Shimano XC90 Shoe Review

 

Durability

 
The XC90’s clean up remarkably easily with a sponge and water, rather like a pair of Wellington boots. Rovenica seems to shed dirt and water better than most other shoe uppers, which are typically filled with voids and pockets that absorb water. Also Rovenica consistently returns to its original shape and size after being soaked and stretched.
 

 
The nylon running studs are quite soft, but can easily be replaced, and the shoes come with optional metal studs. The polyurethane heel tread has a groove design that clears mud quickly; it is however very soft and quick wearing, so I would like to have seen an option the make them replaceable.
 

 

Running Performance

 
The sole design is less aggressive than most mountain bike shoes, as might reasonably be expected for a race-specific XC shoe, but the grip of the three low-profile replaceable running studs on mud and loose surfaces is still really very good. This seems to be due to the fact that the smallish studs and heel treads have an excellent mud shedding design.
 

 
The slight downside to the running performance is the stiffness of the sole, meaning that there is very little range of foot flexion at the toes. This is only really noticeable when walking on a hard surface (i.e. heel-striking) which involves significant dorsiflexion of the foot. In the more common situation of a cyclocross type run-up, the stiff sole seems to actually assist the foot in plantar flexion.

 

Pedalling Performance

 
This is really where the XC90’s shine, being as close as you can currently get to road shoe levels of performance, whilst still being able to run through mud. The stiffness rating of 11 make this the second most rigid Shimano sole, after the R320 road shoe.
 

 
The toe box wraps up at the front and offers some foot protection, mid-foot under sole is covered with a transparent non-slip bumpy-surfaced polyurethane moulding. This is designed to prevent foot slips when you flat foot the pedal during fast re-mounts, and the previously mentioned, anti-slip heal-cup lining of one-way-grip fabric provides optimum heel stabilisation.
 

 

Value for Money?

 
Value for money is really the most subjective measure here, you can of course buy some perfectly acceptable mountain bike shoes for about a third of the price of the Shimano SH-XC90’s but, as can been seen from the number of top-level cyclocross and cross-country mountain bikers racing in these shoes week-in and week-out, there really is no better option than this.
 
Well at least until they bring out a pair in orange…
 
For the technical details see my Preview article
 

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Shimano

 

Shimano UK (Madison)

 

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