Test: Road cycling shoes from 150 euros in the test - Good road cycling shoes with carbon soles in the test

Full carbon sole and as cheap as possible: Ten suppliers sent their shoe candidates into the race according to this specification. The prices range from 150 euros for the RR 900 from Van Rysel (Decathlon's own brand) to 275 euros for the R3 Aria from Fizik. This means that the test field is roughly in the middle price range for road cycling shoes.

Cheaper models, which cost around half the price, differ mainly in the sole and the fastening. The sole is made of fibreglass-reinforced nylon, is comparatively heavy and less rigid. They bend visibly under pedalling load - and remain permanently bent over time. Practical dials are rarely found on inexpensive shoes, which are instead fastened to the foot with Velcro straps. Really expensive road bike shoes, on the other hand, not only have high-quality twist locks for sensitive adjustment, but also soles with even higher-quality carbon fibres than the shoes in our test field. Although they are not significantly stiffer, they are even thinner and therefore lighter. For comparison: The Exos, Specialized's top model with an upper made of thin polyethylene, weighs a decent 312 grams as a pair in size 43.5 - the shoes in this test field weigh between 460 and 595 grams.

The right fit - you should pay attention to this:

Apart from the sole and lacing, the fit ultimately determines whether the new shoe will become your favourite. Ideally, it should fit comfortably around the foot without pressure points and offer sufficient support even when you're pulling hard on the pedals during a sprint. Above all, the shoe must hold the heel firmly without slipping, rubbing or pinching. The toes need space at the front so that the shoe does not pinch when the foot stretches in the heat or on long uphill sections. In our experience, the manufacturer's size specifications are often only useful as a guide - unless you know the last of your brand and remain loyal to it. Gaerne and Shimano offer their models with lasts of different widths, and sizes smaller than 39 are often found in special women's models. A tip for fine-tuning is to retrofit an ergonomically supportive insole.

Conclusion

Our laboratory measurements confirm that the soles of the shoes are very stiff overall. The differences are small, but measurable: to bend the stiffest sole (Pearl Izumi) by one millimetre, twice the weight of the sole of the Rapha shoe is required. Nevertheless, both shoes are at the top level, even compared to significantly more expensive models. Specialised, Scott, Pearl Izumi, Bontrager and Van Rysel impress with their good all-round fit and very good price-performance ratio.

All ten road bike shoe models in the test:

Bontrager Velocis Road Shoe

• Price: 200 Euro
• Country of production: China
• Weight per pair (43): 460 grams
• Sizes, half sizes: 39-48
• Colours: black, blue, orange, white
• Features: Boa IP1, exchangeable toe studs, padded tongue
• Last / toe box: normal / wide

Conclusion: Extremely light, comfortable with a large toe box, can be flexibly and firmly adjusted with the two-way twist lock

Fizik Aria R3

• Price: 275 Euro
• Country of production: China
• Weight per pair (43): 550 grams
• Sizes, half sizes: 36-48, 37.5-46.5
• Colours: 5 colour variants
• Features: 2 Boa IP1, interchangeable walking studs
• Last / toe box: narrow / narrow

Conclusion: Very narrow, very firm; two high-quality twist fasteners, hard, angular tongue, very simple insole; relatively expensive

Gaerne Carbon G.Tornado

• Price: 160 Euro >> e.g. available here
• Country of production: Italy
• Weight per pair (43): 525 grams
• Sizes, half sizes: 41-46, 41.5-45.5
• Colours: black, white, grey, red
• Features: Boa L6, exchangeable walking studs, padded tongue reflective material
• Last / toe box: normal to wide / normal to wide

Conclusion: Narrow and wide last available, fits comfortably around the foot, offers good support without slippage, only available from size 41, affordable

Giro Trans Boa

• Price: 200 Euro >> e.g. available here
• Country of production: Vietnam
• Weight per pair (43): 510 grams
• Sizes, half sizes: 39-50, 39.5-46.5
• Colours: black, red, white
• Features: Boa IP1, exchangeable toe nubs, arch support
• Last / toe box: normal to wide / normal to wide

Conclusion: Comfortable fit, toe box with space; for wide heels, slips a little; twist lock only engages when tightened; insole supports the arch of the foot

Pearl Izumi Elite Road V5

• Price: 240 Euro
• Country of production: China
• Weight per pair (43): 595 grams
• Sizes, half sizes: 39-49, 43.5-46.5
• Colours: black-grey, black-silver, Boa IP1, interchangeable
• Features: studs, reflective material
• Last / toe box: narrow / narrow
• www.paul-lange.de

Conclusion: Narrow last, small toe box, tight upper material; try a size larger; best power transmission, top twist lock

Rapha Classic Shoes

• Price: 215 Euro >> e.g. available here
• Country of production: China
• Weight per pair (43): 585 grams
• Sizes, half sizes: 36-47, 41.5-45.5
• Colours: White, Black
• Features: spare laces, Ergo insole with exchangeable wedges, reflective material
• Last / toe box: narrow / narrow

Conclusion: narrow cut, possibly choose a size larger, many sizes; lacing cannot be adjusted while riding, Ergo sole as standard

Scott Road Vertec Boa

• Price: 220 Euro >> e.g. available here
• Country of production: Cambodia
• Weight per pair (43): 585 grams
• Sizes, half sizes: 40-48
• Colours: White, Black
• Features: Boa IP1, padded tongue, Ergo insole with exchangeable wedges
• Last / toe box: normal to wide / normal to wide

Conclusion: All-round fit, roomy toe box, good support, twist fastener locks when tightening and widening, softly padded tongue, large walking nubs

Shimano RC7

• Price: 220 Euro >> available here
• Country of production: China
• Weight per pair (43): 510 grams
• Sizes, half sizes: 38-48
• Colours: black, white, red
• Equipment: Boa L6
• Last / toe box: normal to wide / normal to wide

Conclusion: Narrow and wide last available; large strap with twist lock bulky when putting on; firm sole supports the arch of the foot, lightweight

Specialised Torch 2.0

• Price: 160 Euro >> available here
• Country of production: China
• Weight per pair (43): 495 grams
• Sizes, half sizes: 36-49, 39.5-45.5
• Colours: black, white, grey
• Features: Boa IP1, padded tongue, interchangeable walking studs, reflective material
• Last / toe box: normal / wide

Conclusion: All-round fit, roomy toe box, easy to adjust and good support, twist fastener locks on both sides, large walking nubs, lightweight, affordable

Van Rysel cycling shoes road bike RR900

• Price: 150 Euro >> e.g. available here
• Country of production: Italy
• Weight per pair (43): 595 grams
• Sizes, half sizes: 40-47
• Colours: 5 colour variants
• Features: 2 Atop fasteners, padded tongue, reflective material, extra heel padding
• Last / toe box: normal / normal
• www.decathlon.de

Conclusion: normal fit, medium-sized toe box, firm upper offers plenty of support, Atop fasteners only click when tightened; favourable price

How TOUR tests

• Closure/adaptation including heel hold and tongue shape, features, power transmission and weight were assessed.
• To evaluate the power transmission, we measured the sole stiffness using a defined load (200 Newton metres) on the test bench. The harder the sole, the more efficient the power transmission. The deflection of the shoes in the test ranged from half a millimetre to one millimetre, which can be considered "very stiff" to "medium stiff".
• In terms of features, we evaluate details such as the quality of the insole, sole ventilation, walking nubs, tongue padding and the presence and placement of reflective material. Twist fasteners scored significantly higher than laces in the fastening/adjustment category.
• We rate the weight less highly, as this has little effect on pedalling efficiency. Less than 500 grams per pair (size 43) is considered very light, while more than 600 grams is considered heavy.

You can download the full test with detailed scores and measurements below for €1.99.

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!

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PDF: Test: Road bike shoes from 150 euros