SPD INTRO Shimano M072 shoes are SPD cycling shoes so here's a quick explanation of what SPD is. For those who may not know SPD stands for Shimano Pedaling Dynamic. All very nice I hear you say, so to explain they are Clipless pedals. Basically you get a pair of shoes, bolt on some clips to the shoes, get a pair of SPD pedals which are like a clamp, step on the pedals and your feet are locked to the pedals. Rotating your feet to the side then releases you from the pedal. (not as dangerous as it sounds).
GENERAL Shimano mountain bike shoes have been around for a number of years now and in my opinion if you are a user of SPD pedals then you can't beat Shimano PSD shoes for reliability. I have used number if different types over the years, most of which I cant remember the name off and ones that usually found the bucket because they broke before their time. Overal lthey are a well made and finished shoe, no loose stitching and no bad cuts to the materials.
SHOE DESIGN The M072 appears to be classed for the sport / recreational rider by Shimano and the shops. I am not exactly sure what that means, but I guess people who enjoy a bit of mountain biking in the week and go for a decent ride on a Saturday. Well this shoe is ideal for that as that's what I am in to and more. The shoe design is very cool.
The outside is of a good quality and strong construction, making them very difficult to get scruffy which makes them continually looking new after a clean up with a bit of polish. SHOE UPPER The upper of the shoe is black in the main, with some silver stripes running down the side of the shoe. There is a breather panel running up and down both top sides of the shoes and around the top of where your toes would be. The breather panel basically stops your feet sweating. I have to say that the shoes look efficient when you wear them and you get plenty of fresh air in to your feet on a hot days riding. The shoes also come with two Velcro fasteners rather than laces. I think I prefer these to laces as there is less chance of them coming undone. To date after a years use the Velcro is still giving a good strong connection, unlike some cheaper shoes where the Velcro wears out. Its important on an SPD shoe to be well held in to the shoe as you can generate some fantastic pedal power using this type of pedal so being strapped on well stops the risk of your feet flying out of your shoes.
SHOE SOLE The sole of the shoe has some rugged looking chunky soles which for me are easily able to cope with the mud and the dirt of the trail and give you extra grip when you have to get off and push on a steep hill. These grips extend around the front part of the sole and also more importantly around where the pedal cleat is fastened. This to is important as if there are no grips here then you find that the metal cleat wears out on the ground, so pains on these shoes though.
SHOE INSIDE Inside the shoe you get some comfy inserts to give plenty of padding on the sole of the foot. Around the sides there is a load of padding to make the shoe fit snugly to your feet.
PERFORMANCE As I mentioned above the grips on the shoe make this ideal for climbing in the dirt on the hills that are to steep to cycle. This is a major plus for this shoe. The other critical part of a good SPD shoe is the plastic plate the runs along the inside. This is deigned to take the metal pedal cleat (bolted on) and also to be as stiff as possible to give you maximum return for your pedalling efforts. If these are weak you get a load of flex and wasted pedal power and you also risk ripping the cleats out of the shoe. The M072 has none of these problems. The plate is as strong as an OX, no flex at all. There is a decent recess in the inside of the shoe and a seal to stop you feeling the bolts through the shoe and stop any water coming in. Overall the shoe provides about 7.5 out of 10 for water resistance. On a general pedal about the shoe is waster tight, on the trails full of water holes you wont fair so well and end up with the old damp socks. In general the upper of the shoe is strong and rigid enough to give you a feeling of strength. That's important for the trails, happy feet makes for happy riding. I have used mine in snowy conditions and was genuinely surprised at how warm my feet stayed. Some shoes make your feet pretty cold, no such worries here.
OTHER STUFF With the shoes you also get a decent set of instructions on how to fit the shoe cleats to the shoes. This is good as if you fit them wrongly they are a pain to alter and change. You can also risk generating knee problems if they are not done correctly as your feet will be in a fixed position, in the wrong position your knees are not in a natural position so gain extra unwanted stressing when cycling. You also get a set of new pedal cleats with the shoes along with the bolts to fit them.
I paid £65 for my shoes from a local bike shop but have seen them recently online for as little as £45. To me that's a bargain and I would easily buy these shoes time after time. I don't think there is any need to buy anything else. If your after a good performance shoe and not so bothered about the fashion side but want functionality then these are for you. If your looking for a pair that look like VANNS then don't.
Overall, I rate these at a 9 out of 10. Great pair of shoes for all weather conditions and all uses up to the serious MTB rider. They just seem to go on for ever and stil look, feel and work great.
