Shimano RX8 “Cactus Berry” Gravel Race Shoes

First introduced in 2019, the RX8 gravel race shoe takes a few cues from Shimano’s premium mountain bike shoes and the lightweight construction of their road racing footwear to try and balance pedaling performance and off-the-bike comfort. The new RX8 color scheme adds a third color option to the RX8 lineup and will be available starting in September 2020.

“The inspiration for this colorful design came from a gravel ride near my house where I was blown away by the beauty of a Santa Rita Prickly Pear Cactus on the side of the trail,” explains Jessie Gascon, Shimano’s Lifestyle Gear Product Manager.

The RX8 features a super-stiff full-length carbon outsole, which Shimano assigned a stiffness rating of 10 (out of 11). With ultra-endurance gravel racing events as its target, the RX8 is designed to have a glove-like fit using a heel stabilizer, while minimal TPU lugs, micro toe armor, and an anti-slip pad provide walkability and protection. The cleat-pedal interface features a wider contact point that is optimized to fit with XTR PD-M9100 pedals. All of this comes in a lightweight package at 265g (size 42), significantly lighter than Shimano’s premium S-PHYRE XC9 mountain bike racing shoes.

The Shimano RX8 sells for $250 USD and the new Cactus Berry color way will be available in September from Shimano dealers. Learn more about the RX8 here.

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