TESTED: Shimano GE7 mountain bike shoes

Words: Hayden Wright | Photos: Mike Blewitt and Clancy Kelly

Shimano are relentless in their development of cycling footwear. While their Saint downhill group set hasn’t been updated in over a decade, the Japanese cycling giants are on what must be at least their 5th revision of their gravity shoe line since 2013. The GE7 I have had on test for the past few months is the mid range offering within the GE range of clipless shoes, and on paper offers everything I look for in this kind of product. Some of the other Shimano shoes I have used in recent years lacked that special something when compared to the venerable AM45 from yesteryear, so I was keen to slip my feet into these and see if that elusive magic has been recaptured.

Out of the box

Earthy tones seem to be all the rage at the moment, with this colour variant of the GE7s Shimano shipped to me proving this point. While there is an all black option, these light grey kicks I had on test seem pretty well thought out, with the gum sole and olive laces going well with the grey synthetic leather upper. There is also a long and wide lace strap, raised ankle protector and reinforced toe box – all necessities for a gravity shoe at thi price point. The rubber and sole are both Shimano’s own in-house offerings, named ULTREAD and TORBAL 2.0 respectively.

These are paired to deliver a shoe which has a stiffness rating of 6/10 on Shimano’s own scale. In hand they’re much stiffer then the GE5 I have also tested recently, while being slightly more supple than the Fizik Gravita Tensor, which have become my go-to up to this point. On my digital scale the size 45 came in at 472 grams a piece (available in sizes 38-48), which is nearly identical to the aforementioned Fiziks. The cleat channel is wide and deep, allowing for quick and easy installation of some SH51 cleats in my preferred location.

On the trail

I felt a little like Cinderella when I first put these shoes on. Shoe fit is an entirely personal thing, but oh boy – these size 45 GE7s fit me perfectly. The wide toe box is nice and roomy, and when combined with the skate style laces and robust instep strap makes for a supremely snug and comfortable shoe. Similarly, the sole stiffness seemed just right. That being, not so stiff as to be harsh on rough chatter, but also firm enough to avoid flexing and deforming during big compressions or hard pedalling.

I particularly appreciated how supple the shoe was around the rear of the GE7, which is where I typically get blisters during the break in phase of any new riding shoe. Cleat engagement was unencumbered when paired with my trusty XT trail pedals, with plenty of float available in both directions while clipped in. The synthetic leather upper did a good job of brushing off any moisture encountered on rainy rides, while still maintaining some level of airflow through the perforations around the toe box. As you would expect the light grey upper does get quite dirty out on the trail, however a quick scrub in the kitchen sink with some warm soapy water and a dish sponge brought them back to near-new appearance. While I am sure some deeper scuffs and scrapes will stand out over time and be more difficult to clean, the materials themselves aren’t very absorbent and clean up easily.

Verdict

Shimano nailed it with the GE7. The stiffness, fit and form of these shoes is just right. The sole manages to be both absorbent to trail chatter while also being comfortable to walk in, and offers a fantastic interface with SPD pedals. These light grey shoes have now become my go-to from a few options I have in the garage.

RRP: $269.95
From: Shimano Australia

Hits
– Laces strap functions well
– Wide toe box
– Just the right amount of sole stiffness
– Durable materials

Misses
– Quality clipless shoes are getting expensive