Review: Bontrager RL Road Shoes
Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 11:00AM
RL: Ridiculously good Looking. The Bontrager RL road shoe is just that, and more: comfortable, economical, high-performing. Its an excellent mid-entry level shoe even for the discerning rider used to paying stratospheric price tags for something we all need—shoes—but don’t necessarily want to break the bank with. Sure, you won’t find Lance Armstrong wearing this at Le Tour (then again, what does he own that isn’t a one-off, custom job?), but its sure to be tested just as rigorously on the Saturday group ride, the Tuesday hammer fest and willing and ready to perform at your key races for the upcoming season.
Every now and then, we simply take a step back and marvel at how often in today’s market the ‘high-end’ quickly makes its way down the ranks. These boys wouldn’t have been mistaken for PRO too long ago, because they would have been just that—what you found the best continental and pro tour riders putting their trust into when it came time to earn the pay check. Let’s take a look at the sole. It’s Bontrager’s Silver-series—read: lightweight, efficient, and comfortable carbon, very similar to Bontrager’s pricier premium road shoes, the RXL. Enlarged mesh windows for ventilation and an intuitive two strap plus buckle design are again the very same features found on the RXL, but often missing on other mid-entry level shoes today.
Shoes after 6 months of use
As with many companies, footwear tends to become more simplistic as you go down the shoe-line. Fortunately, these changes result in great cost-savings for customers, while performance differences remain negligible. High-performing, comfortable sole, buckle plus two-strap closure, and synthetic leather and mesh upper make this a highly attractive bargain. But the true ‘steal’ here is Bontrager’s inclusion of its innovative eSoles insole that provides optimal fit and support for the curvature of your feet. We say if you are going to log all those base miles and hammer out interval after interval, why not do it in comfort? Why not pamper your feet? These customizable footbeds, combined with the fact that Bontrager’s shoes are the only ones on the market constructed to accommodate any orthotic insole without affecting the way the shoe upper fits around the foot, makes the RL a sure bet.
The RL comes in sizes 39, 40-45.5 (in half sizes), 46–49 (whole sizes) and weighs in at 296.4 grams per shoe.
Author- Matthew Ward
Reader Comments (5)
So... what's the point of the RXL's then?
hi steve,
Like many things in the cycling world, more money is going to get you something considered better, but often marginally so. Its not that the RXLs aren't good...we've worn them and they are nice, but your typical rider isn't going to be able to justify the increase in price simply for a bit stiffer sole and lighter sole. That really is the major difference. But if price is no object, then give it try.
296.4 grams per shoe?
for which size?
size 44
Just as the saying goes, "life is like a guide, how would you like to write, it is what sort of book. So our own attitude determines existence. However, we have to go through significantly more meaningful guide, it can give us inspiration. by Supra Vaider High