Shimano SH-WR84L Shoes

There is a common misconception in the male-dominated world of sports equipment design that women athletes don’t need top-quality stuff on par with the men’s versions. Luckily, this fallacy has never been ascribed to by Shimano. The Shimano SH-WR84L Shoes are an example of how the company makes certain that the ladies have access to equipment just as chalked-full of features as anything you’ll find in the men’s line-up.

If you’ve been serious about your cycling long enough, you most certainly remember a time when you could never find a women’s-specific shoe with a carbon sole. Don’t be afraid to turn over the WR84L Shoes and have a look because you will be pleased to see that indeed, these come with a super rigid, lightweight carbon composite sole that provides excellent power transfer. It is rated at a ten out of twelve on the Shimano scale of rigidity. But what you’ll really appreciate is the level of ventilation the sole provides with a great big intake channel right at the toes that will then work through the customized channels in the insole through the instep to govern the air around your often over-toasted tootsies.

The elegantly cut, surround upper pattern not only provides the perfect balance between secure hold and malleable comfort, they look super slick, and as a result are ideally aero. It is a “surround” upper wrap design that will prevent your feet from shifting inside, but will not cut off the circulation as you tighten down the ratchet. And the synthetic leather will wear like steel. It is pleasantly minimalistic and avoids the cluttered over-design that is unhappily common on many cycling shoes. The ratchet offers an adaptable closure system that will adjust itself to the various instep heights and shapes that are inevitable for pros and amateurs alike. Then there are two hook and eye Velcro closures at the mid foot so you can adjust to taste.

The SH-WR84L have been made with the Women’s Dynalast technology, which is intended to provide a purposefully snug fit that will relieve fatigue in your calves, hamstrings and lower back. It focuses on producing a shoe last design with an optimized toe-spring section that promotes a smoother, more energy-efficient upstroke. Your cycling shoe will play a role in supporting your foot and pedal motion at the toe-spring section to keep the tension down in the plantar, calf, and hamstring muscles. But it will provide enough support that you won’t get a wiggly, inefficient pedaling motion. Shimano suggests that you pair these shoes with their PD-6800 pedals, they offer an extra 11mm of adjustment fore and aft compared to previous editions of Shimano shoes, ensuring you can use these with just about any pedal out there that works with a three-bolt cleat.

The Shimano SH-WR84L Shoes come in race-ready black (which is what the L in the name indicates), and offer a superb fit as well as maximizing your pedaling efficiency.