Shimano

XC7 Cycling Shoe - Men's

Sitting just below the SH-XC9 as Shimano's top dog off-road shoe, the XC7 Cycling Shoe receives many of the features from its top-tier sibling, giving it universal acclaim, but brings it more into reach for those of us trying to keep a budget. The XC7 is a race-ready shoe using a carbon-reinforced midsole to drop weight and improve pedaling efficiency. It registers at a 9 out of 12 on Shimano's outsole stiffness scale, only surpassed by the XC9 S-Phyre on the off-road scale where it sits at an 11 out of 12. For most of us, that’s plenty stiff for race efforts with a touch more forgiveness for off the bike exploits like steep run-ups or scrambling over rocky creek beds.

Though it's not as stiff as the S-Phyre, the XC7 does feature a more robust complement of lugs, so it's better suited for barrier hopping or during hike-a-bike efforts. The rubberized outsole also includes toe spike mounts for days when not even the lugs are enough and you need to cut through the muck. The compound comes from the rubber experts at Michelin. Michelin uses two different durometers throughout the sole, targeting different qualities of grip and durability depending on how the lugs will contact the ground—just like with the brand's tires.