The best kit from Shimano’s massive 2018 clothing, shoes and accessories range
New Evolve kit, updated RP shoes, gravel shoes and lots, lots more
Coinciding with the first day of EuroBike 2017, Shimano has just sent through its massive 133 page 2018 catalogue, and it’s rammed full of a huge amount of new road, mountain and urban riding clothing, accessories and shoes.
Luckily, BikeRadar is here to do the heavy lifting for you. We’ve spent the day digging through the extensive range to find the hottest new kit from the Japanese giant for 2018.
2018 Shimano clothing
2018 Shimano Evolve kit
Evolve is a new premium line from Shimano for 2018. It draws inspiration from the brand’s top-end S-Phyre kit, using the same bonded seam construction and similarly understated designs and high-quality materials throughout.
At first glance, the kit appears to be nicely finished, with Shimano claiming that wide “ribbon style shoulder straps” and “gripper-free hems provide comfort” in a lightweight package.
The kit is also peppered with little reflective highlights that are said to improve visibility in low light conditions.
In line with a growing understanding of the dangers that riding all day in the cooking-hot sun poses, the Evolve jersey is UPF 50+ rated.
The Evolve jersey is available in navy, black, blue or beech, with matching gloves also available. The bib shorts are available in either black or navy.
2018 Shimano S-Phyre kit
A look through the catalogue doesn’t reveal anything new for Shimano’s premium S-Phyre kit, but if you’re keen to learn more about these snazzy threads, you can check out our earlier overview of the range below.
- Shimano debuts S-Phyre clothing
- Shimano S-Phyre XC9 review
- Shimano S-Phyre RC9 review
- Shimano announces S-Phyre winter kit, additions to Performance range and more
- Shimano SH-XC9 S-Phyre vs. Sidi Tiger XC shoes
2018 Shimano Climber’s jersey
Similar to Castelli’s and Rapha’s respective ‘Climber’s’ jerseys, the Shimano Climber’s jersey (can we think of a new name for lightweight jerseys, please?) is constructed from a superlight, “air diffusing 2-way stretch fabric” that is optimised to dump excess heat and maximise airflow.
No claimed weights are given, but we can tell you the jersey comes in blue, yellow and white.
2018 Shimano Breakaway jersey
The Breakaway jersey is a more training-oriented option, with its 4-way stretch fabric cut into a more casual fit.
The jersey is available in a handsome grey/pink or navy colour scheme or, if you flirt with on-trendness, a very-lairy-indeed neon blue or lime camo. Sick.
2018 Shimano Explorer kit
The new Explorer lineup is aimed at the broad ‘adventure’ market, with a more casual fit and look.
The lineup also includes the slightly unusual looking Transit Polo — this is the first collared cycling jersey we’ve seen in quite some time and we’re certainly on the fence with this one.
2018 Shimano footwear
Shimano XC5 shoes
Clearly aimed at the gravel/shred-venture market, the XC5 shoes are a brand new addition to the Shimano lineup.
Somewhat unusually for Shimano, the shoes use good old fashioned laces. Shimano usually prefers velcro, Boa dials or ratchet straps for its clipless shoes, though has offered the touring oriented RT4 with laces for a little while now.
The shoes use the same Michelin sole that is used on a lot of Shimano’s other shoes. The shoes also feature toe-spike mounts, so if you’re partial to a little bit of cyclocross racing, these should be a good option.
The shoes are available in either black and orange or white and orange, with the woman’s XC5 shoes coming in a rather nice grey and fluro pink colour combo.
Shimano CT5 urban shoes
Keen to capitalise on the ever-growing urban market, Shimano has introduced the skate-shoe styled CT5 urban shoe.
Built around a “shock absorbing EVA mid-sole”, the shoes are optimised for all-day wear and use with Shimano’s CLICK’R pedals.
For those that don’t know, CLICK’R is essentially a regular SPD system that is easier to get in and out of and has found favour with some urban and beginner riders.
The shoes are available in navy, black, olive and orange for the men’s shoes and navy, black or mint for women.
Shimano SH-SD5 sandals
Yes, it’s 2017 and Shimano is still producing SPD sandals.
Perhaps the ol’ SPD sandal is going to be one of these things that are eventually embraced by normcore-savvy hipsters and become cool one day? Stranger things…
2018 Shimano gravity shoes
There’s a whole bunch of new downhill and enduro kicks from Shimano — alongside some really interesting flat and clipless pedals — but we already covered these in greater detail back in June.
2018 Shimano RP9 road shoe
Most of the shoes in Shimano’s RP road shoe range has seen a refresh, losing the multiple velcro and single ratchet strap retention system in favour of a simple, single BOA dial and/or velcro strap arrangement.
The RP9 tops the range, featuring a synthetic microfibre synthetic leather upper, a lightweight carbon sole that measures 10 on the stiffness scale and a claimed weight of 224g in a size 42.
The RP9 uses a simple BOA IP1 dial and single velcro strap at the front of the shoe for retention.
2018 Shimano RP5 road shoe
The RP5 shares much of the same features as the RP9, but is said to be a more “affordable high-performance shoe… for the aspiring rider”.
The RP5s see a slight downgrade to a L6 Boa dial, with the shoes coming in a touch heavier at 275g in a size 42. The sole is also slightly more flexible, measuring 8 on the stiffness index.
2018 Shimano RP1 road shoe
Lastly, the entry level RP1 is a simpler affair overall, using two velcro straps and a glass fiber reinforced sole to keep costs down.
Despite the lower cost, the shoes are impressively light at a claimed 255g for a size 42 — that’s only 30g more than the RP9!
2018 Shimano sunglasses
Shimano has introduced eight new models of sunglasses for 2018, with the Spark and Aerolite co-developed over the last season in collaboration with LottoNL-Jumbo riders.
While the more technical oriented glasses may look cool, we’re particularly fond of the amazingly 80’s-Euro-ish Meteor shades.
2018 Shimano backpacks
Shimano Tokyo urban daypack
The Tokyo urban daypack has grown in size and is now available in a very handsome, 23l desert camo version.
This trendy rolltop number has all the straps and ladder-stitch webbing that you could ever want and we suspect it’ll be coveted by trendy cycle-commuters the world over.
If camo isn’t your bag (sorry), the Tokyo is also available in black, grey, melange purple and melange navy.
Shimano Rokko backpack
The Rokko is an all new, super simple rucksack design from Shimano and is aimed squarely at the “road and mountain touring” crowd.
The Rokko features a “helmet holder, sculpted air mesh back panels and a zippered waist belt pocket” and is available in 8, 12 and 16l versions.
Shimano 2018 clothing, backpacks, shoes and sunglasses availability
The full range is on show at Eurobike, with footwear due to land in stores by late 2017 and everything else due in early 2018.
Pricing is to be confirmed. We’ll update this article once we have this info.
Authors
Jack has been riding and fettling bikes for his whole life. Always in search of the hippest new niche in cycling, Jack is a self-confessed gravel dork, fixie-botherer, tandem-evangelist, hill-climbing try hard, and thinks nothing of taking on a daft challenge for the BikeRadar YouTube channel. With a near encyclopaedic knowledge of cycling tech — from the most esoteric niche nonsense to the most cutting edge modern kit — Jack takes pride in his ability to seek out tech and stories that would otherwise go unreported. Jack has been a Senior Staff Writer at BikeRadar for three years now and is currently testing an All-City Mr Pink as his long term test bike.
