2 Minute Reviews
Shimano GR7 Flat Pedal Shoes
All The Details
Imagine the best flat pedal shoes that Shimano has ever made. Add a collaboration with Michelin on the rubber sole that's a direct shot at the market leader for stickiness. Make it in a huge range of (whole) sizes from 36 through 48. Dial in the stiffness to balance pedaling efficiency and grip while remaining walkable. Welcome to the new Shimano GR7.
The construction of the shoes is top end. The material is highly breathable thanks to perforations, it dries as fast as anything on the market and it's proven to be durable. They are no worse for wear after catching the pins of my pedal on the top of the toes a few times (don't ask).
The combination of a molded heel cup and mesh ankle collar, ostensibly to keep debris out, means the GR7s hug my feet for a glove-like fit.
How breathable? This time of year a good pair of wool socks is called for every day and if there's a hint of bonus moisture I hit the Showers Pass waterproof socks without a second thought.
The GR7 shoes dry so fast that from fully saturated to dry & toasty only takes a few hours on my Peet Shoe Dryer. I've ridden them for two torrential rides on the same day with a lunch break and short nap in between.
On Trail
The tacky Michelin sole consists of two tread patterns. The toe and heel are designed for hike-a-bike moments and the center interfaces beautifully with a range of pedal pin patterns.
I've spent my hours on the GR7 shoes on a range of flat pedals with very different shapes, pins and pin patterns. I've been happy with every pedal I've tried and I particularly appreciate the shoes with pedals that have aggressive and narrow pins like the Blackspire Big Slim.
Every shoe company should copy Shimano's oval eyelets. They're a brilliant and obvious improvement. Flat laces for the win.
The Michelin sole is wickedly sticky. I appreciate the benefits of the more complex dual-tread sole every time I ride.
With every pedal I've used, I find it easy enough to reposition my foot if it lands in an awkward position. To answer the big question; the shoes are not Five Ten sticky but in this case, I'm saying that in a good way.
I've ridden a more efficient flat pedal shoe, namely the Pearl Izumi X-Alp Launch, but as the balance of conformity versus power transfer goes I think Shimano has really dialed it in with the GR7. That's in a size 43. Riders with gigantic flippers may find them a bit soft for all-day pedaling.
If the shoe fits...
I think Shimano has produced the best flat pedal shoe on the market. They grip excellently in wet or dry conditions without feeling locked in place, they're stiff enough for all-day epics on flat pedals, they're light (380 grams/shoe in size 43) and the manufacturing quality and details are almost excessive at this price compared to other shoes. From my experience working in shops, Shimano also sets the standard in terms of standing behind their shoes under hard use with a one year warranty.
All the tech, fit and function for 130 USD.
For more information please check here or your preferred local bike shop.
Comments
Agleck7
6 years, 4 months ago
Curious about sole durability. I love the new Freerider Pro, but the soles only last me half a season (I seem to put my foot in the same place and rotate it a lot when cornering so I wear a hole in a couple of spots even while the rest of the sole looks fine. I'd gladly trade a little less grip (since Vaults got me covered) for a sole that would last me two seasons.
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Darryl Chereshkoff
6 years, 4 months ago
Same exact experience for this 225lber on regular Freeriders....... Holes from my F20s in a matter of a few weeks.
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Andrew Major
6 years, 4 months ago
I rotate my feet quite a bit as well - presumably because I’m used to the float of my clip-in pedals?
Anyways, no durability issues to speak of yet but I will update the article if anything comes up.
I would except to get at minimum a full hard season of riding out of a pair of shoes before having to think about repair/replace.
In my experience selling shoes in shops, Shimano would also expect you to get at least a year on these shoes.
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goose8
5 years, 11 months ago
I bought a pair of these through my local shop late this spring. Wanted to check in and provide an update on how they have fared for anyone who is considering them. They were amazing out of the box- I thought I had found a new go-to shoe. Now it's two months later, and the pins from my pedals (one-up and kona) have shredded the sole to the point where you can see the different colored rubber from inside the shoe peeking through. As one might expect, at this point the grip is nebulous at best. I'm 225 lbs. geared up and ride 3-4 times per week, and the majority of my rides are less than 2 hours (none have been over 4 hours).
I'm pretty disappointed in the performance, and I took them back to my shop and they agreed that the wear was premature. They called Shimano, who declined to provide any support as the issue was with the sole rather than due to a manufacturing defect. As they put it, we have no idea what you were doing with them. So beware- these shoes perform quite well but, in my experience, have proven to have a limited lifespan.
I'm calling my local resoler in the morning to see if he can work any magic on them... I know that the approach shoe rubber he would use won't be as tacky, but hopefully it would last through the rest of the season.
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Andrew Major
5 years, 11 months ago
Mine are still in great shape after a lot of use (hiking and biking) using mainly the Kona Wah Wah pedal and the Blackspires and both of these pedals have pretty mean pins.
That said, in my experience, Shimano has always gone a long way in supporting their shoes when it comes to premature failure so on it's face I'm really surprised that they didn't cover the shoes after 2-months of use.
Thanks for sharing.
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mrbrett
6 years, 4 months ago
I will purchase these. For my next set of shoes, it's a hard decision: 5.10s seem lost in the World of Adidas, my Specialized 2FOs have proven less durable than I would like, and I can't seem to find stock in anything else. Shimano it is.
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luisgutierod
6 years, 4 months ago
https://www.amazon.com/adidas-Terrex-Trail-Cross-Hiking/dp/B00USQ3LKM
check it out...
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Morgan Heater
6 years, 4 months ago
It seems like resoling should be an option, like climbing shoes.
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goose8
6 years, 4 months ago
It IS an option! My local cobbler does it. He usually resoles climbing and approach shoes, but was more than happy to resole my Impact's with new rubber. It's not quite the same compound that they came with, but it fits my needs just fine (Kona Wah-Wahs). Basically a brand new pair of shoes for $40 US.
That being said, I like the look of these new shoes a lot.
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Agleck7
6 years, 4 months ago
Good tip. I'll see where the climbers in town get their shoes re-soled
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Morgan Heater
6 years, 4 months ago
Where?
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goose8
6 years, 4 months ago
Since you're asking: https://www.plattsburghshoehospital.com/ I'm not promoting Mark's business over any other outfit, just saying I've had good luck with his work.
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Michael Joyce
6 years, 4 months ago
Holy crow !!! That's right up the road from me and I never new it. Thanks.
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goose8
6 years, 4 months ago
Too funny- where do you usually ride?
Mark looked my shoes over and suggested a 3/4 resole because the heel wasn't worn at all. I think a full resole would have been more expensive, but I can't imagine that many people are wearing out the heels of their five tens. I actually had the same pair of impacts resoled twice since the uppers were in good shape. No complaints there- I got a ton of use out of them.
Andrew Major
6 years, 4 months ago
Great advice. I love life extending gear hacks.
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flowrider
6 years, 4 months ago
What type of volume shoe is this? I bought a pair of 5.10 Impacts for this season but I'm finding them boxy and a bit too high volume for my foot.
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Andrew Major
6 years, 4 months ago
Plenty of room to run a thin, medium, or medium-thick sock depending on the time of year, but where my Five Tens can easily swallow my Showers Pass h2o-proof socks they’re a much tighter fit with the GR7.
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flowrider
6 years, 4 months ago
Awesome thanks.
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JVP
6 years, 4 months ago
Cool, thanks. My only complaint with the current Five Ten lineup is they're a bit wide and sloppy in the toe for warm weather riding, and I feel like I have average width feet. Fine for winter as you can just run a thick sock.
These look like a viable contender.
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Andrew Major
6 years, 4 months ago
I have pretty average width feet as well (on the wider side of average) and I have the same experience.
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Vincent66
6 years, 4 months ago
Is the second picture taken on Lower Crippler ?
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Andrew Major
6 years, 4 months ago
All the pictures are on the upper part of Lower Crippler. My friend Andy does/organizes the maintenance on the trail (thanks Andy!).
It’s part of my regular test loop.
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Vincent66
6 years, 4 months ago
I've been on that rock many times before I dare to roll it ...
It is one of my favorite trails, I can't wait for the roller-coaster to be rebuild ; Thanks Andy !
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mike
6 years, 4 months ago
If the sole is similar rubber to the AM7 they should hold up very well . I have over 1000km of rides with my AM7,s and they are in way better condition when compared to my 5/10 Freerides .
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Ac
6 years, 4 months ago
Do you wear the same size shoe in both this and Freeriders?
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Andrew Major
6 years, 4 months ago
Sorry for the delayed response - had to confirm. I wear a 42 in the Freerider - which is almost too short but quite voluminous - and I wear a size 43 in the Shimano GR7 which is perfect.
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mike
6 years, 4 months ago
I wear a 42 in the 5/10 and a 43 in the Shimano , bigger with the Shimano
probably due to not be able to source a 42 . I wished they did a 42.5 size .
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mike
6 years, 4 months ago
Wish they did a all black version , the newer material design and it,s ability to dry faster is a bonus IMO. I also like the ankle sock. My first pair of shoes I bought back in the day for riding was some Nike's , they had a full ankle sock. And in weather like we have now this time of year it helped a lot .
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Andrew Major
6 years, 4 months ago
I like the sock too. I think it helps keep crap out of my shoe. It's not a feature on the level of fit, durability, quick drying, sole grip, lacing system, etc and it wouldn't be a dealbreaker for me either way but I'll definitely take it with the GR7 package.
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Alex Morken
6 years, 4 months ago
Only thing I don't like about them is that they rely on glue for attaching the soles. Wish they would have used stitching, too, as my mtb shoes that have only had glue have failed with the sole detaching.
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Chase Moreira
6 years, 4 months ago
It sounds like you've ridden in the new Pearl Izumi x alp launch flat pedal shoe...I haven't seen a review anywhere, but would be keen to know how that shoe compares to the GR7 and 510 free rider pro?
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Andrew Major
6 years, 4 months ago
Hi Chase,
I have logged lots of hours on the X-Alp yes... I'm currently working on a review of the shoes and it's a tricky message to nuance.
They're excellent but very different from the GR7 and any of the Five Ten flat pedals shoes I've worn.
If I'm doing a long ride on my single speed or an epic ride on a geared bike the X Alp has a more supportive (read stiffer) sole that is more comfortable for a long day of pedaling. It is not as all-out grippy as the Five Ten or that magical(?) blend of biting the pedal but being easily repositioned that I think the GR7 delivers but with a little more thoughtful approach to pedals the X-Alp definitely is going to be the winner for some riders.
Construction is top notch (as with the GR7).
Locally (North Shore) I think the GR7 is the best overall shoe on the market.
Hope that is helpful!
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Chase Moreira
6 years, 4 months ago
Hi Andrew,
Very helpful indeed. Like many of my flat pedal counterparts, I’m looking for the best all around shoe. Something good for longer (3-5 hr) rides, dabbling in xc, and some light descending specific rides. Most importantly, I need a flat shoe I can spend 7 days in for BC Bike Race this year. It goes without saying I like the 510 rubber, but find the “skate shoe” chassis to be underwhelming for comfort and technical form. It looks like this is now the go to. Thanks, I look forward to reading the x alp review in time as well.
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bman6074
6 years, 3 months ago
HI,
What is the width like? I have fairly wide feet. I currently have Shimano MT3 size 46 and they fit well actually little too wide but i where a thicker sock to help and tie the laces tighter around the toe area. I wish i could find a 45.5 as i think that would be perfect but never seen anyone sell that size. The 45 is just too tight.
I recently got winter shoes shimano MW5 in size 46 and they seemed a bit better in perfect width. Not as roomy as the MT3.
I tried the M200 and ME7 in size 46 but those were to tight of a width for me. It seems not all shimano shoes are sized the same.
Can't find the GR7 locally so i am trying to research before ordering online and having to ship back.
Any help is appreciated
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Andrew Major
6 years, 3 months ago
Hi bman,
Apologies for the delayed response. I'm riding the shoes in a 43 and also have a pair of the ME7 shoes in a 43 (a bit breezy for wet winter rides unless if I run my Showers Pass waterproof socks - but an excellent shoe) and the sizing is very similar. The GR7 feels a bit more voluminous and of course, the lace system offers the largest possible amount of volume adjustment.
Is there a measurement I can take compared to the ME7 that would be helpful? Where on your foot do you find shoes fit the tightest?
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bman6074
6 years, 3 months ago
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for the reply and willingness to take measurements. If you can measure on the inside sole of the shoe at the ball of the foot area. The widest part of the shoe. Compare it to the ME7. I am hoping its wider as the ME7 was too tight for me.
What i have found with the ME7 is the sole is cupped, hugging your foot. If your foot was wider then the cupped width it squished your foot making if very uncomfortable.
Thanks again.
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bman6074
6 years, 3 months ago
Any luck in getting that measurement?
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Andrew Major
6 years, 3 months ago
Thanks for the reminder. The GR7 is a full CM wider at the widest point (10.5 vs 9.5) comparing 43/43.
Putting both shoes on at the same time the GR7 has a significantly roomier and more open fit.
Hope that helps!
AM
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bman6074
6 years, 3 months ago
ok that seems to be similar with the MW5 winter shoes I got. I will give the GR7 a try in my usual size.
Thanks Again
Andrew Major
6 years, 3 months ago
Cheers!
Happy to help whenever I can.
canterbury
6 years, 3 months ago
Sorry... how do Shimano fit overall. I'm a size 12 in everything (Teva Links, Asics runners) which on Shimano website says either 47 or 48. Any help appreciated.
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Andrew Major
6 years, 3 months ago
Really can’t rely on Shimano’s US sizing numbers. Check out the Euro sizing for your favourite shoes (printed inside) and you’ll most likely be the same Euro size in a Shimano.
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bman6074
6 years, 3 months ago
I would say the sizing is fairly accurate. The width sizing is different throughout the types of shoes. If you read my post above. I tried 4 differ toes in and only found 2 that for my width comfortably. So really have to try them on.
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bman6074
6 years, 2 months ago
I went with size 46 GR7 and they fit good with my wide feet. Fit similar MW5 in size 46. Hope this helps others.
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