TESTED: Shimano RX6 Shoes

Words and photos: Mike Blewitt

Shimano are well-known for having a broad range of cycling shoes, and it seems to grow every year as the niches of cycling increase. Even the SPD sandals have made a comeback for those tourers who like the wind between their toes. While Shimano have invested a lot into their gravity, XC and trail shoes, they have also added a gravel range to their line up. I've always opted to use my XC shoes for gravel, as the stiffness and weight tends to be just about right. But Shimano recently sent out a pair of the Shimano RX6 gravel shoes to test out.

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This set of shoes sits below the higher end RX8, but still aims to walk a line between a top road and mountain bike shoe. As such, the RX6 is lighter than a mountain bike shoe, with a little more ventilation, and in this instance a sole that is not as stiff as Shimano's top XC shoe.

The details

Shimano have a highly perforated synthetic upper on the RX6 to aid in breathability. There's one L6 BOA dial, and a small velcro strap over the toe area. I had a 44 Wide sent for testing, but you can get the shoes in sizes 38-50, with wide options from 38-48. A women's specific RX6W is also available, as shown here in the silver camo. There's a small strip of reflective patterning on the back of the heel for safety if you're sharing a gravel adventure route with motorists.

The outer has wider rubber than an XC9 shoe, and this helps for pedal stability and when you're off the bike. The tread pattern doesn't have as many cut outs as the XC9, making for larger lugs. There's no option for toe studs (mostly used for cyclocross, or very muddy races) and there are two ports to help water exit the shoe.

The RX6 lugs do wrap up around the toe and the back of the heel a little, to help protect the upper for foot-based excursions. The heel cup is less firm than a top XC race shoe, but by no means floppy. A single RX6 in 44E weighs 304g, compared to 330g for a Shimano XC9 in the same size. It's a minor weight saving. Shimano have a stiffness rating of 8 on the RX6 with a carbon reinforced sole, compared to 11 on their top XC9 shoes. This should result in a bit more all-round comfort, as opposed to all-out race stiffness.

If the shoe fits

The changes from a mountain bike shoe to a gravel shoe are minor, so I wasn't sure if I'd really notice. Fit wise, these were A1. I've used a mix of Shimano and Specialized shoes almost exclusively for 10 years, and find the 44, or 44 Wide when available, are perfect for me. I did add my own custom innersoles, as the stock inner soles are pretty light on for support.

There was plenty of room to get the cleat placement right, with a guide to help match the location from any previous shoes. I didn't change the location after fitting my cleats, so it must work. And I'm really fussy on cleat fitting!

I was sent these before a week-long gravel and adventure road cycling trip in Sri Lanka. I was heading off without knowing exactly what I'd encounter. Having done a mountain bike stage race in Sri Lanka, I remembered a lot of steep hills, rich red soil, and flowing rivers. If we were off-road, I figured there would be a good chance we'd end up on foot frequently.

On the dirt and roads

In the end, much of the trip was on road and some high-quality dirt road. But we were on and off the bike a lot visiting places and when entering or exiting our accommodation. We clocked up about 30 hours of riding over the week, and far more than that in bike shoes – as riding with a group of 16 means plenty of hanging around and waiting! From long climbs, monsoonal rains on the flat, fast descents and hot weather, these shoes were never thought about. Only towards the end of a 7-hour ride in 33-degree heat did I start to get a hot spot. 

I paired the RX6 with a set of Shimano XT Race pedals, and these were the perfect partners, offering excellent contact and stability. They'd go just as well with the trail pedals for rougher adventures, offering even more stability.

With varied weather on the whole trip, I was grateful that the shoes dried after the 150km day in monsoonal rain, this counts for a lot on any multi-day trip. Here at home, the RX6 have been an ideal shoe to clip in for when taking my gravel bike out on trips into Brisbane Forest Park or my local multi-use trails. They've proven to be sturdy when pushing up something too steep to ride, and easier to walk around in than my XC9 shoes. And more importantly, perhaps a little more comfortable on really long days.

I did find with the single BOA closure I was right on the edge of getting the shoe secure enough. I have a wide foot and a narrow heel, so I usually rely on the security of the closure system to keep my heel in place. I had no slipping at all, but when the load is spread over 2 BOA dials it usually lets me cinch down the top one a little better. Still, there was no impact on how well my foot stayed in the shoe.

Put your best foot forward

While I wasn't sceptical about the need for a gravel specific shoe, I did wonder if I'd notice the difference. While my cross-country riding tends towards marathon distance, I still appreciate a stiff shoe that keeps me locked in the pedals. The Shimano RX6 gravel shoes offer a slightly more supple upper than an all-out XC race shoe, and a sole that isn't quite as solid.

In use, there was zero downside to either of these changes. What I found was a very comfortable set of shoes to spend much of the day in, be it in the wet, dry, hills or flat areas. If I was lining up for a big gravel race, I'd likely still reach for my trusty Shimano XC9 shoes. But for a day in the dirt on my gravel bike with friends, I'll pull on the RX6 every time. If your off-road adventures have expanded to using a gravel bike and you're looking at replacing some older shoes, these are worth trying on at your local Shimano dealer.

RRP: $220

From: shimano.com.au

Hits:

• Big size range, plus wide fit and women's
• Very comfortable upper
• Breathability is great, plus fast drying

Misses:

• I’d prefer a second BOA