Shimano launched its first gravel shoe in 2019 off the back of releasing its first gravel groupset. Fast forward to 2023, and it felt like déjà vu with Shimano announcing the latest RX801 gravel shoe shortly after the 12-speed update to its gravel groupset.
Shimano claims the RX801 enhances its best gravel bike shoe, offering improved breathability and an optimized fit. Much like the GRX groupset, the new RX801 isn’t a ground-up redesign, but rather an evolution of an already sorted product. Over the last four years, the original RX8 has been my favorite gravel shoes and I have covered thousands of gravel miles racing and adventuring in them. The original shoes weren’t without fault, so has Shimano perfected its gravel shoe with the updated RX801?
Design and specifications
At first glance, it's tricky to spot the difference between the two generations of Shimano gravel shoes. The RX801 has the same single BOA wrap-around closure and toe box Velcro strap as the old shoe, although now it’s specced with a low-profile BOA Li2 dial, rather than the IP1. The dial features dual multi-directional tightening and loosening for fine-tuning and can be popped up to release tension quickly.
Look a little closer at the synthetic leather upper though and you will see subtle changes to the BOA’s cable routing. The long material guide on the side of the foot has been replaced with two smaller anchors and the wrap-over section on which the plastic guides are mounted is now in two sections. The RX801 upper is now constructed from three panels of material and increases the number of ventilation perforations along the inside, outside, and front of the foot too.
Inside the shoe, there’s a vented Silvadur antimicrobial-treated insole with swappable foam inserts for tunning arch support. Shimano has also removed a strip of elastic connecting the inner wrap-over section to the inside of the shoe allowing the RX801 to open wider making it easier to slip the shoes on.
The base of the shoe looks unchanged, featuring a stiff carbon composite sole and minimal TPU lugs to keep weight down. A TPU strip offers protection around the shoe's front edge and there’s a hard plastic heel cup to deflect bumps and scuffs. Unsurprisingly, Shimano has engineered its gravel shoes to work perfectly with Shimano’s SPD pedals and are said to pair perfectly with the latest Shimano M9100 XTR, I also tested them using a set of Shimano M8100 XT pedals and Favero Assioma Pro MX SPD with great results. Interestingly, while Shimano has added toe and heel vents to the cheaper RX6, there are no vents on the sole of the RX801.
As far as I am aware, Shimano’s RX8s are the lightest gravel shoes on the market. Although the RX801s superseded these shoes, my review samples tip the scales at 578g (without cleats), 13g heavier than my old RX8s. Even though the RX801 hasn’t been able to shave any additional weight, they are still significantly lighter than all other gravel shoes.
I have the standard fit shoe (EU36 to EU47 plus half sizes) but there is a Wide fit option (EU38 - EU48) for riders with paving slab feet. There’s also the RX8R model which features a knitted ankle cuff to stop any gravel going into your shoes, although it's never been a problem for me in the past.
The RX801s come in either a smoky Black or Silver fade (tested), or if you want to jazz up your gravel gear there is also a limited edition Tropical Leaves or Twilight option.
Performance
The RX801 is a fantastically comfortable shoe that balances a cosseting closure with an aggressive shape. The toe box of the RX801 has been widened to help cater for a more general range of feet, although the shoe still aggressively tapers towards the snug heel cup.
I find very few single BOA shoes can offer a properly secure fit, Shimano bucks the trend here and the wraparound layout provides a close even fit with no points of irritation or hot spots. The top wrap-over section on which the upper cable guides are mounted no longer has webbed fingers. Instead, the sections can independently move to better conform over the top of the foot and help accommodate a wider range of shapes.
The combination of the wrap-around closure and precise shaping held my feet in place without feeling restrictive and even during long days in the saddle I didn't feel the need to make any mid-ride adjustments.
The RX801 gives a stable pedaling platform when used with the SPD system and the stiff sole feels very supportive when putting the power down without being fatiguingly stiff over rough trails. Step off the bike and the RX801s are far less assured. The minimal number of blocks, narrow lug patterns, and angled shapes can be precarious when trampling over uneven terrain and there isn't much tread for digging into slippery mud if you have been forced to dismount.
The minimalist tread doesn't extend right to the front of the shoe either and, based on my experience with the original RX8, this could lead to accelerated wear on the rubber toe bumper resulting in the carbon sole becoming exposed and damaged. If your gravel rides frequently require rough portage I recommend the stiff but walkable Fizik Ferox Carbon, the super grippy Rapha Explore Powerweave, or Shimano’s broader lugged MTB-orientated XC7.
Verdict
Beyond the eye-catching silver fade, there's little discernible difference between the RX801 and RX8. Look closer and it is evident that Shimano has made a load of changes when re-developing the shoe. Everything I loved about the original shoes lives on in the RX801s, combining perfect levels of stiffness, stability, and low weight (even if it is marginally heavier) to be unmatched when it comes to gravel-specific footwear. While Shimano hasn’t made any dramatic changes to the RX801's character, the new last shape is more forgiving with its slightly wider toe box and tweaked closure should give a better fit to more riders.
Despite the marginal gains in upper design and fit, the RX8s biggest weakness remains unaddressed. For gravel riders and racers who have no intention of walking, the narrow footprint and minimal tread won’t be an issue. Sometimes portaging is required and if you're frequently hoofing over unrideable sections or around trail blockages, the RX801 is not the shoe for the job.
Tech specs: Shimano RX801 gravel shoe
- Price: $275 / £229.99 / €229
- Color: Silver, Black, Tropical Leaves, Twilight
- Retention: Li2 BOA
- Uppers: Synthetic leathe
- Outsole: Carbon sole
- Weight: 578g (size 43)
- Sizes: EU 36-47 (half sizes between EU39 and EU47), Wide fit option EU38 - EU48
