Shimano GF800 Review

Analysis and Test Results

The GF800 shoe is difficult to pin down. While the outright pedal grip, which rightfully is a key metric in a mountain bike shoe, is pretty good, there are better options if straight up grip is your top priority. That said, we really liked the design of these relatively simple and clean-looking shoes. They strike a nice balance of on-trail performance, comfort, and walkability. These shoes are a great option for a wide range of riders who want a solid trail shoe without the wild styling, excessive padding, and aggressive feel. These shoes earned a Top Pick for the Minimalist.

Grip

The Shimano GF800 shoes offer above-average grip, a step down from some of the very best options in this test class.

The GF800 shoes use Shimano's Ultread sole. The tan sole is covered primarily with hexagonal blocks raised a few millimeters above it. These hexagonal blocks cover the vast majority of the sole, with a few horizontal cuts in the tread at the toe and heel to provide additional traction when hiking. The rubber compound feels fine, although it is clearly a bit firmer than some of the other top shoes.

When perched upon our PNW Range composite pedals, we felt confident and efficient. Despite not offering the best rubber compound, the pedal pins seemed to find their way into the deep channels between the hexagonal blocks. This created a nice locked-in feel. Motoring down fast and flowy trails, we found these shoes performed beautifully. When things got chunky and rough, they did great too; we just felt slightly less secure than some other options. When turning the pedals, the grip was nice, and we felt connected to the bike.

Fit and Comfort

We found these shoes to be exceptionally comfortable. They felt light, and the fit was very consistent from the toe box through the midfoot to the heel. According to Shimano, these shoes use their Volume Trail Last that is tighter around the ball of the foot with a roomier toe box. After wearing these shoes for hours upon hours, we can verify that the toe box feels spacious enough and the fit is secure through the rest of the foot. We did not develop any pressure points or hot spots during our test period.

These shoes use a BOA system to fine-tune the fit. We find BOA systems to be delightful to use. They are faster than laces, easier to adjust on the fly, and you don't run the risk of laces getting sucked into your drivetrain. We were able to tighten these shoes up to perfection every time, and if we wanted to add some tension to the system, it was easy to do so without even getting off the bike. Some riders have durability concerns with BOA systems, as they do add a layer of complexity compared to a standard lace system.

It should be noted that Shimano uses European sizing that can be a little funky for riders on this side of the pond. Our main tester wears size 11 shoes. For this review, we went with a size 44 shoe. According to the Shimano box and tag inside the shoe, this translates to a US 10. We aren't so sure about this conversion system, as it seems to fit more like a small size 11 shoe. The moral of the story? Be careful when purchasing Shimano shoes…don't be fooled by the U.S. sizing listed on the box and focus more on the European figure.

Rigidity and Power Transfer

The GF800 shoes use a TORBAL 2.0 midsole with a shank to deliver the desired rigidity. We think many consumers will be pretty happy with the stiffness of these soles. There is definitely no mistaking them for ultra-stiff cross-country shoes, but we find they strike a nice balance of stiffness and off-the-bike feel.

When standing up and hammering on the pedals, they don't feel quite as efficient as some other shoes in this test class. Our 210-pound tester reported a bit of flex when putting the power down. That being said. This slightly less stiff sole makes them very pleasant to walk in. Hiking up a steep section of trail or walking the dog after a bike ride provided a natural, pleasant walking experience.

We think these shoes strike a really nice balance for the minimalist who wants a trail/all-mountain shoe without the stiffest sole. A ton of riders will get along nicely with the GF800.

Breathability

We really enjoyed the airy and light feel of these shoes. Visually, they appear less inspired by skate shoes and don't have an excessive amount of bulk. Looking down into the shoe, the padding is significantly thinner than that of many shoes in our test class. This lack of bulk serves a couple of key purposes. First, we rode these shoes in the fall, and it was very wet in Washington. The thinner construction and lack of padding allow these shoes to dry significantly quicker than other shoes in this class. Second, we could see these being a great choice for riders in a warm climate.

These shoes have an extended gasket at the ankle to help keep dirt and debris out. We didn't feel that this extended gasket had a significant effect on breathability.

Durability and Weight

Throughout testing, we didn't observe any signs of premature material breakdown or failure. The BOA dial is still working perfectly, and the cables aren't fraying. BOA systems can be a hot topic as they do add mechanical complexity compared to a simple shoe lace. Our testers have had BOA dials fail on the trail, typically from smashing a rock. This causes the shoe to rapidly detension and leaves you with a very, very loose fit at the end of your ride. Still, manufacturers have always been quick to warrant any failure with the BOA system.

There are some subtle markings from where our pedal pins engaged with the sole.

These shoes weigh 429 grams or 15.1 ounces per shoe. This weight puts them somewhere in the middle of the pack among the other shoes in this test class. We weighed these shoes after we had ridden them a few times and were very surprised by how light they felt on the trail. The thinner construction and lack of padding create an airy feel.

Should You Buy The Shimano GF800?

We really like the Shimano GF800 shoes as a great minimalist option for the rider that doesn't need the gnarliest, beefiest shoe. They should work for a lot of trail riders who just want a solid, breathable shoe.

Even though Shimano is one of the biggest players in the bike industry, its shoes tend to fly under the radar compared to some competitors. There are definitely cheaper options that may outperform the GF800 in some key areas, but these can still be a great choice for the right rider.

What Other Mountain Bike Shoes Should You Consider?

The Five Ten Freerider Pro is the gold standard of trail/enduro mountain bike shoes. FiveTen shoes use high-quality rubber widely regarded as the best compound in the industry. These shoes offer tremendous grip, a very stiff sole, and solid comfort levels. BOA fans are in luck as these shoes are now available in a BOA version called the Freerider Pro BOA.