ShimanoRC701E Wide Road Shoe(Return to Product Page)

I purchased these shoes for the wide footbed and dual Boa closures to accommodate adjustments while riding. Overall I find the shoe to be comfortable with plenty of space in the toe-box. I have two issues with the shoe: One, I regularly have to tighten the Boas as they get loose over a period of time. It doesn't happen all the time but it will happen a couple of times during a 30-mile ride. I've had bad luck with a saddlebag with Boa restraint so maybe it's just me. The second issue is the top strap and the way it covers the tongue of the shoe. I'm not exactly sure how it happens but the strap and tongue can be positioned just so that it will pinch the top of my ankle. I wish the tongue of the shoe was a bit more "fixed" as it tends to move around, even when the Boa closures are snug. The shoe is light, airy, and comfortable and overall I'm happy with the shoe.

I have held off several years on replacing my prior Shimano RC301 (?) wide fit shoes for fear of how difficult it has been in the past to find a suitable wide-fit shoe - to the point my old ones were held together with super glue and the cleats could not be removed. My skepticism peaked when I held the RC701 next to my old shoes and noted they were on a slightly narrower last. However, now that I have now put a couple of hundred miles on them, I note that the uppers are supple and super adjustable for a perfect fit, the heel conforms well and the power transfer on the sole is as good as any shoe. I guess I should not have waited so long!

Allow me to begin by saying I'm hard to fit Narrow heel but have flat feet and a pronounced big toe bunion on the left foot. Right foot bunion isn't as large. I NEED a big toe box. These RC701E shoes offer the adjustability in fitment that I was looking for. The dual BOA adjustments allow each shoe to be fitted for each foot. These were comfortable right out of the box. After installing my Speedplay cleats, the first ride was a joy. My OLD shoes were Specialized brand, with a velcro toe adjustment and BOA instep adjustment....absolutely wore them out.

The RC701E has a carbon sole and is a little stiffer than the Specialized composite sole....one can tell the difference. Have 5 or so rides behind me....still very pleased with them.

If I could give them a 6 rating, I would.

It was perfect for for my wide feet. I followed to size guide and turned out just perfect.

These shoes are discreet in black color and easy to adjust and take out. Putting them in requires more effort as the tongue is short and has tendency to go in as insert the feet, so I always have to pull the tongue back in place. Other than that,.it is a pleasure to wear it.

These replaced a pair of Sidi Dominators after I switched to Favero Assioma pedals.

I like the Sidis a whole lot more, mostly because of the material quality. These RC701E shoes fit well, look good, and don't weigh a whole lot. I don't think they'll look as good as the Dominators after 16,000 miles, but here's to finding out.

Superb adjustability, just what I needed. I'd buy these again in a heartbeat. Extremely comfortable, lightweight but a solid platform. You will NOT be disappointed. I need a wide toe box but have narrow heel.....these fit like moose hide moccasins. Love, love, love.

High quality and awesome style. You can never go wrong with Shimano products.

Did not ride much last summer so when I came back I needed some new shoes . I can notice a difference in my riding and getting more out of each stroke of the pedals . advise getting the next size up that your foot measures up to .

I have owned 20 or so pair of cycling shoes over the years, SIDI, Fizik, Garneau, Giro, Northwave, and Shimano. My challenge with all brands is my wide foot D-E and high instep so that finding a sturdy shoe that actually fits without agonizing pain has never yielded a thoroughly great result...until now. My go to road shoe up to this point is a 2017 Shimano SH-RP901 SL, and for the cost is one of the best I've ever worn. I struggled however with the break in and even now after two years can only wear a thin warm weather sock to avoid too much pressure in the toe box resulting in circulation loss and hot foot particularly as Midwest summers heat up. Finally a size 45 shoe that fits like a glove right out of the box the RC 701E is a shoe for all seasons and with the duo BOA system I'm able to fine tune the fit separately at the toe box and instep for complete comfort. The high density carbon composite sole is identical to that of the RP9's and delivers a stable platform for delivery of power directly to the pedals so while you can easily spend twice what these cost, and I have, you won't come close to doubling the styling, fit, and performance. My only gripe is with the stock insole that comes with virtually no arch support. I replaced them with a Specialized insole with which I have had great success due to a serious pronation of the right foot. A great shoe and on sale, what more could you ask for. I'd hardily recommend to a friend. As always, BTD service, pricing, product availability, communication, and super fast shipping makes it second to none.

Nice improvement from previous version.

Great compromise between comfort and stiffness. BOA Dial allows you to adjust the fit as needed.

I have a wide foot, and this is the most comfortable shoe I ever used.

I've been wearing SIDI shoes since the days when you nailed the cleats on and they used shoe laces. I always loved them and still do. But, as I've gotten older, maybe my feet have gotten more sensitive andor I've grown less tolerant to suffering through long break in periods where I had pressure points, especially on the outside top part of my forefoot. My last new pair of SIDI's is less than 6 months old and on rides longer than a couple of hours, the pain in my feet was barely tolerable. I decided it was time to try something else. Reading a bunch of reviews of the Shimano SH-RC7E shoe, and seeing a great price at BTD, I decided to give them a go. I've not been sorry.

The BOA closure is quick and easy and you can dial in a perfect tension so that the shoe is snug but not biting into your foot. It's easy to dial in a little more or less pressure while you're riding so your feet stay comfortable and the shoes are the right tension for the terrain or riding intensity. These shoes are plenty stiff in the soles, as you'd expect of carbon. The uppers, while very supportive and solid, are not cardboard like and despite their plasticsynthetic materials and appearance, are unexpectedly comfortable. I got the wide version because of pain on the top, outer portion of my forefoot that I experienced with the narrower toe box of my SIDI shoes. I've used cleat wedges as directed to help with that but the Shimano shoes don't cause the agony on longer rides that I experienced with my SIDI's. Bottom line is that if these shoes fit you well, they're great cycling shoes at a pretty affordable price. I wouldn't hesitate to use these for racing or any kind of road riding. I personally prefer these shoes over my SIDI's, which cost twice as much.

Amazing stiffness in the sole. Wonderfully made quality shoe. Is a real bargain in the mid $100 range. Unfortunately i had to return because they caused pain in my right foot. I typically wear a 10-10.5 EE shoe. Ordered these in a 45. Quite long but width was right on.

I use these shoes on my racy road bike. My motivation to buy these shoes was out of a desire for comfort more so than stiffness. These shoes fit my wide feet well and allow me to ride comfortably for more than 3 hours. The stiffness is all there though! On my climbs I feel little to no flex and can take comfort in the fact that those watts are going straight to the rear wheel. In summary a stylish racing shoe with ample comfort for those of us with feet wider than a ballet dancer ( I have tried on multiple pairs of shoes from different makers, constantly disappointed in how narrow they make their shoes).

Being a novice it was important to me to purchase a quality shoe. I have a wide foot so comfort and fit were primary factors in my decision to purchase this product. After some research I decided to try the RC7E wide. Not only does it provide great comfort and fit it looks great as well. The single boa enclosure and velcro wrap are more than adequate to ensure a snug fit. The shoe is very light weight and the sole is relatively stiff. The uppers are easy to clean . I'd say , that this shoe fits my needs perfectly. My advice also is to buy quality socks as they tend to help attain feet comfort. Bike tires direct pricing is competitive with other sites and I plan to purchase more products in the future.

Great shoes! Roomy toe box, lightweight, and stiff.

These were my first Shimano road shoes, having previously ridden Specialized Elites and Audmax. The Shimano were a perfect fit right out of the box without any need for custom insoles. I was fortunate to get these on sale and couldn't be happier. I use Speedplay pedals so I did have to buy an adapter plate for the cleats, but not a big deal, though they will add about $35 to your ultimate cost. I wish Shimano would provide the adapter for Speedplay cleats with shoe purchase.

Love these shoes. I usually wear a 43E and sometimes 43EEE. These shoes fit great. The toe box is roomy and the shoes are stiff, high quality, and the BOA enclosure is a dream.

Even now I dont regret the dollars paid. Great shoes. Great shirt. Great service. I love these shoes and will insist I am buried in them.