ShimanoRX8 Mountain Bike Shoe - Men's
Item # SHI00ON
RX8 Mountain Bike Shoe
Because gravel is still an emerging segment, some riders find themselves struggling with footwear choices—especially for racing. Mountain bike shoes offer great walkability, but are often too heavy and overbuilt. This leads many riders opting for lightweight road shoes with ultra-stiff soles that boost pedaling efficiency, but the lack of tread is not ideal for the inevitable hike-a-bike sections found in gravel race events and adventurous rides. Shimano addresses these problems by combining the best characteristics of their high-end road and mountain footwear into one shoe that's specifically designed for gravel racing. Lightweight and stiff, but with grippy outsoles and just enough toe flex to be comfortable to walk in, the RX8 might just be the best option out there for dedicated gravel enthusiasts.
The RX8 is constructed using a full-length carbon sole that rates at a 10/11 on Shimano's stiffness scale, ensuring hard pedaling efforts are rewarded with maximum forward momentum. The sole is then paired with abrasion-resistant TPU lugs that give you the capability to navigate terrain off the bike without slipping. The uppers are a tough one-piece synthetic with perforated venting that Shimano dubs Surround Structure, offering a good balance of holding power and all-day comfort. The design weighs considerably less than Shimano's flagship mountain bike shoe the XC-9, an impressive feat for a shoe that costs quite a bit less.
- Featherweight shoes designed for gravel bike racing
- Carbon composite sole ensures maximum pedaling efficiency
- Surround Structure uppers provide a comfortable, glove-like fit
- Lugged rubber outsole adds grip for hike-a-bike
- Reinforced heel cup for stability under hard pedaling
- Boa dial and toe strap make it easy to get the right fit
- Perforations in the upper let your feet breathe
- Wider cleat-to-pedal interface is optimized for XTR M9100 pedals
What do you think about this product?
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April 13, 2021
Perfect Gravel shoe
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
- Fit:
- True to size
Fits great, comfortable and light weight.
Stoney S.
February 9, 2021
Great Shoe!!!
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
- Fit:
- True to size
- Size Bought
- 12
- Weight
- 195 lbs
You really cannot go wrong with this shoe.. I have used shoes from just about everyone and this one is probably one of the best I every worn. I also like Lake and some of the Sidi shoes, but the moment I slipped this shoe on I knew it was going to be great. Highly recommended for gravel duties as well as Cross.
Mike H.
January 29, 2021
Cuts my ankle
They look great and have good walkability. Unfortunately, I had to return them because it felt like the strap by the ankle was digging into my foot each time I took a step.
alexa roche
January 27, 2021
Light and comfortable
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
- Fit:
- True to size
- Size Bought
- 44
- Height
- 5` 10"
- Weight
- 140 lbs
The fit is slightly smaller than my Fizik shoes (rx8 in 44 is similar to fizik 43.5). The toe box also feels a bit narrower. Great shoes at a great price.
Paul S.
January 27, 2021
Work well, fit well, priced reasonably
- Familiarity:
- I've put it through the wringer
- Fit:
- True to size
- Size Bought
- 46.5
Coming from years as a roadie, I bought the RX8 for use with my gravel bike last year. The RX8 are lightweight, comfortable, and well-fitting. The rubber lugs on the sole surround the SPD cleat so you can walk normally. I don't think about the shoes at all while riding, which tells me they are doing their job without causing problems. I have walked a mile on gravel once when I irreparably flatted, and the carbon soles are completely unharmed (it's OK if the carbon finish gets scratched, the undersides of your shoe soles are for function not esthetics). The price is very reasonable compared to what I am accustomed to paying for road shoes.
Alan B.
December 15, 2020
Poor Fit
- Fit:
- Runs large
- Size Bought
- 43
- Height
- 5` 9"
- Weight
- 170 lbs
These shoes have received many great online reviews and I so much wanted to like them but the fit was poor. I wear SiDi size 43 in all my shoes and they all fit perfect so I ordered a 43 and way too big. I wanted a light pair of gravel shoes so I tried them and the fit was very poor. Competitive Cyclist was great the return! Oh well …
Marc W.
August 13, 2020
I'll Give 'Em a "B"
- Familiarity:
- I've put it through the wringer
- Fit:
- True to size
Have owned the shoes for 4 months now. Have taken many regular mountain bike rides. Good: The shoe is light and has a good, stiff sole. The design, as others have stated, is more like a road shoe glued to a mountain tread. Minimal and great for the cross-country style riding I do. Feels good when first slipping on the foot (natural shape/fit). I bought the silver version, which I think looks pretty good. For me the size was accurate. I wear an 11 shoe (left is 10..5, right is 11). I bought the 45's (says 10.5 US). Ventilation is very good. The minimal tread looks like it will shed mud well when it starts to get wet again. Not-so-good: Inserts weren't very comfortable for my feet. I replaced with a pair of Specialized inserts, which improved. But my feet still get a little numb if I don't constantly play with the adjustments. The over-the-instep strap can make it difficult to get your foot in. Not especially easy to slide on. Also, when cinching the BOA IP1 dials down, the shoe tends to exert pressure on specific spots of my foot rather than evenly around the whole foot. And these BOA dials are a pain in the _ _ _. All IP1's are apparently not created equal. They failed after a month. And a major effort to replace, partly because BOA has fallen back on its 1st-generation design for these, and you have to cut, measure, re-lace, tie knots, and work with little parts to replace them. As for the shoes, that nylon webbing "eyelet" does not make it easy to re-lace. I ran a jeweler's screwdriver through it, stretched it all sorts of ways, and eventually coaxed the new lace back through. But it was not easy. With many pairs of cycling shoes I've owned with BOA, I've found a 1-to-1 dial to eyelet ratio is best. Having one dial serve multiple loops for wrapping the foot doesn't work very well.
Bicyclo-phile
August 5, 2020
Fit great
- Familiarity:
- I've put it through the wringer
- Fit:
- True to size
I used the size chart to select size. Size was perfect. Not too wide, fit great. I have done some walking in them with very little difficulty. Overall very satisfied with the product
ryan H.
July 17, 2020
A great shoe, not for serious gravel
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
- Fit:
- True to size
I bought these shoes for gravel riding as a roadie crossing over to the dirt side. I gave these shoes a shot because of their lightweight design and stiff sole, reminiscent of a road shoe. The shoe has some great design features - it is stiff, lightweight, well vented, and looks good. The burrito style tongue offers a secure fit with the single boa. The price point is fair for this quality of a shoe. My problem with these shoes is that the stripped down design of the sole doesn't make it suitable for adventurous off road trips. On the bottom of the shoe, a lot of the carbon sole is exposed, leaving it vulnerable to scratching and chipping when walking on gravel. Even with just a little walking there was a lot of visible damage to the underside of the sole - my concern is that these won't last long with even a little regular walking. Additionally, the tread around the cleat and heel is a hard rubber that doesn't offer a ton of traction. Suitable for cafes and such, but great if you're interested in some CX races. Additionally, despite the comfortable burrito style tongue, in my opinion a shoe of this price point should include 2 boas for better fit adjustment. I ended up with the XC7 shoe instead. The weight penalty was worth the extra sole rubber and 2 boas. The shoes are much more secure for walking on course gravel and hike-a-bike sections. So who is the RX8 for? I think this is an amazing shoe for roadies who want to ride with a 2 bolt cleat system, gravelers who ride flat and smooth terrain without much walking or course gravel, and perhaps tourers looking for an efficient and walkable shoe system. But if your gravel trips err on the more adventurous side, a mtb shoe like the XC7 might be better. Shoe size is true to size - I ended up in a 46 for my size 11.5 feet.
Kyle S.
June 11, 2020
How do these Shimano's compare in sizing to SIDI (road) shoes? I wear a 43 in the SIDI's. Based on the reviews here, seems like sizing is a bit erratic?
Dale K.
May 22, 2020
Stiff, lightweight gravel shoe
- Familiarity:
- I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions
- Fit:
- True to size
- Size Bought
- 45
- Height
- 6` 1"
- Weight
- 175 lbs
Typically wear a size 10.5 sneaker. Came from a much heavier and softer-soled pair of Bontrager mountain bike shoes in size 45. Ordered 45 here and fits like a charm. The tongue-less "burrito" design of the RX8 gives a more snug, road-shoe-like fit, and the boa dial has been great for making small adjustments. Carbon soles are nice and firm and I've been very happy with them so far. Would buy again!
ADAM S.
April 25, 2020
Yep, seems like a winner.
- Familiarity:
- I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions
- Fit:
- True to size
- Size Bought
- 44
Bought these as an all-road shoe, definitely feel a lot more ‘roadie’ than my XC pair, but in a good way. Only a few miles on them, but I am very pleased so far. Great price to value ratio compared to similar shoes with the stiff carbon sole, boa closures, adjustable arch insole, light weight, etc. True to size relative to my previous Shimano SPD shoes. I have slightly wider feet, the fit is snug but not too tight. Feels like a similar fit as my Giro’s in size 45, which tend to run small. I needed to put a set of the little oval Shimano shims under the cleats to alleviate some of the rubber outsole/pedal interface for easier entry and exit, but that’s more of a personal preference. Looking forward to putting some real miles on them this season.
Thomas W.
March 15, 2020
Runs a bit small
- Fit:
- Runs small
Great looking shoe with a carbon sole for a reasonable price, runs about 1 inch shorter or full size shorter then my S works road shoes, but is definitely a wider or more roomy fit just not as long. Would recommend to someone looking for a roomier fit, just go by the Shimano chart, Specialized shoes are a bit longer and narrower then these. Usually wear a Specialized 46 and going with a 47 in these, the Shimano 46 was way too small.
Peter C.
c.d101808840
May 21, 2020
Can confirm this. Wearing Specialized in 45.5 and the Shimano's in 46 are a tight, but good fit.
January 22, 2020
Runs a size large
- Familiarity:
- I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions
- Fit:
- Runs large
# Sizing After trying a few pairs, I ended up with EU47. (I wear a US13 Nike). Shimano's size chart says US13 = EU49, which is definitely too large. # Weight EU47 = 325 g, each including 25g OEM insole. # Pedals Fits Crank Brothers Eggbeaters without traction pads.
jeffstreet
starfish
January 28, 2020
Hi Jeff, Can you clarify your comment? Do you typically wear a US13 or a US12? Shimano actually specifies an EU47 for US 12 and an EU 49 for US 13. The only shoe manufacturer that matches EU46 to US12 (that I'm aware of) is Specialized and those tend to run 12.5US oddly enough. Typically EU46 = 11.5US. Thanks!
adam R.
February 11, 2020
I just wanted to add - I tried sizing down to a 44 and could barely get the shoe on. In specialized I am a 44.5. Waiting for 45s to come in and will give them a shot. My normal shoe size is generally 10.5-11. My experience is that they don't run large.
Tyler E.
April 30, 2020
I have worn out my current gravel shoes after about 8 years of use. I wear a US 12 in Nike and my current Shimano shoes for my road bike are 46 and I love them. When I looked at size chart I was thrown off but you answered my question. Going with a 46!
January 5, 2020
Great shoes!
- Fit:
- True to size
- Size Bought
- 44
Bought these for gravel rides but now I use them for all my MTB and gravel rides! Shimano got it right with this one.
Brent G.
December 5, 2019
A Road Shoe w/MB Cleats
- Familiarity:
- I've used it several times
- Fit:
- True to size
- Size Bought
- 44
- Height
- 5` 11"
I really wonder if someone at SHIMANO screwed up with this shoe. It is a great deal and a great value. It is fantastic if you are looking for a seriously light, stiff shoe to put a lot of road miles on your MB pedal equipped gravel bike (I was!). I compared it to the $400 S-Phyre road shoe in a store. I honestly could not tell which shoe was lighter and they both felt equally as stiff. You do lose a boa lace and get a Velcro tab instead by stepping down but you also save $150. I would have paid $400 for a great shoe, so I feel like I got a bargain. I like a wide toe box and this shoe has one. I wear a 10.5 in Nike shoes and this shoe fits similarly. The only downside, which wasn’t an issue for me, is that it is slightly less comfortable to walk in than most MB shoes. This is a great race/training shoe. Have a good ride!
William V.
Jason S.
June 17, 2020
Same thought here. Fantastic shoe at a great price. I ended up liking the fit so much, I ditched my road shoes I was using with my road bike, slapped some SPD pedals on and now use these shoes for road, cross, gravel and MTB. One shoe to rule them all! Thinking about buying a second pair for future.
Luke C.
February 25, 2021
Thanks William - That really helps on the sizing.
Dave B
August 28, 2020
Hi Bicyclo-phile - my biggest concern about new shoes (particularly at this price point) is that i'll continue to get some foot numbing that i experience with my tri shoes but not with my old mountain bike shoes. Do you believe your experience is due to the soles of the actual shoe and not pedals or anything else? many thanks for your thoughts!