Shimano SH-GR9R
The GR9 is Shimano’s follow on from the popular AM7. The uppers on the AM7 were almost perfect for wet and Winter conditions but the sole was too hard, even in the Summer, and during winter it felt Teflon coated in the plummeting temperatures so we were eager to try the new Michelin rubber sole. For flat riding, if the sole compound doesn’t work, the shoe doesn’t work and we were impressed with the Michelin compound: while it didn’t have the limpet-like suction of the FiveTen, the Shimano GR9 stuck well to the pedal but enabled the rider to make small adjustments to their foot position while riding, something that’s almost impossible on the Sticky Rubber sole of the Five Ten. For many riders, this will be an advantage.
The first thing that we noticed was that the sealed upper that made the AM7 great as a winter option was gone, replaced with a lighter and perforated design. The second thing that we noticed was the weight – the GR9 is seriously light for a flat pedal shoe: at over 200 g lighter than the Five Ten and nearly 350 g lighter than the Giro, these shoes will hack a chunk of weight off your feet, which means that your legs don’t have to work as hard to pedal them!
Despite absorbing nearly 30% of their total weight in water, the GR9s remained the lightest shoe on test. A close fitting heel cup and roomy toe box made for a secure and comfortable fit, even with winter socks on. The stiffness of the sole was perfect, allowing you to wrap your foot around the pedal but with support in the mid-section. Hike-a-bike was comfortable with a more flexible toe section and the fitted heel ensured that we had no heel lift or rub.
Conclusion
The Shimano SH-GR9R flat pedal shoe particularly suited to trail riders, as the low weight and excellent sole make you feel like you have a few extra watts for free, even when they’re wet.
Weight: 831 g
Price: € 151
Info: shimano.com
Strengths
– Great fit
– Lightweight even when wet
– Much improved Michelin sole
Weaknesses
– Perforations in upper let water in
