Shimano’s S-PHYRE RC9 shoes have been the brand’s top-of-the-line shoes with the latest technologies and performance. The S-PHYRE RC903 PWR are the latest variation of the S-PHYRE shoes and further optimizes the RC903 for additional stiffness and cooling. As the PWR in the product name would imply, Shimano markets the shoes as premium road shoes for sprinters and power cyclists. Retail price on the S-PHYRE RC903 PWR shoes is $475 which is a $25 premium over the stand versions. One of the most obvious differences is the BOA Fit System which uses a single Li2 Type D metal dial with a power boost guide and velcro toe strap. The PWR shoes also have a unique color-shifting crystal finish on the heel cup and around the outsole that pairs well with the solid white color scheme.
The Shimano S-PHYRE RC9 PWR shoes are the ultimate S-PHYRE shoes with a unique crystal finish and single BOA Li2 dial.
| Retail Price | $475 |
| Rating | Design: A Closures: A Comfort: A Value: A– |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 538 (EUR 44 Wide) |
| Likes | + Stiff and stable + Eye-catching mirror-like crystal finish sets shoes apart + Wrap around design provides secure fit without pressure points |
| Dislikes | – Only available in white color scheme – Less adjustability with single BOA Li2 dial compared to standard RC903 shoe |
| Where to Buy (US) | Shimano |
UNBOXING
The Shimano S-PHYRE RC9 PWR shoes are shipped in a simple cardboard shoe box with Shimano and S-PHYRE branded printed directly on it. Inside the box you’ll find:
- S-PHYRE RC9 PWR shoes
- S-PHYRE branded fabric bag
- High arch insole attachment (medium is pre-installed)
- Information pamphlets
The included S-PHYRE branded bag is a nice perk of premium shoes like these, and makes it easy to travel or store the shoes safely. We also appreciate Shimano’s simple velcro arch attachments which let you adjust the amount of arch support on the insoles.
FIT & FINISH
At first glance, the Shimano RC903 PWR shoes could be easy to mistake for the standard RC903 shoes as they share many design details in common. Shimano has used a very similar 360 Degree surround wrapping upper which is designed to pull together as you tighten the closure system. It’s a highly integrated design as well with the upper material wrapping around the shoes and concealing part of the carbon fiber sole underneath. Variables sized perforations along the exterior and sides provide efficient cooling and extend further along the sides than the standard RC903 shoes. Unlike the standard S-PHYRE shoes which come in various bright colors, Shimano only offers the S-PHYRE RC903 PWR in a white color scheme.
To help the shoes stand out, Shimano has employed a new optical surface treatment that results in a dazzling color-shifting crystal finish on the outsole and heel cup. You’ll either love it or hate it as the crystal finish has a mirror like finish that changes color depending on how the light hits it. Shimano has added this unique finish along the large external heel cup, around the front cleat attachment point and even on the toe guard. Branding is limited to black Shimano and S-PHYRE logos along the sides and on the main strap. There is also a subtle triangular graphic fade along the front strap that transitions between the front dark gray color and a brighter white rear color.
One of the biggest changes with the S-PHYRE RC903 PWR is the closure system which utilizes a single BOA Li2 dial. It is the metal Type D dial that is typically only reserved on special edition shoes or top-of-the-line models and has a beautiful brushed aluminum finish on the dial. There is also a velcro strap to provide additional adjustability for the toe box region. Compared to the dual BOA Li2 FIt System of the S-PHYRE RC903, the single dial with velcro strap setup sounds like a downgrade at first. However, Shimano has optimized the design of the PWR’s closure system to provide additional rigidity and stability. The main BOA Li2 dial is located on the shoe upper instead of the strap and uses what Shimano calls a power boost guide cable routing. Plastic guides are carefully placed on reinforced regions of the upper material to route the cable along the upper strap with a double loop on the lower strap.
On the rear of the shoe it’s hard to miss the external heel cup, especially with the crystal finish. It’s quite similar to the RC903 shoes with its oversized design that extends half way up the shoe and around the heel bumper pad. Shimano has optimized the design of the shoes to eliminate heel lift or twist to make these one of the most efficient shoes Shimano has created. The outsole of the S-PHYRE RC903 PWR shoes also share the S-PHYRE’s unique integrated design that conceals most of the carbon fiber sole under the wrap-around upper material. Although you can’t see it, these shoes have a full carbon fiber outsole with a claimed 12 out of 12 Shimano stiffness index. The little carbon you see is around the cleat attachment point which has a beautiful forged carbon appearance.
The shoes are designed to work with standard 3-bolt cleat setups like the Shimano SPD-SL or Look Keo with grid graphics and markings to make cleat installation easier. The red plastic inserts here on the front are removable spacers that can be removed, or re-arranged and are designed to eliminate any cleat rattling. Shimano has incorporated fore and aft adjustments to allow riders to optimize the cleat placement. For ventilation, there is also a large vent with a silver mesh behind it on the front of the shoe and a vent on the heel bumper. Both of these vents lead directly into the shoe interior to help air flow through the interior of the shoes for cooling.
While most shoes use basic EVA foam insoles, the RC903 PWR uses a thick insole with curved edges to perfectly fit the shoes. Perforations on the front and rear help air flow through the shoe from the matching vents on the outsole. These insoles also have a clever adjustable arch support system with removable velcro arch attachments that can be swapped out for the included high-arch insert or removed for those with flat feet. It’s a nice design detail that is also found on the other S-PHYRE shoes and lets riders customize the fit without the need for expensive custom insoles.
ON THE ROAD
Having ridden with several generations of the S-PHYRE shoes we were eager to see how the RC9 PWR would compare. With the single dial closure system of the PWR shoes, putting the shoes on or off takes a bit more effort as the shoes do not open up as wide as standard tongue design shoes like the Bont Riot 24. It takes some wiggling to slide your feet in, but once it is in there the shoes have a nice wide toe box and soft upper material that feels comfortable from the first ride. We could feel the stiffer fit of the RC9 PWR shoes compared to the standard RC9 shoes with the tighter heel and more stable BOA fit system. While it is still comfortable enough to wear on long rides, the PWR shoes sacrifice the adjustability of the dual BOA dial fit systems.
As with most toe velcro straps we’ve used, the strap offers very little adjustability unless it’s completely open or closed. That meant on longer rides we had to rely on the main BOA dial to adjust the fit for the entire shoe. We were also impressed with the durability of the crystal finish which has held up well to walking and normal use. The tall rear heel bumper keeps the heel cup protected from scratches while the front lip only shows normal scratches. The smooth upper material is also easy to clean as you can just wipe a rag or magic eraser over it to keep the white color bright and looking fresh.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Shimano S-PHYRE RC9 PWR shoes to be fast and stable carbon fiber cycling shoes. Shimano has taken their iconic S-PHYRE shoe design and taken it up a notch with additional stability, ventilation and stiffness. The PWR shoes feature an exclusive crystal finish and a single metal BOA Li2 dial with optimized lacing pattern. We found the shoes to be stable and comfortable during high effort sprints or climbs. The additional ventilation results in cooler temps while the stiff heel cup and optimized fit system ensure no watts are lost. In terms of negatives, we wish Shimano offered the shoes in our favorite blue color and found that the single BOA dial system offered less adjustability. While we would hesitate to recommend these shoes as someone’s first cycling shoe or for more recreational cyclists the PWR are perfect for sprinters or cyclists looking to optimize every watt.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Shimano. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.