Shimano GR901 review
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all cycling shoes.
This shoe has a 7% penalty on its user ratings because it has fewer than 50 ratings. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn moreVerdict from 5 experts & 24 users
Pros
- Impressively comfortable
- Excellent traction and rigity
- Easy to put on
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Excellent ankle support
Cons
- Insoles don’t aid in keeping the foot in place
- Not everyone will like its unique design


71% say it's true to size.
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Comparison to similar cycling shoes
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Who should buy the Shimano GR901
The Shimano GR901 is the brand’s top-tier flat gravity/enduro/downhill shoe. It is a solid option if you:
- Need a shoe that has toe protection to the outsole tread design and asymmetrical collar design to assist the user in aggressive downhill riding.
- Need a shoe that is designed for colder and wetter conditions as it’s quite toasty, dries quickly, and isn’t too absorbent.
- Need a shoe that has protective Velcro flap helps keep the elements from entering the footwear.
Michelin-designed sole
The Shimano GR901 employs a Michelin-designed sole, which equates to world-renowned grip. Apart from this, a special tread design has been placed in the toe and heel areas for hiking-like traction.
This pair has a rating of 3 out of 12 in the brand’s stiffness index. Since it is a downhill-oriented pair, stiffness isn’t much of a necessity. Instead, it puts more importance on assisting the wearer with protection and grip.
Shimano GR901 cleat system
The GR901 is a flat MTB shoe. It provides wearers, especially beginners, with the confidence to focus on honing their skills instead of worrying about falling due to not clipping out in time. The shoe works well with the following pedal types: Acros A-Flat MD, Crank Brothers Stamp 7, and Nukeproof Horizon Pro.
Quick dry
Learning from its predecessor’s weakness, the GR901 uses less absorbent materials that also dry quickly.
Safety from bike impacts
Reinforced molded toecaps play a big part in protecting the foot, especially in the descending nature of downhill cycling.
Due to the aggressive quality of mountain trails, occasional bumping of the foot against the bike is natural. However, bruises and injuries are not. Shimano created a solution for this via the asymmetrically raised and padded internal collar for protection.
Armored lace shield
This footwear employs the speed lacing system with an armored lace shield. This combination offers a locked-down fit with easier use and enhanced protection against the elements.
Replaceable insoles
The Shimano GR901 comes with standard insole models. They are replaceable, so if your foot needs more support, just interchange with a special orthotic footbed.