Article by Jeff Valliere
Shimano S-PHYRE SH-XC903 Offroad Cycling Shoes ($480)
11.25 oz / 321g (without cleat) size EU44 / US10
Available now
Introduction:
The SH-XC903 is Shimano’s top of the line off road cycling shoe, featuring a slim, lightweight design, BOA fit system with Li2 dials, excellent breathability, Ultread XC rubber outsole and a super stiff carbon sole for maximum energy transfer.
They are by far the most premium and performance oriented cycling shoes I have worn and are ideal for XC mountain biking and gravel riding (or even road cycling if you use a mountain pedal and spend time off the bike at all). S-Phyre is Shimano’s flagship racing line that combines scientific guided designs with professional insights to create the ultimate race ready cycling products.
Pros: Very light, stiff/efficient power transfer, secure upper with easily adjustable dual Li2 BOA fit system, durable premium upper, amazing traction, great breathability, unmatched style/cool factor
Cons: Price (but certainly worth it if in your budget)
First impressions, Fit, Upper:
WOW! Is all that I can say. The XC-903 screams style and performance as soon as I opened the box and it all just got better and better from there.
The Japanese microfiber upper is perforated, soft and pliable, which helps to accommodate a wider range of footshapes, wrapping and hugging the foot in a very comfortable way with just the right level of compliance.
The perforated upper is exceptionally breathable and the white colorway does a miraculous job to deflect/dissipate the hot summer sun. I have traditionally opted for darker color cycling shoes out of perceived practicality as they are less likely to show dirt, but the white is cooler, looks amazing and cleans up pretty easily with a damp rag.
The XC-903 features the BOA Fit System with dual Li2 (two way adjustable) dials that do a phenomenal job snugging up the shoe, like a comfortable hug.
The BOA dials provide a nearly infinite level of adjustability that is easy to adjust quickly on the fly to either loosen or tighten incrementally to compensate for foot swell on a long hot ride, snugging up for a long climb or hard effort, loosen for casual cruising.
I reviewed the RX-801 last year, which has been my go to gravel shoe, but the RX-801 relies on a single Li2 BOA dial and a velcro strap at the toe. The BOA dial does a sufficient job snugging the upper, but the velcro strap is somewhat ineffective. So for me, it is a dream come true to have a shoe with the dual Li2 BOA for that ultimate level of security and adjustability.
The tongue is a wrap over burrito style tongue which is well padded, as is the heel collar, providing great comfort and good heel lockdown when pedaling or walking.
For added lockdown, the heel cup features anti twist stabilization to assure optimally secure foot position during hard efforts, accelerations and climbing.
I assumed that because this is a race oriented shoe, that fit would be very slim, if not confining, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the fit is very reasonable, if not accommodating when the dials are loosened, but then you can really achieve a race like fit when dialing in the BOA Li2 fit system, achieving the ultimate blend of comfort and performance.
Fit overall is true to size in my US 10/EU44.
Sole/Outsole:
The XC-903 features a carbon fiber sole with a low stack height, that is stiff and lightweight and which is optimized for maximum pedaling power and stability through the pedal stroke.
The shoe is incredibly stiff and super efficient for any type of effort on the bike, be it casual rides, long climbs or all out efforts. Shimano rates their soles on a stiffness scale of 2-12 and the 903 is an 11.
Installing the SPD cleats is easy, especially with the tick marks, at least to achieve uniformity between the two. If you happen to strip the threads, there is a cutout on the inside under the insole to access and replace if need be.
The Ultread outsole is a big draw for me. I use the Shimano RX-8 for gravel riding and if I ever need to hike a bike, then its harder outsole/tread with minimal if any rubber is difficult to negotiate rocky/slick terrain.
The XC-903 however is very much designed for this with a sticky rubber covering nearly the entire bottom of the shoe (aside from the SPD cleat of course) with deep, sharp lugs that have some flex/give so as to conform to the terrain and thus grip optimally, either on rock or in loose terrain. Durability thus far is proving to be very good.
Performance/Conclusions/Recommendations:
The XC-903 is the absolute ultimate, top of the line premium performance mountain bike/gravel shoe with the highest quality materials, rugged durability, breathability and with a very comfortable and secure wrapping upper with a dual BOA Li2 fit system.
The carbon fiber midsole is exceptionally efficient and the Ultragrip outsole provides confidence inspiring grip when off the bike and in hike a bike situations. The dual direction Li2 BOA dials are the best and are so easy to adjust on the fly, providing micro adjustments for the perfect fit and lockdown for any sort of riding, especially racing and hard efforts.
I would highly recommend the XC-903 as a dedicated XC mountain bike shoe or gravel shoe for either racing or just day to day riding because of their overall high end performance, light weight, super stiff pedaling efficiency, dual BOA Li2 security and grippy outsole.
And all of that carries over to gravel biking (grippy outsole less important, but that added traction can still be super handy) and even for more casual road riding, where you may be making stops and need a shoe that can walk reasonably well.
Comparisons
Shimano RX-8(801) (RTR Review) - Both are great shoes, but serve two different purposes. The RX-8 weighs a bit more and is a little less stiff (10/12 on the Shimano stiffness scale), which is felt when it comes to harder efforts and more high performance oriented riding. The RX-8 is geared more towards gravel riding (though they can also perform double duty as a mountain bike shoe, as long as you do not hike your bike much on rocks).
For more dedicated mountain biking though, or gravel riding, I find the XC-903 to be a much better choice overall, as they are stiffer, lighter, more versatile, feature dual BOA Li2 fit system and have the Ultragrip outsole.
Shimano XC-7(702) (RTR Review) - The XC-702 shares many of the same qualities as the 903, as they are quite stiff, reasonable weight, have amazing traction, a very secure upper with BOA fit system dials and comfortable and versatile. The 903 though pulls out all the stops with a full carbon midsole for greater stiffness and pedaling efficiency, are lighter weight, have the most premium upper its BOA fit system features the 2 way Li2 dials that make it easier and quicker to adjust on the fly.
Of course the 702 is less than half the price, which is very compelling when so many qualities overlap, but if it is in your budget and you want the absolute ultimate, then the 903 is the way to go.
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