Shimano  XC302 Mountain Bike Shoes - Men's

Durable, simple and relatively light. Bought them to use bikepacking the Continental Divide—where I needed a walkable shoe—in place of stiffer XC race shoes. Now these are my go-to shoes. Only hassle is a bit of fussiness getting slack in the boa strings when taking them off. Would buy them again!

I bought the XC302 in hopes of a long distance single speed bikepacking shoe with enough flex to perform well during the hike-a-bikes. The xc302 is comfortable right out of the box... probably the most comfortable shoe ever I've tried and fits true to size. The single BOA system tightens the shoe evenly across the foot creating a sock-like feel. The BOA dial on the 302 only turns one way and will not loosen unless completely disengaged. The sole is comfortable to walk in with the rubber tread providing great traction, however the nylon sole lacks in stiffness. The nylon sole deflects considerably when laying down power or when standing to grind out a climb. I developed pain in the arch of my feet from all the flexing. (I normally wear stiff MTB shoes). This shoe would be great for beginners or for touring riders riding flat-ish terrain in my opinion. I'll be looking for a stiffer sole in the Shimano MTB line to accommodate my single speed mashing while still providing some walkability.