Shimano RX801 and RX8R Shoes: An Update – by Guitar Ted
In our last update on the Shimano RX801 and RX8R shoes, (seen here), we left you with some pretty positive comments on the feel and on the performance of these shoes. What we didn’t tell you was that Winter was coming. That’s kind of a big deal because, well, these are warm weather shoes.
Since it is well below freezing most days now and since we’ve moved into our Winter attire for the time being, we thought we’d mention that we haven’t forgotten about this review, but we also are not done with the shoes yet. So, look for that final verdict on the new RX801 shoes and on the RX8R’s to come later in the Spring, after things thaw out a fair bit first!
Now, that all said, I was able to squeeze in a couple more rides since the last update on this review. I am still quite convinced that these RX801 shoes are better than Shimano’s original effort in gravel shoes. So much so that I was not willing to give up on using them for Fall and early Winter rides.
To be able to continue using the RX801 shoes in “shoulder season”, the period between Fall and Winter here, I used an old trick. I stuffed my wool clad feet into a plastic shopping bag and then I put on the RX801’s and went riding. This is essentially about like wearing an outer “bootie” foot covering, but since I don’t like those, I use this trick with my Summer footwear until it gets cold enough for full-on Winter cycling boots.
So, all that to say that the adjustment features on the RX801’s do allow for a thing like the trick I used, or maybe thicker socks as well. That’s nice to know. It only adds to my enjoyment of these over the originals, where the toe box would have provided less room for my plastic bag hack.
Okay, there is a quick update to this review and again – Since Winter is in full-force now, we’ll be putting this review on hold until Spring comes and then it shouldn’t take long to get to the conclusion of the test.
Note: Shimano sent over a pair of RX801’s and RX8R’s to Riding Gravel at no charge for test and review. We were not paid, nor bribed for this review and we always strive to give our honest thoughts and views throughout.