Needing a Little More
My beloved and highly ventilated Mavic Alpine shoes just weren’t cutting it while cycling in eastern China’s cold wet winter weather. The ventilated mesh shoes are great for riding in the warmer climes and veterans of many cycle trekking miles but do little to keep the cold and the water out went the mercury drops and gray skies open up for days on end. I needed something a little more substantial.
Earlier this year, I had a chance to nab a pair of Shimano’s new XM7 Cross Mountain Adventure Shoes before heading to Taiwan for a little winter wet weather island cycling adventure, followed by subzero foray across South Korean peninsula, and finishing up with a brief soiree through the humid tropics of China’s Hainan island, where the shoes were exposed numerous wet and cold conditions. After about 5000 km on the bike and afield, here’s how they did…
At First Glance
The XM7’s are clearly built for rugged terrain. The Shimano XM7’s look like a low-cut hiking shoe more than a cycling shoe. The muted light gray uppers, flat black welting and toe box, and Vibram soles are unassuming and not overdone, which helps them blend in and not shout, “Hey, look at me, I’m a cyclist!”
The XM7’s don’t present an “out of place” appearance when away from the bike kicking around town and taking in the local sights, sipping an espresso, or having a frosty pint at a local watering hole.
One Burly Adventure Shoe
Shimano lists the XM7 as an all mountain adventure shoe intended for cross mountain (X-Alps) and cycle trekking, with the outsole stiffness tilted toward comfort and stability rather than competition.
Gore-Tex liners and natural leather uppers are designed to keep the wet stuff out while remaining breathable. Reinforced rubber toe boxes provide protection and durability. Securely anchored reflective finger loops facilitate easy foot entry and add visibility at night.
The XM7’s are outfitted with deep lugged semi-flexible half-shank Vibram soles for added traction. Recessed mounting points accept SPD two-hole style cleats. Hard plastic blanks are included with the shoes so the shoes can be used without cleats on flat pedals as well.
Shimano rates the XM7’s as a 3 out of 12 on their Comfort – Performance scale (1 = max comfort, 12 = max performance), leaning toward added protection, comfort, and walking stability. A size 40 weighs it at 870g. Sizes run from 36-48.
They’re not cheap, a shiny new pair of XM7 cross mountain shoes will set you back $199.00, and come with a one year warranty. If you are looking for added stability and ankle protection, Shimano offers the XM9, a high-top version of the Cross Mountain Adventure Shoe listing at $250.00.
Fit
The XM7’s I received run true to size. My puppies donned with a pair of thin synthetic wicking liners and wools socks usually take a size 46, and they dropped right into the Shimano’s with no scrunching or sloppiness. I’ve got average to slightly narrow feet, and the XM7’s weren’t too wide.
Small diameter laces threaded through nylon loops provide a precise, custom fit and will accommodate two pairs of socks. Lined innards offer support without being too stiff. The instep straps lock my heels firmly into the heel cups and prevent any slipping around.
The shoes are solid but not overly rigid. The half-length shank plate promotes walkability while off the bike, unlike stiff full-on traditional mountain biking shoes. The shoes are supportive without feeling clunky. The toe boxes provide plenty of wiggle room without being sloppy.
The XM7’s broke in quickly without any blisters, pinch points or hot spots. The more I wore them, the more flexible they become.
Committed to Clipless Pedals
I’ve been riding clipless pedals since 1986 and toe clips before that. For me, clipping in is a more efficient way of pedaling, especially when climbing. I like the ability to engage my hamstrings by drawing the pedal upward during the pedal stroke when clipped to the pedals.
I’ve tried to embrace flat pedals a couple of time, but long days climbing big mountains bring me back to clipless pedals every time. So, clipless it is for me.
Performance
On my feet, the XM7’s aren’t heavy or clunky like other crossover shoes. They’re surprisingly light and nimble feeling for a leather Gore-Tex lined mountain shoe. As stated, the look and feel of the XM7’s is similar to a pair of leather light-weight hiking boots.
Overall the XM7’s are comfortable on and off the bike. I’ve worn them none stop on and off the bike for weeks at a time without issue. They were efficient to pedal with and comfortable to kick around in, and can walk in them all day without my dogs commencing to howl with discontent.
Via SPD cleats the XM7’s form a solid, firm connection between me and the bike. The instep strap provides a secure fit and keeps my feet locked into the shoe, even when pulling hard on the inclines.
Off the bike, the recessed cleat mounting points keep the SPD cleats out of the way so there is little to no clicking or scraping when walking around. Grippy Vibram soles provide sure footing and plenty of traction while off the bike day hiking and sightseeing.
The shoes are warm in cold weather and waterproof in the rain. Wearing a wool sock over a synthetic liner, the XM7’s kept my feet warm while riding when the mercury dropped down to -8 C. The breathable waterproof Gore-Tex liner kept the water out all day long when the wet stuff was flying
Maintainance is pretty straight forward. Just a quick knock to get the big chunks of dirt off and a wipe with a damp cloth to finish up is about all that’s needed. As time goes, I’ll give them an occasional applications of waterproofing treatment to help preserve the leather and maintain water repellency. The XM7’s are a stout pair of shoes and should provide several years of trouble free service.
As stated, the muted colors pleasantly blend in and don’t scream “cycling shoe,” but rather present the appearance of low-cut lightweight hiking boots that will fit into many social genres. They dirty up nicely and don’t look too high-tech either. With a decent looking shirt and pair of pants or shorts, they won’t look out of place at the airport, museums or nicer eating establishments one may patronize traveling on the road.
Final Thoughts
The XM7’s are serious adventure shoes that’ve have become my goto shoe for bike travel. They’re a great “all-a-rounders” and excellent for long distance bike travel for those wanting a more robust, substantial shoe. The XM7’s will “best” suit most riding and traveling conditions.
Not only should they survive but thrive the rigors of long distance bike travel buy yield many comfortable days spinning the pedals. The XM7 is a legit long distance cycling shoe.
Recommended use: bikepacking, long distance cycle trekking, etc.
Please let me know what you think. Provide your comments below and like me on Facebook.
Happy travels, Johnny
Excellent review – thank you. Just what I need, so I’m starting to save up right now.
David,
Thank you for the input and the kind words, much appreciated. I’m doing the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route with them this summer. I’ll keep you posted on how the XM7’s fair.
Cheers, Johnny
Johnny,
Real helpful, thorough review. I tour in Scotland including winter and to keep weight down I can only carry one set of shoes for on and off the bike and these seem to offer the perfect solution.
BW
Ross
Ross,
Thank you for the input and checking our the review on the Shimano XM7 Cross Mountain Adventure Shoes. They are not quite as flexible as the Mavic Alpine shoes but weigh about the same are waterproof, which is what I was looking for. I’ve been really pleased with them off the bike hiking around and seeing the sights. I’m going to wear them on my Great Divide trip this summer and I’m confident they will do well there too.
Glad to be of assistance. I hope to get to Scotland one day soon my bike as well. Best regards,
Johnny
Things I dislike about Gore-Tex lined cycling shoes:
1. They add weight.
2. They add cost.
3. They don’t solve the problem of water getting into the shoes from below (cleat). No matter how well they keep water out from above, they can’t keep it out from the cleat area, so feet get wet regardless.
I wish they designed shoes like these, but without the Gore-Tex membrane.
John
John,
Thank you much for the comments and added insight on the Shimano XM7’s. I concur with your assessment. It’s always comes down to trade-offs when getting gear. The shoes aren’t as light or quit as flexible as my Mavics but they do keep the rain and road splash out where the Alpines won’t. Ideally, I would like to just ride in my Vibram Five Fingers on platform pedals, but I haven’t worked out the set up for long rides just yet.
I’ve been sealing the cleat mounting points from the inside under the insole with duct tape, which seems to do the trick and keep the rain and road splash out.
Thanks again for the input. Best regards,
Johnny
Awesome review. My girlfriend and I are riding the Colorado Trail this summer from Durango to Denver. (Our blog can be seen here: ct-journal.weebly.com) These are the shoe’s we’ve chosen for the trip since we are both clipless riders ourselves. Very exciting to read positive things about them before putting them to the real test. They arrive in the next day or two so we can start breaking them in before July.
Cheers!
Eric,
Thank you for the kind words and checking out my blog. I’m glad the review o the Shimano XM7’s was of use to you. My Shimano’s are still doing great. For me, they make are the best crossover between SPD mountain biking shoes and lightweight hiking shoes. The more I wear them, the better they get.
Nice blog site. I’ll be following your journey on the Colorado Trail. It sounds really exciting. Good luck on your trek. Hope you and Donna have a great adventure.
If all goes well, I will be transiting your neck of the woods in late August/early September. My riding partner and I will be starting out from Banff on the 8th of August to ride the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, after which we’ll head northwest from the Mexican border and make our way to San Francisco and back to Shanghai while stopping at the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, and up the Sierra Nevadas to Yosemite, and then into the Bay Area. It should be a great adventure.
Thank you again, and best regards,
Johnny
Oh, I do wonder when would it be too warm with these shoes. I was happy to see the comment, someone trying it in summer, however, could not see any review on their page :/
We (www.bikethelife.com) are planning year round trip starting in winter in Europe towards the Himalayas, then South-East Asia and thinking how warm would be too warm with these shoes, that also our bike shop guy recommends.
So we are thinking maybe rather mesh-shoes + sealskinz socks.. and gaiters to keep water away would be enough in let’s say -5 temperatures..? Or that is no go? As we just tried spd pedals for the first time and we would love to cycle with it, but don’t want multiple pairs of it as we for sure will carry warm hiking boots.
Greets!
Justina,
For me, I would go with the XM7 Mountain Adventure Shoes and forgo the mesh shoes. Wearing the shoes in warmer climes isn’t that much of a deal; however, for whatever cooling they provide, the mess shoes won’t offer much protection against the cold and any moisture will immediately penetrate them.
I’ve worn the Shimano’s in the in hot and cold temperatures without issue. In the rain, the keep your feet dry, which my Mavic Alpine mess shoes won’t do. In the Mavic’s, if my shoes got wet, my feet got wet — no question, which is the major reason I went looking for and found the Shminao XM7’s.
The Mavic Alpines were great shoes sans moisture, but when they got wet, so did my feet. I didn’t like that.
For me, the XM7 is a superior all around all condition shoe, and is my goto shoe for clipless long distance riding. I would choose the Shimano’s.
Thank you for stopping by my blog. Hope this helps. Happy travels,
Johnny
hi jonny – years ago(over 20) i approached shimano and a couple of other cycling shoe manufactures to build a shoe like this with the idea of using them in conjunction with walking gaiters. this combination really stops road splash and even keeps you dry in down pours. remember so much of road splash soaks and also muddies up the top of your socks. which eventually seeps down and soaks the inner of the shoe. i can envisage shimano including a pair of gaiters with these shoes. they could emboss there name down the sides for added advertising. when not in use they just roll up to the size of a pair of gloves and stow in a bag. beats any gortex over shoe. walking gaiters are taller than over shoes – coming up to just below the knee. cheers steve
Steve,
Thank you for the comment. Some short of cycling gaiters for riding in wet weather is a great idea! I wonder if a pair of hiking gaiters would do the trick. For most rain, I’m wearing a Vaude poncho to keep the rain off of the top and the fenders on the bike to keep most of the splash from underneath and off of the road from hitting my shoes and lower legs. It seems like a pair of gaiters to keep the splash off shoes a bit would go a long ways in keeping the shoes and my feet dryer. I’m surprised a cycling shoe or clothing manufacturer hasn’t picked up the idea.
I’m going to toy around with a pair of old Outdoor Research hiking gaiters and see how they work. The poncho and fenders are keeping most of the water off my feet, so I wouldn’t need too much more protection. Again, great idea, Steve!
Thank you much for the comments. Much appreciated. I’ll let you know how the gaiters workout. I’m heading back to the Americas to ride the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route and then through the western U.S.
Best regards,
Johnny
Cheers for the in-depth review Johnny
I’ve just ordered myself a pair on the strength of it. I live and ride in the north west of England, on the West Penine Moors, and they put the reservoirs round here for a good reason. The terrain is brilliant (its one of the main reasons we live here) but we get a lot of rain. I normally ride with Northwave shoes, but was looking for something a bit more substantial. They’ll be being paired with the obligatory Sealskinz socks. I’m hoping this will be the dream combination for dry, toasty feet
Cheers
Adam
Adam,
Thank you for the comments. I think you’ll enjoy the Shimano XM7 or maybe the XM9 with the higher tops for wetter conditions. You may want to consider purchasing a set of waterproof gators to fend off the water from your lower legs as well. I give both the Shimano XM7 and Sealskinz socks two thumbs up. They’ll keep your feet dry, though you will perspire some.
Happy trails. Cheers, Johnny
Johnny,
I have read your review. Just a question: could you compare these shoes to northwave explorer 2 gtx?
much appreciated
Piotr
Piotr,
I don’t have any direct experience with the Northwave Explore shoes but based on a little online research, they seem to be similar in purpose and style as the Shimano XM7’s.
I think it comes to to which brand of shoes fit you the best and can be purchased for the best price.
Both shoes work with or without SPD cleats and are Goretex lined to keep the water out, but with the XM7’s having a nubuk leather upper while the Explorers have synthetic mesh uppers. The XM7 has heavy duty laces whill those on the Explorer appear to be of a little lighter matterial. Both shoes are similiar in price as well depending on where you purchase them.
I can’t attest to the wear and fit of the Explorers but as for the XM7’s, they fit my feet and are comfortable on and off the bike. I imagine the Explorers would be similar.
I think the XM7’s look more like light weight hiking boots while the Explorers have a sports shoe or cross trainer appearance to them, which may or may not matter to you.
For long distance bike travel, I prefer the hiking shoe look as it fits in witht he plainer more understated clothes I tend to wear.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is anything more I can assist you with. Thank you for visiting my blog. Good luck on your quest.
Best regards,
Johnny
Hello could you possibly let me know whether you think these would be comfortable enough to walk in for several days at a time? I’m trying to work out if these are the right shoe to replace having to take both spds and walking shoes for a 6-8 month tour next year where I want to be able to leave my bike and do little walking trips into the mountains every now and again. Thank you in advance
Jakob,
Yes, for me the are plenty comfortable to walk around in for extended periods of time. I would rate the XM7’s sole at a medium stiffness and place it between the full on stiff mountain biking shoes, such as a pair of Sidi Dominator SPD shoes, with little flexibility and something similar to the Magic Alpine shoes which are one of the more flexible shoes on the market.
I’ve worn the XM7’s as my only shoes on several rides of 3-4 weeks or so without an issue on and off the bike. The XM7’s are my goto SPD shoes.
Getting the right pair of shoes is a highly personalized endeavor wear what works for one won’t for another. For me, I like a shoe that’s good on and off the bike, one that looks nice and doesn’t scream “cyclist” too much when I’m hiking or out and about in town.
You shouldn’t have any problems walking or doing short hikes in the XM7s.
For me, the XM7 has done the best job and will continue to be my favorite SPD cycling shoe for bicycle travel.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Best regards,
Johnnny
Hi Johnny,
I am planning on riding the Great Divide this summer and was wondering how these shoes worked for you on that ride last summer? Did they actually keep your feet dry through the water crossings and during periods of rain? How hot did the weather get and did your feet feel hot during those high temperatures? Were they comfortable wearing around camp each night even though you’d been riding in them all day? Any problems with any stitching coming lose or delaminating? Thanks for all your information. Cheers, Ray
Ray,
Highly recommend the Shimano XM7 shoes.
Ended up cutting the Great Divide short due to a family emergency, but rode around South Korea, Taiwan, and Hainan Island in China for a couple of months and encountered lots of wet weather with no issues. They kept my feet dry and comfortable.
The XM7s were my only footwear and wer comfortable on and off the bike and are still holding up great. Of the bike, they didn’t look too techy or cyclish.
There hasn’t been an construction problems as of yet. They’re still wearing great. I would buy them again without reservation.
Good luck on your Great Divide oddessey. Let me know if you have any further questions.
Best regards,
Johnny
My wife and I purchased these shoes for a 6 week bike tour in Chile (Jan/Feb, 2018). We wore them for 42 days straight… from the time we left our house in CB, CO, thru to the second we returned.
We did not want to pack 2 or more pairs of shoes, so we purhcased these based on this review… Thank You!! We tested them out on a short 3 day tour in UT (Burr trail to Wolverine Road including a 15 mile hike thru Little Death Canyon and back).
We knew they’d work at that point…. So 42 days from CO to Chile/Patagonia and back … hot, cold, big time rain, 20 miles of hiking, 4 days on a ferry, Santigo city walking, west coast beaches after the bike ride, and on and on… We did use short gaitors (RAB) for the rain days. All in all, an excellent choice for a one shoe does everything type adventure shoe. Second side note… She took the time to take the cleats out/off during the walk/hike sections (TdP in Agentina). I didn’t…. just walked in the cleates, not an issue.
Tony,
Thank you for the kind words. I’m glad the review was useful in assisting you and your wife on your awesome adventure to Chile.
Removing the cleats is an excellent idea, if you’re going to be off the bike for an extended period.
Again, thank you for the feedback. Much appreciated. See you out there.
Cheers, Johnny