The Shimano RC3 sits 2nd in the brand’s range of street footwear, higher than the RC1 and down below the RC5, and is a excellent-searching and relaxed shoe for all-round riding.
The RC3 capabilities a cleanse-on the lookout wraparound artificial leather-based upper that has trickled down from the brand’s high-conclude S-Phyre shoes.
They are really at ease way too, and will attractiveness to riders who want a overall performance-oriented shoe that does not crack the bank, even though the fibreglass-reinforced nylon sole lacks the stiffness racier riders could be on the lookout for.
Shimano RC3 specifics and specification
The RC3’s neat-looking upper is created to maximise breathability and comfort and ease, and is secured by a single, low-profile L6 Boa.
The a few-bolt sole is designed with a seamless midsole, which is meant to “minimise stack top even though preserving a cleanse finish”, in accordance to Shimano.
The sole is pretty stiff but not excessively so, rating 6 on Shimano’s very own 12-stage scale, which feels about correct for a road cycling shoe built for the commuter, fast vacationer or sportive rider, instead than the wannabe racer.
Weight, at a shade below 500g for a pair of sizing 42s, is excellent, and they are readily available in an spectacular assortment of dimensions – 36-52 for adult men, in the two vast and typical fittings, and 35-44 for girls.
Shimano RC3 overall performance
As you’d count on from Shimano, you get a higher-quality seem, come to feel and consolation from its RC3 footwear.
They have a tremendous-neat wraparound layout and a solitary L6 Boa, which is positioned centrally rather than at the major of the foot.
Alternatively of a traditional tongue, the exterior of the RC3’s higher wraps close to your foot. The Boa dial is built to spread the strain evenly, and whilst it does so, I’m not convinced it is much better than the top rated-mounted Atop dial and twin Velcro mix of the dhb Aeron Carbon Highway Dial footwear I also experienced on exam.
However, it retains the excess weight down and the Boa dial is intuitive to use, supplying fast and simple adjustment on the fly.
A further unusual characteristic is the sliding cleat plate that has three options, and which offers about a centimetre of fore-and-aft adjustability.
As with Shimano’s far more expensive footwear, the RC3 is primarily based all-around Shimano’s Dynalast, which the brand promises creates “an optimised toe-spring portion that promotes a smoother, a lot more strength-successful upstroke”.
I’m not sure I could feel any excellent distinction on the street, but these have been surely relaxed. Section of that might be down to the sole – it is quite stiff, but not very so.
By distinction, Shimano’s major-conclude S-Phyre RC9 steps 12 on the stiffness scale. If you are generating an all-in exertion, you will get the RC3’s soles to flex, but I assume this stage of stiffness is about proper for most working day-to-working day and physical fitness riding.
The sizing is also spot on, the toe space is enough, the suit supportive and the very low stack places you closer to the pedal axle.
The higher has laser-slash vents above the toes and along the inside of, alongside with venting at the front of the sole. When tough TPU nose and heel bumpers are quite tidily concluded, I would have liked a minimal much more height to the shallow heel.
Weighing it up in opposition to the levels of competition
Shimano’s RC3s have a large amount of stiff competitiveness when it arrives to alternatives for all over £100, like footwear with complete-carbon soles.
If you’re searching for rigid-soled shoes, Wiggle’s dhb Aeron Carbon Road Dial and the likes of Boardman’s Carbon Cycle Shoe have the edge.
These are not only rigid carbon sneakers with replaceable heel and toe bumpers, but the perfectly-vented uppers have a pair of Atop dials.
Nonetheless, the RC3s are nicely-matched with Giro’s Stylus shoes, with equally of them obtaining mid-degree sole stiffness, although the Giro sole is also appropriate with two-bolt SPD cleats, for more versatility.
Shimano RC3 bottom line
The Shimano RC3 footwear present the brand’s regular consideration to detail when it arrives to layout and building, and if you are an endurance rider who favours comfort above all-out stiffness, these are a very great alternative.
That mentioned, I’d however have chosen a next Boa dial, or even a Velcro strap, to even out the force more than the foot additional evenly.