Shimano

GR7 Mountain Bike Shoe - Men's

Shimano has never been a brand to slow its roll in the progress department. Whether its sleek new 12-speed drivetrains, or crafting the finest shoes to toss on before hitting the trail or tarmac, the brand always seems to be a front-runner in cutting edge technology. Now, we won't try to convince you that flat pedal shoes have all of the tech of, say, a 12-speed derailleur, or electronic groupset, but we will say that Shimano's GR7 Mountain Bike Shoes are fine tuned for the gravity hungry rider inside of all of us. The shoes are built for those of us who rock platform pedals, and maximize the interface of sole-to-pedal contact. Shimano didn’t just stop there. They employed the French wizards at Michelin to formulate a rubber compound that enhances grip on the pedals as well as the top steps of a champagne drenched podium.

Protection comes in the form of a molded toe cap to defend the piggies before they're safe on the podium, while a stretch mesh ankle collar prevents trail debris from entering the shoe. One area where the GR7 differs from the GR9 is its lack of the speed lacing system, armored lace shield, and asymmetrically raised ankle collar. While these features do have their merits, we feel their absence leads to a shoe with superior aesthetics. A traditional lacing system further contributes to the clean look while allowing for a lightweight and highly adjustable fit. The laces also mean that if you're racing in Nowheresville and you happen to break your “buckle,” new laces should be easy to source. Quick drying uppers will have you spinning perfect circles again after numerous creek crossings without feeling like you have cement boots on your feet.