Back in June, I wrote about Shimano’s latest additions to their “gravity” shoe lineup, including the brand-new GE900 GTX. Based on the brand’s top-tier GE900 clipless gravity shoes, the GTX version cranks up the weather-resistance with a full Gore-Tex liner and an extended ankle collar. I received a pair to test a couple of months ago, but it has been far too warm and dry to even consider riding them until just recently.
Like the flip of a switch, fall weather arrived in my neck of the woods, opening the door to test these shoes in the conditions for which they are intended. The temperatures have fallen, and so has some much-needed moisture, and we’re lined up for some of the best conditions of the season. But with that comes the ongoing challenge of keeping my feet warm and dry when riding in the cold and/or rain, or on wet trails.
I’ve only got a couple of rides in the Shimano GE900 GTX shoes, so this is far from a long-term review. But after riding in cool temperatures, consistent drizzle, and muddy conditions, all signs point to these being my new favorite shoes for any wet and/or cold fall, winter, and spring riding for the foreseeable future.
- MSRP: $300
- Intended use: Gravity/enduro/trail, wet and/or cold weather
- Weight: 480 g/shoe, 960 g/pair (size 44)
- Closure: BOA L6 dial, velcro strap
- Uppers: Synthetic leather with GORE-TEX liner
- Midsole: Carbon fiber reinforced nylon + EVA
- Outsole: Ultread rubber
- Sizes: 38 – 48 EU (no half sizes)
- Colors: Black, Oak Brown
Pros
- Totally waterproof to top of ankle gaiter
- More breathable/wicking than expected
- Comfortable fit
- Good pedaling efficiency
- Easy to walk/hike in
Cons
- Expensive
- No half sizes
- Ankle cuff makes it a bit more challenging to put them on
Shimano GE900 GTX Details
The GE900 GTX is part of Shimano’s “gravity enduro” range of mountain bike footwear. It’s very similar to the existing GE900 clipless gravity shoe in terms of aesthetics, features, and intended use, but with a Gore-Tex liner and stretchy ankle cuff added to keep the elements at bay. It looks strikingly similar to the GF800 GTX flat pedal shoes that came out a couple of years ago.
The GE900 GTX shoes have a synthetic leather upper with ventilation holes above the toes and on the outside of the midfoot. The closure system consists of a BOA L6 dial over the midfoot, along with a velcro strap above that to lock the heel down. A thick rubber bumper wraps around the toes for some protection from rock strikes.
What sets these shoes apart visually from the regular GE900 is the sock-like stretch ankle cuff that extends above the ankle bones and a flap that covers the lower half of the tongue. Inside, the shoe is fully lined with a Gore-Tex waterproof membrane to keep moisture from entering. This lining extends up the ankle cuff as well, except for the elastic at the very top.
Underfoot, the midsole has a carbon fiber reinforced nylon shank along with EVA foam. The midsole also features Shimano’s Torbal 2.0 design, which intentionally allows torsional flex for a more natural feel when articulating the feet on the pedals. The product page states that the sole has a stiffness level of 3 on Shimano’s scale, but that seems like a mistake given how stiff and efficient they feel while pedaling — the regular GE900 is rated at a 7.
The entire sole, minus the cleat mount track, is covered in Shimano’s Ultread rubber. The tread is fairly aggressive with hexagonal lugs and a deeper pattern at the toe and heel for off-the-bike traction. The cleat mount track is 25 mm long and set back a bit to facilitate gravity-oriented cleat positions, and the whole pedal channel is super long as well.
The GE900 GTX comes in whole EU sizes between 38 and 48, no half sizes here. They have what Shimano refers to as a “volume trail last” and come with a dual-density trail/tour insole. They come in black or the oak brown (rusty pumpkin) color that I’m testing. Claimed weight per shoe is 464 grams in size 43. On my scale, my size 44 shoes weighed in at 480 grams.
Fit and Comfort
I’m going to start by saying that I’ve always gotten along well with Shimano shoes. The S-Phyre XC9 is my go-to for XC and gravel racing and is one of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn. I also absolutely loved the ME7 as an all-around trail shoe, and I’m sad that it is no longer in the brand’s lineup.
But as a solid 43.5, I don’t love the fact that the GE900 GTX doesn’t come in any half sizes. I feared that a 43 would likely be a tad too small, so I sized up to a 44, and it’s just a hair longer than I’d like. That said, I’ll be wearing these shoes primarily in cool/cold temperatures, and that leaves a little wiggle room to pair them with slightly thicker socks.
The “volume trail last” is totally agreeable for my average width and volume feet. They aren’t overly tight, nor are they too roomy. I’ve got zero unwanted or unexpected pressure spots. The stock Shimano footbed also feels great with just the right amount of support for my feet.
Slipping my feet into the shoes is one of my only complaints about them. The elastic at the top of the ankle cuff is somewhat snug, so it takes a little effort and care to shove my foot in there. That’s the tradeoff for the ankle cuff to be snug once the shoe is on, however, and something that I’m willing to deal with for warm, dry feet. The ankle cuff is also quite soft and flexible, and I haven’t experienced any rubbing or irritation, even on longer, pedal-heavy test rides.
Once on, the BOA L6 dial makes it quick and easy to snug the shoe around my midfoot while the velcro strap above locks the heel down. I haven’t noticed any slop or heel lift when walking/hiking, but the BOA/velcro combo makes it easy to adjust when needed.
On Trail Impressions
I’ve only got a couple of rides in the GE900 GTX shoes, but they’ve given me virtually nothing to complain about on the bike. I know that Shimano bills them as a “gravity-enduro” shoe, but that designation seems a little off to me, given that they basically only have XC or gravity shoes in their lineup. Sure, they are well-suited to gravity or enduro riding, but they’re pretty darn efficient on the pedals, and I think they are a solid option for everyday trail riding, too.
That’s why I was confused by the stiffness rating of 3 on the GE900 GTX’s product page on the Shimano website. They’re obviously not XC shoes, but they are pretty stiff underfoot, and I didn’t really notice any flex in the sole under pedaling power. At the same time, the EVA midsole helps damp vibration, and they felt pretty forgiving on the descents. I also noticed Shimano’s Torbal 2.0 midsole feature, as there’s some torsional flex in the sole toward the heel. I’m undecided as to whether I think it’s a pro or a con, but it didn’t bother me either way.
The sole also has plenty of flex through the toe, so walking around and hiking up rocky sections also felt pretty natural. Shimano’s Ultread rubber isn’t the grippiest rubber around, but the aggressive tread on the soles did a fine job of finding traction in loose, wet dirt.
Weather Resistance
I rode for around 3 hours the other day in a fairly consistent drizzle. It was around 50 – 55 degrees the whole ride, and the trail conditions ranged from perfect hero dirt to slightly sloppy but far from too wet. It was by no means freezing cold, but my clothes were quite wet and everything was spattered with mud by the end of it. My shoes were getting spashed constantly and were in the direct line of fire from the spray from my front tire.
It was the kind of weather that isn’t so terrible that you won’t ride, but your feet are almost guaranteed to get soaked unless you’re wearing waterproof shoes. Wearing the GE900 GTX, my feet stayed completely dry — not a drop of moisture got inside the shoes, even from the top. It wasn’t so wet that water was running down my legs and into the ankle cuff, but that’s about the only way that moisture could enter. Even then, if you have the right pants on, you can overlap the shoe’s ankle cuff to try to prevent that.
I was also surprised to find that my feet stayed almost completely dry of sweat. It was a cool day, but my feet always sweat profusely — regardless of the temperature — and they were barely even damp inside the shoes. With the Gore-Tex liner, I expected them to be pretty clammy, but perhaps it was actually wicking moisture away from my feet as claimed, which isn’t always the case.
That said, I’d imagine these shoes would be pretty warm on the feet in temperatures above 65 degrees or so. On the flip side, they aren’t really insulated, either, so I assume they wouldn’t be ideal for temperatures below freezing. I’ll need to do more testing to confirm, but I’m guessing their ideal temperature range is probably around 35 to 60 degrees, give or take.
Shimano GE900 GTX: My Short-Term Takeaway
Fall weather, with its cool temperatures, moisture, and heroic riding conditions, is here, and I’m excited to keep putting the GE900 GTX shoes through their paces. I haven’t put them completely through the wringer yet, but so far, I’ve been very impressed by their comfort, on-bike performance, and weather resistance. Often, it seems like waterproof shoes sacrifice some other aspects of their performance, but that doesn’t appear to be the case here.
At $300, they certainly aren’t cheap, but could be well worth the asking price for those looking to keep their feet dry and warm when the weather is doing the opposite. I’ll report back with any additional findings as I continue to test these shoes over the next several months.
Head to the Shimano website for more information or to find a dealer near you.
