Shimano R300 shoe review

The R300 is Shimano’s much-hyped, custom-fit performance race shoe. UsingThermo-Form technology, the shoe is moulded to your feet by a Shimano dealer (see custom fit).

This involves baking the shoes and insoles in an oven, then vacuum-packing them so that they follow the contours of your feet. It’s a 10-minute job for a dealer with the correct equipment.This ensures that theThermo-Form liners will fit your feet exactly -ideal if you have any’irregularities’. Combined with the monocoque Nanotec carbon sole (complete with hollow channels), this creates a true custom-fit performance race shoe. Our man Paul Vincent even found the R300s incredibly comfortable and stiff without getting them fitted! Sort of missing the point, but it just illustrates how well they perform.

Once moulded, they really do feel like a pair of your favourites. It’s an unusual feeling and not one you normally associate with new shoes.The custom fit really comes into its own with the extra support it delivers.They feel very powerful and you can do up the straps ridiculously tight without it hurting or cutting off blood circulation. At £180, they’re pricey, sure, but not compared to their pro level SIDI, DMT and Northwave rivals. In fact, for what you get for the money, they’re almost a bargain.