Ultegra st rs685 hoods

I really love these shifters but I'm on my second pair of rubber hoods, soon to get a third because Shimano really screwed up with design/choice of material on these. 
Is there an aftermaket solution or do I have to get another shimano set?

What happened?  What kind of time or miles are we talking about? 

It's not the mileage, it's the material I think. After bleeding the rear brake hoods became loose, I guess the rubber doesn't like being rolled back.

The original hoods on mine became pretty loose, but I think Shimano redesigned them. The replacemental hoods I put on had additional material molded into them to keep them locked in place. Haven't had any trouble since I replaced them.

JWB475 wrote:The original hoods on mine became pretty loose, but I think Shimano redesigned them. The replacemental hoods I put on had additional material molded into them to keep them locked in place. Haven't had any trouble since I replaced them.

\nCan you post a picture of your new hoods? I ordered a pair recently but I think they're old stock. I've been wondering lately if the new Ultegra 8000 series hoods would fit.

Nbudor wrote:I've been wondering lately if the new Ultegra 8000 series hoods would fit.

No, they won't fit the 685. The 685 are my all-time favorite shape and I have been through a couple rounds of bar tape with hardly any marks on my hoods. They have been bled, manipulated and re-installed plenty with no problems. Hopefully you get some good ones.

My experience is complete opposite. I bled them once, changed tape twice and they became loose. \n

UPDATE: I mounted new hoods, I think they might be new, redesigned set, holding on firmly, so far.