Leaving Road Shoes And Laces Behind! Shimano Xc9 S-Phyre
- Posted on 17 June, 2018
- Lace Closure
- By Anonymous
After years riding Giro Lace-up shoes It's time for me to move on. My riding has changes a lot in the last few years so the equipment has to as well. This is aquick unboxing and first impressions of the Shimano XC9 S-Phyre cross country shoe.
Shoes in this video:
Shimano XC9 https://amzn.to/2JXQxow
Giro VR90 https://amzn.to/2K128GT
Giro Empire SLX https://amzn.to/2LYGG2A
Thanks to John for being so kind and documenting me pushing my bike up a climb ;)
https://www.instagram.com/john_t_onstr...
Ride of Japan Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/ridesofjapan...
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#shimano #shoes #spd
In writing the zero Empire lace-up shoes for how long now? Well, since the first mole came out, you know the silver and yellow on its ends, upgraded to the SLX model which are painted there's a video that somewhere here. Maybe I've been super happy with the light subsystem so easy to get attention right through on the foot about one and a half years ago I got some VR 90s for the winter season. Wrong cleats and snow doesn't go together very good, since last winter I've been actually using that we are 90s full time, because I realized how much better they are for the kind of writing I do especially the ass. I have my camera with me and I like to get off the bike climb around in the forest. Looking for the perfect shot or something I never need to climb off and push the bike. I never been totally satisfied with the V or 90s. I bought them online on sale and took the same size as I had on my empire SLX shoes, but fit this slightly different. I want to say they are a bit smaller or at least a bit. They feel more cramped around the toes. So that's one issue. The other issue is this happened almost, I think it's, my third or fourth ride. I just scuff the side of the shoe at a curb and it ripped the upper immediately and was kind of disappointing. You would think they would be a bit more durable. Last year we started bike packing a bit and I realized when you go in and out of a tent or even if it's a baby or something like that having lace-up shoes is it's not the best closure system? You can have for obvious reasons. So I started looking around for an alternative and I had a few criterias I wanted to meet the first one was. I didn't want laces because of the bike packing thing. I definitely wanted a stiff, really stiff shoe, because I will use this issue for everything. Not just gravel, I will used for proper Road rights and everything so stiffness was important. I wanted good thread underneath the whole sole because yeah hiking around in the forests and mountains. It'S a good thing to have good grip, not just on the toe and heel area. So I looked around at a lot of different shoes and tried on the Shimano XC 9 or as fire or spire or. However, you pronounce that I went up to 45 and I'm surprised they will actually super nice. Usually I find Shimano shoes to be a bit too wide, but these actually fit very well. They were all on sale, not a super sale or anything whatever around 50 bucks or 40 bucks, or something like that. There'S a new RC 900. Maybe it's called it's coming out soon, so it's probably why you can find this model on sale. Right now, also try to search for some YouTube videos about this shoe and I couldn't find much that's why I thought I would make a video about it. Let'S open this up, so in the box we get the shoes, surprise, surprise. We also get some spikes for the toes and a tool to change them. We also get a couple of insole arch supports if you want some more arc supports, get manuals and some waterproof stickers and you get a shoe bag. You also get socks. If you don't buy these on sale but yeah, I wasn't sales. Oh, they nicked the socks. Bastards, I was expecting this to be pretty heavy, actually that I would add quite a few grams compared to my vr nineties, but actually turns out they're around the same weight. I did not have the cleats mounted yet on the Shimano's, but it's not too far off. Obviously, roaches are still quite a bit lighter, but that's compromise I'm willing to do. It might not be totally obvious out of the box, but there's a neat little trick for the front boa you can actually pull out the boa wire do a little cross and then hook it on the wire guide at the till, which, if you're like me, don't Have the widest toes or widest feet helps you get it's nice and snug. I just came back from a first ride with the shoes, since I sized up to 45 from a 44 zero and the shim ohn is also supposed to be a bit bigger than here. They'Re definitely more wider around the toes, but I was worried that I would get a lot more he'll slip or like movement in the heel, but this material is some seriously magic. Stuff put your heel in it just slips in no problem, but it's really grabby wants you to try to pull it out that grabbed my heel, and I didn't really experience any kind of heel slip. I hope this won't be eating up my socks, though that remains to be seen, but yeah super impressed and, as I like a final conclusion, this is not a video saying that everyone should stop using road shoes and stop using laces. This is more of a pick. The right tool for the kind of riding you do kind of message and for now this is definitely the right tool for me. If you have any comments about the shoes or anything else pop them. In the comment section, I try to answer as much as I can feel free to subscribe press that little thumb singing some summer, some it some thumb up. Apparently it helps the video thanks for watching and see you in the next one peace
Comments
Fern Hernandez: Great looking shoes matching the Open Up :P I hope to get a gravel bike frame this year. Still don't know if I should go for a carbon or steel frame. If I go carbon, I'll go with Ultegra. If I go with steel, I'll go full Dura-Ace.
Greg Hwin: Great video! I have wide feet and these were recommended. Am looking forward to trying these out. Thanks for sharing! Btw, love your 2am demeanor and humor. Those bastards!!!
DerHackbart: The Shimanos look pretty fancy! I just ordered a pair of Giros with laces, cause I ride pretty casual and didn't really digged the look of straps or the boa system. But I totally get your point about putting the shoes on and off frequently, so the boa system seems to fit your requests pretty well.
John Fox Bass: Well done and very helpful, thanks! I just got a pair of these. The cleats come with an oval-shaped insert with a serrated edge on one side. What is that for? I can't find any mention of it in the instructions, and also don't see it in anybody's videos. The black insert with the two holes for the bolts obviously sits in the top side of the cleat. But what about the silver oval piece?
Ben Kloos: Be cool to see the road vs xc comparison including pedal weights
Leo_inter_Hyaenaem: Nice shoes. I personally cant stand laces. And leather. My criteria would be: - Microfibre (as opposed to leather!) - Vented soles for breathability, to vent out sweat and moisture! - No laces! A Boa or SIDI's equivalent, but NO laces and NO Velcro-only! I much prefer technical gear. - Walkable. - Good fit. Sufficiently wide so that they don't hurt the small toe (when splaying), but also compact and tight fit in the heel and
Jura Stanić: I agree with you about laces for offroad-boa is better option.
Mark Stengel: Enjoyed your Shimano RC9 road shoe presentation
MaglorMusic: Shoe laces seem dangerous… imagine if the laces get stuck on the chainring while riding… also, they must be a lot harder to clean if you get mud on them.
Ravin Premji: I'm done with laces! Got em' two years ago , same as yours. have to use a shoe horn to get in em', and on long rides the toe box area gets too tight. You convinced me....its time to ditch the cool-retro-look-laces and move to Boa. Good one
Brenton Collas: Interesting as always. I have mulled going mtb shoes on the all-road bike, for convenience and for reducing the amount of kit to support. Have you done a video on cleat positioning? I think we are similar height (185cms) and both like hills....
Alex L: Wow. Amazing shoes. Lovely color
David Furlan: Have couple of questions since i am in the market for the Shimano or Giro shoes: How is the sole stiffness of Shimano compared to Giro VR90? Are the Shimanos more breathable that the VR90? And when you remove the insole in the Shimano shoes, is there a hole down to the cleats or is this part covered so no water can come through? Thanks!
Tomas Gonzalez: Good video, as always mate... thanks for sharing...
Matteo Fini: Hi, so you went up to a 45 Shimano out of a 44 or 44.5 Giro? Great videos, btw
moser roman: Way to go for gravel/CX/bikepacking
journeythrulife: Nice shoe. I'd rock it
Rich Fi: "... they nicked the socks. Bastards." Hilarious. Although not hilarious when you open the box and realise they nicked the socks. Bastards.
Rides of Japan: Oops! I meant to say the shoes were on sale with a 40-50 dollar discount... they didn’t actually cost only 50 bucks unfortunately No more editing at 2am for me!
Michał Sz: just bought xc9 in late 2021 and they still are awesome xc shoes
Vegan Triathlete: What size do you recommend for 27cm long foot ? I wear size 42,5 on running shoes
Lars Rehm: I just the XC7 which is a really nice shoe as well. I bought them the same size (46) as my R171 road shoes and noticed they are definitely are little more narrow than the R171s....seems Shimano is going with a lsightl ymore narrow fit on these latest models...which isn't so great for me because I have pretty wide feet...I might try their wide fit version the next time but I am not sure that's available for every model....
mort low: i ride cages - they do fine with good straps....=D
MaglorMusic: What pedals are you using?
sabamacx: Road shoes ruined my road bike. Never again.
jorge jovino fdez fdez: Esas zapatillas son una basura pero muy grande. Despues de 5.000km de uso se rompiò la base del Boa con el tejido de la lengueta. Es una pieza de plástico que no es el Boa y el upper ya no tiene reparación. Una vergüenza de la mala calidad de Shimano en zapatillas y ropa que luego te cobran. No acabo de entender como no se hacen pruebas de longevidad que hay marcas que se demuestran mil veces mas fiables como Fizik, Sidi, Gaerne. Esa rotura en la parte que sujeta la lengueta si me hubiese ocurrido en marcha me hubiese caido. Mira que he tenido zapatillas y ese modelo es de lo mas malo que he visto en años. Solo se salva la calidad de la suela de carbono porque lo de arriba es plastico barato y sujeción del Boa con defectos de diseño y control de calidad.
TFM: Nice trick with boa, thanks!
Omar Tan: So are you still using the XC9 or has switch to the RX8?
Alberello: where did you get the socks? Thanks.
jorge jovino fdez fdez: Esas zapatillas son una basura pero muy grande. Despues de 5.000km de uso se rompiò la base del Boa con el tejido de la lengueta. Es una pieza de plástico que no es el Boa y el upper ya no tiene reparación. Una vergüenza de la mala calidad de Shimano en zapatillas y ropa que luego te cobran. No acabo de entender como no se hacen pruebas de longevidad que hay marcas que se demuestran mil veces mas fiables como Fizik, Sidi, Gaerne. Esa rotura en la parte que sujeta la lengueta si me hubiese ocurrido en marcha me hubiese caido. Mira que he tenido zapatillas y ese modelo es de lo mas malo que he visto en años. Solo se salva la calidad de la suela de carbono porque lo de arriba es plastico barato y sujeción del Boa con defectos de diseño y control de calidad.
Marek Wojtowicz: How about sizing, is GIRO 44 = SHIMANO 44?
Warren Zausa: Tounges Up! ☺
Matt Lawson: SPD + MTB shoe :-) Why do people use road style shoes? I love = Sidi Dominator 7 MTB Shoes (Mega)
BGPaul: Strong sock game Tobias
They Live We See: shame they don't have red color as option
Lerbyn: I'm going to japan next spring and I'm planning my trip do you have any bike strip you would recommend for when I'm there ?
Erwin Meulman: 40 dollars, I can't belief that, with webshop?
Road Glide: People got sucked into a style. Laces are antiquated. Preferably Boa, short of that ratchet/ Velcro combo design or go home.
jorge jovino fdez fdez: The Shimano Sapphire are one of the worst cycling shoes in the quality of the upper. I broke the base of the Boa with the upper stitching before 5.000km. This wouldn’t happen with a pair of Sidi o the Giro. I can’t repair the Shimanos and the longevity of those Sapphire are weak. Bad quality of the plastic and O quality control. The only good part is the carbon sole. Don’t waste money in a Shimano pair if you can buy Giro, Sidi, Gaerne, Vittoria, Fizik.
Hulk Truck: Whats the music name?