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I used to think Shimano didn’t really care that much for gravel racing, but with its new flagship S-Phyre RX910 gravel shoes the tide could finally be turning.
Built to bridge the gap between its featherweight RC903 road shoes and the robust XC903 MTB shoes, the RX910 gravel shoes feature a stiff carbon sole paired with just enough tread for shorter sections off the bike.
The RX910 shoes also debut Shimano’s new ‘Pontoon cleat system’ – a moveable and user-replaceable set of TPU lugs that greatly increase the shoe’s contact area with two-bolt SPD pedals, and add additional tread when walking.
On first impressions, I think Shimano may have come up with something special here. Let’s take a look at the finer details.
One shoe to rule them all
Until the RX910 shoes launched, Shimano’s most expensive gravel offering was the RX801 shoes.
And while the RX801s are doubtless an excellent pair of gravel shoes at a decent price, they don't quite match the fit and performance of Shimano’s best shoes.
The toe strap, for example, is almost entirely cosmetic and doesn’t offer much adjustability at the forefoot.
In contrast, the dual-Boa dial setup on the S-Phyre RX910 shoes enables far greater adjustability and a more cosseting fit across the foot. A more aggressive heel cup also makes for better foot retention when pulling up on the pedals or walking off the bike.
They new shoes feature stiffer carbon soles, rated 12/12 on Shimano’s own scale, versus 10/12 for the RX801s.
On first impressions, though, the Pontoon cleat system might be the star of the show here (especially given cycling shoe stiffness is likely overrated by racers).
Shimano’s press materials included a quote from one of its sponsored gravel pros, Peter Stetina, calling it “the most exciting point of this shoe”. It's the kind of quote I’d typically dismiss as simple marketing speak.
In this instance, though, Stetina is right – the Pontoon cleat system tangibly increases the contact area with SPD pedals, leading to a greater feeling of stability on and connection to the pedals.
I’m sceptical as to whether it infers any measurable increase in power transfer, but it definitely feels more akin to pedalling on the broader platform offered by Shimano’s SPD-SL road pedals.
In my testing so far, the Pontoons have worked with both Shimano’s own XT M8000 pedals and the new Garmin Rally XC210s, which suggests riders won’t be limited to using Shimano pedals with them.
In any case, the Pontoons are removable if they don’t play nicely with your pedals of choice.
The lugs found on the RX910’s soles are fairly minimal, but this reflects the lightweight, race-focused nature of these shoes.
An all-white off-road shoe?
On my scales, a pair of size-EU45 RX910 shoes weighs 660g with the Pontoons attached.
That makes them heavier than the RX801s, which weigh 621g per pair in the same size, but given that extra weight is unnoticeable while riding, it feels well worth it for the improved connection to your pedals.
We’ve got a set of all-white shoes in for testing, which is a bold choice for shoes designed for off-road riding, but other colours are available.
Available now, in sizes EU36 to 48 in standard widths, and EU40 to 48 in wide widths, the Shimano S-Phyre RX910 shoes cost £369.99 / $480 / €419.95.
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