Shimano M162 Shoes

Shimano claims to offer the widest range of cycling footwear on the world. From a MTB perspective this statement shouldn’t raise any doubts, in fact you’d pretty much expect it, as they were the first brand to create a truly functional clipless shoe and pedal system for off-road use. That was in the very early 90s and they’ve been at it ever since.

Now they have a comprehensive array of shoes for every aspect of cycling. Their off-road line-up encompasses everything from flat pedal all-mountain/BMX models through to XC race shoes and some that resemble mountaineering boots. We checked out the top model from their Mountain Sport line; the SH-M162—don’t expect your Shimano shoes to come with an exciting or inspiring name!

What is a mountain sport shoe? According to Shimano they are designed to appeal to a broad range of riders, from racers to touring cyclists and fitness fanatics. Basically they are trail shoes that are designed for the antics that most of us get up to whilst mountain biking. At $169 a pair they are also relatively affordable and come in a huge range of sizes; all the way from 39 up to 50 (Euro sizing).

Fit is an important and very personal thing with shoes; the shape of a particular brand may work for you or not. Shimano shoes tend to have an oversized squarish toe box that offers plenty of ‘wiggle room’ for your toes and the M162 is no exception. From there it tapers back to an average width through the rest of the shoe. The M162 is a little broader through the heel and mid-foot than Shimano’s more racy models. I’ve always found their shoes to be a good match for my feet and these were no exception. As with any shoe or item of clothing, you really need to try them for size before you buy to see if it works for you.

The uppers use two large velcro straps and a click-lock buckle—a common enough setup for performance oriented MTB shoes. In addition to the adjustment range of the click-lock system, the buckle has an additional mounting point that lets you further tighten the fit if you have a narrower foot. Scuff guards are added at likely wear points around the uppers and there’s enough mesh in between to allow your feet to breath a little.

While the uppers aren’t as stifling as a race shoe and there’s a bit of added wear protection, it’s the sole that really defines the M162 as a trail shoe. According to Shimano the midsole is made from a ‘carbon reinforced polyamide for optimum rigidity’. It may be carbon reinforced but if you’re coming from a proper XC race shoe with a carbon fibre or stiff nylon sole, you’ll instantly feel the difference. The M162 offers sufficient support around the cleat and mid-sole to put the power down, but the toe and heel portions offer noticeably more flex than your typical race shoe. This springiness is further enhanced by the thick and spongy heel portion of the inner sole.

Get a Grip

Grippy Vibram rubber is used for the tread—this is the same stuff you’ll find on high-end hiking boots. The tread features good-sized blocks that wrap around the sides of the shoe—you wont find yourself skating over the rocks in these puppies. In addition to providing some reassuring grip, the healthy dose of Vibram rubber adds to the cushioning when you need to get around on foot. The combination of mid-sole flex, inner sole padding and thick Vibram tread means you can scramble up slopes with confidence and jump between rocks without jarring your feet. On occasions when I rode to work and forgot my regular shoes, I was happy walking around in the M162s all day long—for me these were very comfy kicks.

Of course this squishy feel also makes them feel less ‘sporty’ when riding. It’s all a matter of perspective really. You’ll pick up on the flex if your coming from XC race shoes, if not then it’ll probably go unnoticed. There’s enough rigidity in the right areas to ensure the shoe never feels like it’s folding around the pedal, and the overall comfort means you can pedal all day without suffering from any of the discomfort that can come from overly stiff shoes. Even their weight is reasonable; a pair in size 42 came in at 877g which is similar to the weight of many XC race shoes (it’s very impressive when you consider the extra rubber and scuff protection).

The M162 doesn’t offer masses of protection like an all-mountain/enduro shoe and the toe-box isn’t capped. It’s doesn’t provide the same feel of instant power transfer like an XC race shoe and there are some ‘adventure shoes’ that will cope better if you plan to walk as much as you ride. What this ‘Mountain Sport’ shoe does provide is a sensible blend of traits from across the board; they offer good pedalling efficiency, excellent all-day comfort and they’ll have you skipping from rock to rock with grace at the next creek crossing.

Shimano Australia (02) 9526 7799 / www.shimano.com.au