes
10 years ago

I can climb vertical grades in my 5.10’s

ScottO
ScottO
10 years ago

Where is cycling growing?

Evanstonian
Evanstonian
10 years ago

Good looking shoes, but I will wait until Rapha releases shoes specific for climbs in the Pyrenees. 😉

Ed R
Ed R
10 years ago

But what if I just think I’m a climber, do i still need these????

dontcoast
10 years ago

Silly marketing? absolutely.

All they had to do is show me the black shoe with pink on it and I was into it.

Salty snail
Salty snail
10 years ago

Sounds like all the hate is coming from the name. Should they have used the typical bike industry buzz words to market their lightweight shoe? Giro used both “pro” and “light” in their heavy-handed naming scheme. Maybe this is too hard for some to figure out? I’m good with calling it a climber’s shoe, much more invocative of the purpose of their design.

edge
edge
10 years ago

I’m gonna have to call B.S. on this one….

simon
simon
10 years ago

I think they’re hot….I have the regular rapha shoes and they are the most comfortable I’ve owned in 25 years of cycling.

Singletrackroadie
Singletrackroadie
10 years ago

It is a well known fact that all you need is red shoes, with flames on the side. That will make you go faster. Weight does not matter all.

Argh
Argh
10 years ago

weight does matter. just go study physics 🙂

bernard
bernard
10 years ago

The idea of a climbing shoe is not something new, Mavic Huez for example. there is no inovation here. I think all this lightweight climbing equipment is an old niche. I don’t think these “marginal” lightweight gain really does anything. They are all just an expensive placebo. the only reason why it might work is maybe because people just push a little harder to justify the cash they throw. or simply the extra morale when they use “better” gears

Loki
Loki
10 years ago

@ salty snail: It is all in a name – we’re talking about a company that marketed itself as having some storied cycling past based on the onomatopoeic similarity to the legendary team St. Raphael. Vintage, wool, timeless designs, we were there with Anquetil and Le Grand Fusil are the associations they were happy to create in their marketing buzz. Live by the sword, die by the sword…

Mindless
Mindless
10 years ago

Should work well on a latte run to a local cafe. I will take two, if they make it color coordinated with my climber specific bike.

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