Shimano R099W review

Shimano’s only ladies road shoes, the R099Ws share the same features as the men’s mid-range model but in a scaled down fit. Compared to other shoes for women, these are close to the top of the pack in terms of lightness, stiffness and performance.

Power transfer is excellent thanks to the stiff, silver carbon fibre composite sole, and the feet are held securely in place to prevent wasted movement. A low profile, tapered heel section is well shaped to cup the heel, while the three wide offset Velcro straps hold comfortably without putting too much pressure on the instep.

Overall the shoes are fairly lean and narrow with a surprisingly good amount of wiggle space above the toes. The upper is a lightweight and supple synthetic with a few mesh inserts. There’s also a vent in the sole, minimal hard plastic toe and heel pads to stand on, and a non-slip area at the cleat mount.