Shimano RC3
★★★1/2 £109.99 Comfortable for long rides
WEIGHT 498g (Size 42) SIZES 36-52 WOMEN’S Yes, sizes 35-44 COLOURS Black; red
As you’d expect from Shimano, you get both a high-quality look and feel from its entry-level RC3 shoes. They have a super-neat wraparound design and a single L6 Boa, which is placed in the centre of the shoe rather than near the opening for your foot. Another unusual feature is the sliding cleat plate with three fore-and-aft settings, which provide a centimetre of adjustability.
As with Shimano’s more expensive shoes, the RC3 is based around its Dynalast, which Shimano claims produces ‘an optimised toe-spring section that promotes a smoother, more energyefficient upstroke’. I’m not sure I could feel any great difference on the road but these were certainly comfortable.
Part of that may be down to the sole, which measures six on Shimano’s 12-point stiffness scale – so they’re pretty stiff, but not that stiff. The RC9 measures 12…
The other design feature the RC3 has inherited from Shimano’s top-line shoes is the elegant wraparound construction. Instead of a traditional tongue, the outside of the upper wraps around your foot. It’s secured neatly by a single Boa dial, which is designed to spread the pressure evenly. While it does this,
I’m not convinced it’s better than the top-mounted Atop and twin Velcro combination of dhb’s Aeron, or the Boardman’s twin-Atop system. But it keeps the weight down and the Boa dial is quick and easy to adjust on the fly.
These aren’t designed for the wannabe racer, and if you’re putting in an all-in effort, you will get the RC3s to flex. But the sizing is spot on, the toe room ample, the fit supportive and the low stack puts you closer to the pedal axle.
The upper has laser-cut vents over the toes and along the inside and there’s venting at the front of the sole. While the tough TPU nose and heel bumpers are very tidily finished, I would have liked a little more height to the shallow heel.
Overall, though, Shimano doesn’t disappoint with its RC3 shoes. And if you’re new to clipless pedals and looking for shoes for endurance riding or longdistance commuting, their lack of all-out sole stiffness makes them a stylish and recommended choice.