The lower-priced option of Shimano’s two gravel-specific shoes, the Shimano RX6 shoes feature a synthetic leather upper combined with rubberised tread and a carbon/nylon sole, and are secured with a hook and loop toe strap and single Boa dial and lace.
The shoes borrow many features of the brand’s excellent premium RX8 shoe, though a few factors feel a little more compromised at this lower price point.
Shimano RX6 gravel shoes design and features
The RX6’s wrap-around upper is constructed with a synthetic leather and perforated across the toe and midfoot for improved ventilation, in tandem with the mesh toe panel. A high heel cup is reinforced with a rubberised lining material, and a reflective strip has been added on the outer.
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Shimano gives the shoes a stiffness rating of 8, compared to the sister RX8 model’s 10. The sole is made of nylon reinforced with carbon, with wide rubber tread for off-road grip.
The Shimano RX6 gravel shoes come in EU sizes 38-48, and are also available in a women’s fit (RX6W), in sizes 36-42. My size 40 test pair weighs in at 536g.
Shimano RX6 gravel shoes performance
The Shimano RX6 is the more budget-friendly alternative to the premium Shimano RX8 gravel shoe, and it certainly feels it. The choice of materials and design elements aren’t as sleek as the RX8, though the two sets of shoes do share a number of other features, such as the wrap-around closure and the well padded yet grippy heel cup.
They’re still very lightweight at 536g per pair, just 18g heavier than the RX8 shoes.
The tread seems much chunkier, though that’s probably emphasised by the gum sole on my khaki green and gum colourway shoes, and wouldn’t appear to be so pronounced with the all-black alternative option.
The Boa dial used is the L6 model, which allows one-way adjustment only for tightening, whereas the premium Shimano RX8 shoes use the two-way-adjusting Boa Li2 dial, which is handy for loosening off the shoes a little as your feet swell while riding in hotter conditions.
Having said that, the Boa downgrade is likely one of the major contributors to the price difference, with the RX6 shoes retailing at £70 less than the premium RX8s.
Fit-wise, the RX6 gravel shoes are just as wide as the RX8s, which is just as well, as Shimano doesn’t offer its gravel shoes in a wide fit, only in this standard width. The toe box is nicely rounded, so I found that it gave me plenty of wiggle room, which can help to prevent numbness on longer rides.
Apart from a different selection of colourways, Shimano claims that the women’s model features a women’s-specific last, which is the foot model which it uses to create the shape of the shoe. Shimano doesn’t detail how this is different to the unisex last, though I found that the unisex shoes suited my foot shape well anyway.
I was a little surprised to feel the difference between these shoes and the top-end Shimano RX8 gravel shoes in terms of stiffness and power transfer. Tested back to back, I did feel that I lost a little of the sporty feeling that the stiff carbon sole offered with the RX8 shoes.
Aesthetically-speaking, I wasn’t a huge fan of the khaki green and gum sole colourway, though the black option should suit more tastes.
Shimano RX6 gravel shoes review verdict
The Shimano RX6 shoes offer great value at this mid-budget price point, with the same great comfort and shape as the RX8 model. If you’re willing to spend a little more, you’ll gain a stiffer sole for more responsive pedalling and shave off a few more grams, but for most riders the RX6 will be plenty good enough.
Source link : https://www.cyclist.co.uk/reviews/shimano-rx6-gravel-cycling-shoes-review
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Publish date : 2024-08-12 17:41:42
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