First Look: Hot New Road and Gravel Shoes by Rapha
- 5 years ago
The Classic is a pure road shoe, while the Explore is a shoe for gravel and adventure riding.
Both shoes were designed by Rapha, in-house, and have the same construction and fit.
The Explore has a stiff sole where it's needed, with some built-in flex for more comfort while walking.
Classic: $250, 571 gr (size 42)
Explore: $295, 632 gr (size 41)
Cycling shoes are nothing new for Rapha, and neither is marketing hype full of superlatives and imagery of epic exploits. Rapha's new shoes, the Classic and the Explore, come with all of the epicness we know (and love?) from Rapha, including tales of epic riders of yesteryear printed on the shoe bags. Sifting through the epic awesomeness that is a Rapha product release is the fact that these two shoes represent the first shoes Rapha designed entirely in-house. Over two years in the making, the Classic and the Explore represent refinements on already good user experiences from Rapha shoes that aim to make your cycling life just that much better.
Both shoes have the same design and fit. The upper is a lightweight microfibre material with plenty of ventilation, and the midfoot features a double layered design that Rapha has termed “double wall.” The material that makes up the outer layer folds back on itself at the laces, adding support where your foot needs it most.
The footbed has a small amount of padding, is lined with a plush fabric that resembles a synthetic suede, and feels almost luxurious to the touch, like 5 star accommodations for your feet. Also in the footbed is an adjustable arch feature, with different inserts that provide varying levels of support.
Uncompromising stiffness and strength but also comfortable for all-day wear: That was goal Rapha set out for these shoes. The toe box features ample room for your digits, and the upper is low cut to avoid unnecessary chaffing or rubbing around the ankle. A strap at the bottom of the laces allows for micro-adjustments on the toe box.
Both shoes are outfitted with the same carbon plate sole and anti-slip thermoplastic outsole. On the Classic, that means you can walk securely on slippery floors and it also means you can walk in gravel without fear of gouging the soles of your nice, new kicks. The carbon plate extends the entire length of the shoe, under the thermoplastic outsole, for maximum stiffness and power transfer.
On the Explore, the tread is wide and covers the entire width of the shoe, even at the heel. In contrast to high-end mountain shoes that have just the minimum amount of tread required to not slip too badly while walking, the tread on these shoes is made for walking, and the wide, flat platform appears to give riders a firm, stable platform when off the bike. The Explore has the added benefit of not looking overtly like a high tech bike shoe, which can be nice when stopped at a cafe.
The carbon plate covers only three quarters of the length of the sole on the Explore, stopping just shy of the heel and the toe. Rapha suggests that gives riders the stiff sole they need to optimal power transfer to the pedals, while allowing the shoe to flex a tad to make walking more comfortable.
The Classic is available in 5 colors: White, Black, Black Pearl, High Viz Pink, and an RCC option. The Explore is available in 4 colors: Black, Black Pearl, Dark Green, and High Viz Pink. The range of sizes is the same for both shoes, from size 36 up to 48 in half size increments.
We won't judge you if you're skeptical of these claims made by Rapha, and you'll be forgiven if supportive quotes from sponsored pro riders don't sway your opinion. But we already have our team of test editors getting to work on these shoes, so stay tuned for a full review of both the Classic and the Explore.
Both shoes were designed by Rapha, in-house, and have the same construction and fit.
The Explore has a stiff sole where it's needed, with some built-in flex for more comfort while walking.
Classic: $250, 571 gr (size 42)
Explore: $295, 632 gr (size 41)
Cycling shoes are nothing new for Rapha, and neither is marketing hype full of superlatives and imagery of epic exploits. Rapha's new shoes, the Classic and the Explore, come with all of the epicness we know (and love?) from Rapha, including tales of epic riders of yesteryear printed on the shoe bags. Sifting through the epic awesomeness that is a Rapha product release is the fact that these two shoes represent the first shoes Rapha designed entirely in-house. Over two years in the making, the Classic and the Explore represent refinements on already good user experiences from Rapha shoes that aim to make your cycling life just that much better.
Both shoes have the same design and fit. The upper is a lightweight microfibre material with plenty of ventilation, and the midfoot features a double layered design that Rapha has termed “double wall.” The material that makes up the outer layer folds back on itself at the laces, adding support where your foot needs it most.
The footbed has a small amount of padding, is lined with a plush fabric that resembles a synthetic suede, and feels almost luxurious to the touch, like 5 star accommodations for your feet. Also in the footbed is an adjustable arch feature, with different inserts that provide varying levels of support.
Uncompromising stiffness and strength but also comfortable for all-day wear: That was goal Rapha set out for these shoes. The toe box features ample room for your digits, and the upper is low cut to avoid unnecessary chaffing or rubbing around the ankle. A strap at the bottom of the laces allows for micro-adjustments on the toe box.
Both shoes are outfitted with the same carbon plate sole and anti-slip thermoplastic outsole. On the Classic, that means you can walk securely on slippery floors and it also means you can walk in gravel without fear of gouging the soles of your nice, new kicks. The carbon plate extends the entire length of the shoe, under the thermoplastic outsole, for maximum stiffness and power transfer.
On the Explore, the tread is wide and covers the entire width of the shoe, even at the heel. In contrast to high-end mountain shoes that have just the minimum amount of tread required to not slip too badly while walking, the tread on these shoes is made for walking, and the wide, flat platform appears to give riders a firm, stable platform when off the bike. The Explore has the added benefit of not looking overtly like a high tech bike shoe, which can be nice when stopped at a cafe.
The carbon plate covers only three quarters of the length of the sole on the Explore, stopping just shy of the heel and the toe. Rapha suggests that gives riders the stiff sole they need to optimal power transfer to the pedals, while allowing the shoe to flex a tad to make walking more comfortable.
The Classic is available in 5 colors: White, Black, Black Pearl, High Viz Pink, and an RCC option. The Explore is available in 4 colors: Black, Black Pearl, Dark Green, and High Viz Pink. The range of sizes is the same for both shoes, from size 36 up to 48 in half size increments.
We won't judge you if you're skeptical of these claims made by Rapha, and you'll be forgiven if supportive quotes from sponsored pro riders don't sway your opinion. But we already have our team of test editors getting to work on these shoes, so stay tuned for a full review of both the Classic and the Explore.