IN BRIEF
Shimano launched the SH-RX710 on 23 July, a gravel shoe that carries over the Pontoon cleat system from the S-Phyre RX910, its top-of-the-range model, for $180 less. Closure comes from two BOA L6Z dials, adjustable independently over the top of the foot and over the forefoot. The midsole is carbon-reinforced, with a stiffness rating of 9 on Shimano’s in-house scale, against 12 for the RX910. It is listed at $300 in the United States and €254.95 in Europe, in three colours — black, Navy, Sand White — and three widths.
| Price | €254.95 in Europe, $300 in the United States |
| Closure | Two BOA L6Z dials, independent adjustment |
| Midsole | Carbon-reinforced, stiffness rating 9 |
| Upper | Perforated synthetic leather |
| Cleat system | Pontoon, one pair supplied, replacements sold separately |
| Sizes | 36 to 50 depending on width, half sizes available |
| Widths | Narrow, Standard and Wide |
| Colours | Black, Navy and Sand White |
Shimano has a well-worn habit: release an eye-wateringly expensive race model, then let its good ideas trickle down a rung two seasons later. The SH-RX710, unveiled on 23 July, applies the recipe to gravel. It borrows from the S-Phyre RX910 the part that really counts — the Pontoon cleat interface — and costs $180 less.
The Pontoon system, or a cleat that floats
The principle is easy to describe, less so to manufacture. Rather than being bolted straight into the sole, the cleat sits on a floating sole plate, flanked by rubber blocks on either side, BikeRadar reports. Two consequences on a gravel bike: the foot’s pressure is spread over a wider area than the cleat alone, and the rubber section takes the contact when you walk — which, on trails you regularly end up finishing on foot, is not a cosmetic detail.
Shimano supplies one pair of pontoons with the shoes and sells replacements separately — reckon on around $20 according to Bikepacking. It is the system’s wear part, and it is also what makes it interesting over time: on a conventional shoe, a sole worn away at the cleat cannot be repaired.
The SH-RX710 stops at 9 for stiffness, and that is deliberate
Shimano rates the stiffness of its soles on a scale that runs up to 12. The S-Phyre RX910 sits at 12, the maximum. The RX710 stops at 9, with a carbon-reinforced midsole rather than a full carbon one. On paper, that makes it a less efficient shoe; in practice, it is the compromise most gravel riders are after, riding for several hours at a stretch over uneven surfaces rather than contesting a sprint.
Closure comes from two BOA L6Z dials, one for the top of the foot, the other for the midfoot and forefoot, adjustable independently. One detail sets them apart from those on the RX910: on the RX710, you loosen by pulling the dial, where the top-of-the-range model loosens by turning it, BikeRadar notes. The upper, for its part, is perforated synthetic leather.
Three widths, and a gravel shoe that comes in a size 36
The size range is the other pleasant surprise. The official spec sheet lists sizes from 36 to 50, with half sizes, and three widths: Narrow, Standard and Wide. According to BikeRadar, the standard width runs from 38 to 50, the Wide from 38 to 48, and the Narrow from 36 to 44 in whole sizes only. In other words, small narrow feet — long poorly served in gravel — have a way in.
On price, Shimano lists $300 in the United States and €254.95 in Europe, in black, Navy or Sand White. On 26 July, the official US store showed every version out of stock, with a note saying more was on the way. A successful launch, or very thin initial stock: the answer will come down to how fast it is replenished.
