ShimanoMen's SH-XC5 MTB Shoe(Return to Product Page)

I'll start with the pros. These are a good deal for what I paid. I'm a fan of the Boa system and it does not disappoint here. The shoes themselves are comfortable on and off the bike and I've done a few two-hour rides in them. Though as others have mentioned they are cumbersome to put on, I do not agree with going up a size.

Main con is lack of ventilation, which is noticeable once the ambient gets into the 70s. The other issue this causes is the shoes don't drain. The amount of water that pours out after a wet commute is comical. On the bright side, they dry very quickly.

Fits well, not too tight, sole is stiffer and grippier than my previous Shimano XC50N shoe but has just enough flex to facilitate dismounting and running over barriers. BOA tightens adequately although wish the middle lacing loops were like the higher end shoes where you could add that extra loop and tighten down a little more evenly with the upper loop. Front Velcro strap is nothing fancy, does the job, maybe design the upper with a little more give so that it can tighten things up a some more. Overall a great deal!

I use these shoes on the road, along with double sided pedals. The sole on these makes it easier to walk than dedicated road shoes and there is less wear on the cleats.

As another reviewer noted, they can be difficult to put on. I use a shoehorn to make it easier.

They are a very slim profile and the synthetic material tends to grab your socks on the way in.

On the other hand, they are quite easy to remove: undo the velcro strap, pull out the tension knob and they slip right off.

The tension system works great and can be adjusted from the saddle easily. It seems very robust, but time will tell how long it actually lasts.

I am an adventure racer (Team Are We There Yet/SOARteam.com), so I need a shoe that is comfortable for many hours of riding and can be used for walking the bike through unrideable sections, but still be stiff enough to be efficient for pedaling. It needs to try quickly and be somewhat breathable. This shoe has performed well on those fronts. The BOA makes adjusting the fit as simple as it can be. I am very happy with them. The aesthetics didn't really appeal to me at first, but I am a form over function guy and these won me over.

I just received this shoe in size 44 and was skeptical first. It takes more effort to get into the shoe because of the asymmetrical and overlapping flaps where the BOA adjuster sits. However, after a 6-hour MTB ride I can say that this is a fantastic shoe and I now understand why they chose this design. Great protection for your foot, no rubbing or pinching. Also these shoes have a great rubber sole that makes is really safe to walk/climb steep and tricky sections. The sole is stiff for riding but somehow retains flexibility in the toe section for walking. I had a higher end Fizik shoe before but started to have foot pain after a few hours, not sure why - maybe too narrow. The XC-5 outer material seems to be rugged and protected - I have the Shimano XC7 from 2018 and that shoe with its glossy material was not meant for mountain biking - I use it on my road bike. I have to admit (with the exception of the Fizik shoe) that I only purchased Shimano shoes over the past 20+ years and they seem to fit my feet the best.

The product has met my expectations... I'm a devoted recreational road biker in my 50's and I prefer a bike shoe that I can walk around in without scratching my floors up. The fit is good, sizing was pretty good, the build quality could be just a notch better but still pretty good. I really like the BOA dial even more than I thought and the shoes are decently light. I'm pleased with my purchase.

I like these shoes. I use SPDs on my road and single speed. They are a good value and fit true to size for me. Biketiresdirect is great online shop with good prices. I like their points system too.

As other reviewers have mentioned, these are harder to get on than other shoes, but they are comfortable once you are inside. I have about 200 miles on them so far and can report no issues with my feet. Shimano sizing is interesting. I went from a 46 Specialized shoe to a 48 in these. I actually ordered a pair each in 47 and 48 to try both on. It was worth the cost of return shipping to get it right.

Comfortable and functional. Really like how you tighten the shoe. Can be a little difficult to put on, especially when your excited to ride and your buddies are waiting for you. Great traction while scrambling and support is solid. Good Mtn Bike shoe and aero dynamic for gravel speeds. Fits with large variation of sock sizes and external covers.

I'm using this on my gravel bike while waiting on my mountain bike to come in off backorder. Did a 103 mile ride in the first week.... no issues. I wear a 10-10.5 running shoe, and the size 45 fits well.

Awesome shoe. Shimano shoes fit my foot perfectly. Comfortable toe box, not a ballet slipper. Great buy when on sale

Perfect for Patapsco in MD. Light weight, great fit, best MTB shoes I've ever owned.

These have a good combination between comfort and performance. Probably good for everyone except for a racer.

The Michelin rubber is amazingly sticky for great traction. Standard Shimano sizing. Boa holding up well. The only thing I don't like is the large boa piece takes up the space of two Velcro straps on my last pair, this makes the fit slightly less comfortable.

Such a shame the store front closed. It was a great place to see such a great selection of Bikes & gear. Now there just another on line retailer

Somewhat tough to get into but super comfortable afterwards.

Great fit from the first ride. The boa makes it easy to dial in the fit. The shoe does run a little small so I sized up by one half size.