With its GF4 women's shoes, Shimano has proven it's more than its comprehensive range of drivetrain and braking components. With good weatherproofing, plentiful traction and comfort, the GF4s possess many attributes that comprise the best mountain bike shoes. However, the low-volume last leaves no wiggle room – something that can affect the overall performance in warmer conditions.
- Laces, Boa or Velcro? Cycling shoe retention systems explained
- Northwave Corsair 2 Clipless Shoe Review
- Tom Ritchey's P-29er XC Ripper
Shimano GF400 Women's Shoes - Technical details
The GF4 is packed with much more than meets the eye. Tailored for a mixture of trails and all that comes with riding in rough terrain such as trailside debris, hike-a-bike, fun and challenging tracks, as well as the typically lousy weather that regularly hits us.
Starting with the grip, Ultread GF has a hexagonal tread pattern and a consistent design throughout the outsole. It has large grooves in the toe and heel area and, according to Shimano, the tread pattern is designed for 'improved pin grip'.
The midsole features EVA foam, often seen in sports footwear, as its main characteristic is to absorb shock impacts – and off-road cycling is sure to give the rider's foot a hard time. The GF4 sees Shimano’s Torbal 2.0 technology which comes in the form of strategically placed slits on the edges of the shank plate that work with the spongy midsole EVA layer to allow flex around the perimeter of the sole. It also helps with stability.
The upper material incorporates a robust and breathable fabric and there is an asymmetric collar with a raised inner cuff for a bit of extra protection.
A volume ‘trail ready’ last shape sees the design slightly narrower in the middle section for added ride control and a wider toe box and heel cavity. This has pros and cons in terms of comfort but can become limiting especially if you have feet on a broader scale.
As for the closure, the GF4 employs the classic lace-up system with plastic hoops to stop wear and tear and keep usage smooth. There's also a lace keeper that's helpful to ensure laces are out of the way. This feature is seen in various forms on equivalent brands, either with the stretchy loop to feed it through or a pocket for the quick lace to safely tuck away, as seen on Crankbrothers Mallet Enduro Lace. A subtle brand logo is added as a ‘Shimano’ tag label stitched on the upper cuff. A printed logo of the footwear model number ‘GF4’ features on the outer heel edge of the shoe.
The shoes weigh 352g each (704g for both), which is impressive for a shoe constructed using durable and robust fabrics.
Shimano GF400 Women's Shoes - Performance
Upon putting them on for the first time, the biggest stand out was how light in weight they were. I could immediately feel that the upper materials used were rugged to the touch, and I was intrigued by how durable these shoes would be after months of trail use. The inner ankle fabric is soft and cushioned to the touch and feels just as comfortable once they’re on my feet. A higher-than-usual ankle collar was a well-appreciated design aspect, with the inside edge sitting a little higher up than the outer. This was reassuring as I have a hypermobile ankle, which often feels vulnerable to the elements.
On the topic of shoe shape and usage, a shoe for mountain biking can be your new favourite for bikepacking, multiday adventures and gravel riding. There is no set rule for only wearing a cross-country-looking gravel shoe when you feel a more walkable off-road flat pedal shoe works best for your needs and comfort.
The midsole features Shimano's Torbal 2.0 technology – responsible for the flex and rigidity that enhance pedalling performance and control. I could feel the shoe giving me enough stiffness when leaning hard into cornering, giving me confidence that the shoe would hold the extra force used when pushing into berms and negotiating rough, rocky features.
Even though they felt snug at times and I had to purposely only wear my thin riding socks, they were more comfortable than some other women's last designs I have used before. Shimano has put much thought into the design, ensuring the heel is held securely, the tongue rests high enough against the instep for protection, and the laces have a neat loop to tuck them out of the way. The lacing was easy to adjust, and I could get a customised fit by loosening the mid-section to relieve some unwanted pressure.
Testing the walkability and grip performance over mixed terrain allowed me to discover how well the Ultread rubber held securely on loose rubble on a typical forest trail road. Pushing up steep wooded sections with roots, mud, and rocks offered equal traction and feeling flexible, comfortable, and stable. The stepped design on the toe area and heel gave me more hold and confidence.
The width of the shoe was a little too narrow overall, whether riding or walking. Owing to the narrow design, the shoe sits in the middle of the pedal platform leaving some of it exposed. This did cause some rock slams but, at the same time, offered protection to the outer edge of my foot. The plus side of the shoe is narrow in terms of where it was positioned on the pedal because I always had complete contact with the pedals and no chance of my shoe slipping off, overflowing or not fully being supported by the platform. But on the other hand, the pedals seemed huge underneath my feet, which I was aware of while riding.
Reaching the rough part of the terrain, my foot felt glued to the pedals. No bobbing about or having to readjust where the foot was midflow. They worked well with different pedals.
Shimano GF400 Women's Shoes - Verdict
An all-round, fantastic trail riding shoe with good weather and trail debris protection thanks to the durable, rugged material paired with an ankle feature on the outer side of the shoe. Impressive grip performance and fits great with a mixture of different pedal designs. I found they fit on the smaller side, so I recommend choosing a size bigger than your usual, as this will make walking with them much more comfortable. The shoes are lightweight and ideal for trail centre days and even multiday bikepacking adventures. Super easy and comfortable to slip on and off with a soft padded tongue and lacing that can be threaded to your instep height.
Pricing is a big positive, coming out at £120. Finding any under the £100 mark would be a task for a decent pair of durable performance-focused shoes. Coming up against the ION Scrub AMP MTB Flat Pedal Shoes with a price of £125 and similar features including the raised ankle coverage to protect the ankles from the cranks. It’s not the most common design on flat off-road shoes, but they are around if this is important to you. They have lots of technology with a sticky grip designed for excellent pin traction, walkability, and a cushioned midsole, but not as much focus on stability, support, and riding performance as the GF400 provides.
The Fox Union Canvas Shoes are £110 and have an outsole design that should work harmoniously with flat pedals. They provide toe protection and comfort when riding off the bike. There are plenty of colour options, which could be a decisive selling point.
This is a great price point for an off-road cycling shoe suited to gravity enduro racing, trail centres, or a multi-day bikepacking trip. It is stylish both on and off the bike, and the grip will offer more confidence, whether riding or walking. A little snug for broader feet and narrow sitting on the pedal platform, the ankle coverage provides excellent weather and trailside protection. They look ready for action and are subtle with the styling with only two colour options. You either go neutral or go bold.
Add comment