Test 2021: Gravel shoes - Fine for rough terrain: gravel shoes for clipless pedals
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A man with golden feet and shoes to match: there are photos of FC Bayern footballer Jérôme Boateng wearing shiny gold trainers. He is said to own 650 pairs of trainers, lined up in his own shoe room. At 20 centimetres per pair, that would be 130 linear metres of designer sneakers on a shelf - that's enthusiasm. Doesn't it seem totally harmless that, after special shoes for indoor cycling, gravel bike shoes are now also pushing their way onto cyclists' basement shelves?
Before gravel shoes came along, this job was mostly done by cross-country mountain bike shoes: lightweight bike shoes with a hard sole and only as much tread as was needed for short pushing passages. Mountain bike clipless pedals, predominantly of the Shimano SPD type, proved to be the perfect complement to pedalling sportily and being able to walk equally well. That was always a good solution. But could it be any better?
10 gravel shoes in the test
Even when it comes to the gravel bike itself, designers are divided on how it should ideally be built: the spectrum ranges from racing bikes with slightly thicker tyres to mountain bike hardtails with racing handlebars - and the idea of "gravel bike shoes" is just as broad. Racing shoes with carbon soles and sparse hard plastic tread are therefore represented in our test, as are mountain bike touring shoes with at most a slightly different look. Several models fall into the second category: The Bontrager shoe is available with a different closure system as a bike shoe, Gaerne and Sidi also vary their basic mountain bike recipe only slightly, because the development and production of a new sole in many sizes would cost six-figure sums. And would it even be necessary?
The soles of the test shoes determine their ideal area of use. Assuming that a gravel bike is not bought in this country to carry it up steep clay embankments, the manufacturers of gravel shoes should at least say goodbye to the screw studs (or the corresponding threads) in the tip of the shoe. They impair the rolling behaviour and grip on stony ground - a point in favour of independent, studless gravel soles. The four brands Fizik, Pearl Izumi, Rapha and Shimano follow this path with their slightly more expensive shoes.
The walking qualities are also determined by the support width in the heel and ball area as well as the rubber compound of the lug profiles: Thermoplastic outsoles are common. Their hard material allows profiles with only a few, aggressively biting studs. This allows the production of lighter shoes, but the soft, slightly heavier rubber soles of Rapha or Bontrager are far superior when it comes to grip on stones. Both models also have wide heel profiles for a secure footing.
HEALTHY HARDWARE
With its successful combination of rubber compound and sole curvature, Rapha disproves the assumption that a stiff carbon sole automatically impairs walking characteristics; the expensive knitted shoe is also convincing on foot. The approximately 100 gram lighter, performance-orientated models from Pearl Izumi and Shimano also have carbon soles. However, the designers clearly prioritised power transmission and their walking characteristics are moderate. The upper material was also designed to optimise performance and comfort at the same time: With the casual feel of a sneaker, you simply can't put any pressure - let alone traction - on the pedals. An upper material that is too supple and a tongue that is too softly padded prevent the optimum flow of power between man and bike.
We laced or tightened the shoes more tightly than you would on long rides and felt the effects of the respective tongue construction: at one extreme the almost cosy fit of the soft materials of Gaerne and Sidi, which transmit tensile forces less well, at the other end the spartan tongue of the Pearl Izumi, which despite its efficiency quickly leaves pressure points.
MORE PRESSURE WITH ROTARY KNOBS
This also shows the role of the fastening system. Bontrager's classic lacing system is not very practical because it can only be loosened or tightened on the move if you stop to do so. But it distributes the pressure well - the sufficiently stiffened tongue helps. Fizik's two-part Velcro fastening system cannot realise its full potential, the upper material is too stubborn. The test was dominated by twist fasteners with tensile steel or textile threads, mainly purchased from the supplier Boa. The inexpensive "L6" version from Gaerne (and similar to Sidi's own fastener) tightens the thread gradually and releases it in one go when loosened. The other variants can also be loosened gradually. Their pulling power is convincing, but their comfort is not always: every foot is different, and it does not always fit perfectly with the upper leather. Shoes with a two-part support system therefore offer the best mix of power transmission and comfort in this test. You can distribute the traction between the ball of the foot and the instep according to personal preference. The winner in the "power transmission" sub-discipline was the Shimano shoe, which is wrapped around the foot without a tongue and sits firmly on the instep, although the Velcro strap over the toes has little effect. The slightly more comfortable Rapha shoe with its two Boa dials came in a close second.
These two rather expensive models are also at the top of the overall rankings - with very different characters that reflect the broad spectrum of gravel bikes: While Shimano equips a tough racing shoe with a few emergency studs for gravel bikes, Rapha is geared more towards long-distance riders who are repeatedly confronted with longer pushing distances in unfamiliar terrain. Both models have been specially developed for gravel bikes. Would there have been mountain bike shoes for the job? Probably yes. Anyone who owns a good bike shoe will probably continue to use it. But when buying new, the gravel models are no mistake.
You can find the full test with detailed grades, all weights and descriptions in the 48-page gravel special from TOUR 05/2021. It is available to download below for €4.99 or in the TOUR app (for iOS and Android) available.
Why not free of charge? Because quality journalism has its price. That's why we guarantee independence and objectivity. The TOUR tests are based on standardised and reproducible test procedures, which we always disclose. TOUR articles can be bought - TOUR test victories cannot!
