Shimano RC300 Road Cycling Shoes Review - feat. BOA Dial + Nylon Sole + SPD-SL / Look Keo + Vented

While the Shimano S-PHYRE RC9 shoes may get the most media coverage, their high price makes them inaccessible for most cyclists. This is where the Shimano RC300 shoes come in with high-performance features and construction at a mid-level price point. These slot above the RC1 shoes which have velcro straps, but below the RC7 and RC5 shoe variations. For this review, we have the $125 Shimano RC300 cycling shoes which feature a single BOA L6 dial. Shimano offers these in both a women’s specific version, shown in this review, and a men’s version with slightly different color options. The RC300 shoes feature a fiberglass-reinforced nylon outsole with an integrated midsole and outsole construction for optimal fit. These shoes are compatible with 3-bolt cleats such as Shimano SPD-SL or Look Keo with adjustable forward and aft placement. The Shimano RC300 shoes are the most affordable BOA dial equipped shoes in Shimano’s shoe lineup. Shimano only offers the RC300 in black for the men’s version while the women’s version gets two color options: black with tan accents, and the pale green version shown here with black accents. It’s a shame that Shimano doesn’t offer the pale green option on more shoes as it’s an attractive and unique color. Aside from the color differences, the women’s specific variation has a slightly more narrow toe box than Shimano’s men’s version but are otherwise visually identical. Branding is limited to Shimano printed on the rear and the RC300 model name on the top. The RC300 shoes are constructed from a breathable synthetic leather upper with perforations on the toe box for ventilation. As with other Shimano shoes, these have a wraparound construction that eliminates pressure points and contours around your feet which is similar to the Shimano S-PHYRE RC9 and allows the shoes to uniformly compress as you tighten the single BOA L6 dial. Unlike the higher-end BOA Li2 dials, the L6 dial only provides micro-tightening and has to be pulled up to fully release the tension. The shoes have a unique looking lacing pattern that places the BOA dial in the center with a cross over pattern that pulls the upper together. While this centered design eliminates the need for a bottom velcro strap, typically found on more budget shoes such as the Van Rysel RoadR 520, it still allows the toe box and ankle fit to be adjusted. ... Read the full review @ ~ 00:00 Intro 00:10 Unboxing Specs 02:20 Fit Finish 06:15 On The Road 07:30 Comparison (Shimano RC7 / S-PHYRE RC9, Bont Motion, Van Rysel) 10:45 The Final Score ~ Visit Our Website - Follow Us On Instagram - ~ Shimano - ~