Shimano RX600 gravel shoe review

Shimano’s RX600 (aka RX6) shoes are designed to "balance stiffness and walkability" – qualities you want when riding gravel and rough stuff, bikepacking and touring.

The entry-level RX600s come at a lower price than the company’s excellent RX8 shoes (£219).

Comfort and grip are impressive considering the price, while the upper is well ventilated and the sole amply stiff and supportive for use all-year round.

Shimano RX600 gravel shoe spec details

Just as with the RX8s, Shimano has gone with a single Boa dial and a Velcro strap over the forefoot.

The L6K Boa is a more basic version than the RX8’s IP1, but it still offers quick and easy on-the-fly adjustability.

Whether I was riding or walking, the fit felt secure, with my heels never pulling out, even on hike-a-bike sections.

Where the RX8s have an all-carbon sole, these ‘make do’ with nylon-reinforced carbon. Shimano rates the RX6’s sole stiffness at eight on its arbitrary 12-point scale against the RX8’s 10. However, whether shoe stiffness actually matters is open to debate.

Theoretically, as with the Boa, this rating is a downgrade, but for pretty much all of us virtually all of the time, it will be enough.

They’re designed for two-bolt SPD fitting and, at 576g for the pair, these size-43 RX6s are lighter than the size-45 RX8s (628g) we tested previously.

Shimano RX600 gravel shoe performance

I found the shoes great for walking in, with none of that awkward clip-clopping you get with cycling shoes with stiff, road-specific soles.

The sole’s pattern of TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane – a tough, abrasion-resistant plastic) lugs worked well on a variety of surfaces, providing more grip than I expected on mud.

The generous height of the lugs also meant my feet weren’t soaked after walking through some quite deep puddles.

The synthetic upper’s lack of seams and its wraparound construction give a comfortable fit.

It’s well ventilated too, with neat rows of holes around both sides and over the toe, while the sole has front and rear vents.

The logo is reflective and there are reflective details at the rear, but I’d like more because I’d happily wear these shoes for year-round cycling to work.

There are a couple of colour options for both the men’s and women’s styles, and I liked the gum-coloured lugs on my test pair.

Shimano RX600 gravel shoe bottom line

In short, these are excellent shoes for gravel riding, rough-stuff touring, winter riding and more.

I found them comfortable, practical and versatile – and easy to clean after muddy winter rides.

They’re comfortable and grippy off the bike, and I found the soles were also stiff and supportive enough when I was cycling.