I rode a pair of RC701's for about 10,000 miles and just picked these up to get a little more room from the wide model. I wouldn't have replaced the old pair if they hadn't started to feel constricting, but I'm glad I did. Apart from the wide fit which I should have switched to ages ago, the burrito style closure (no separate tongue) is really great as I always struggled to get the tongue in the right place with the old pair. This seems to help the boa dials tighten down more evenly.
The ventilation is also noticeably better, so much so that they are almost TOO well ventilated for the Northern California winter. The perforations on the upper go much further back than on the prior model, so the light toe covers I usually use don't cover all the vents, and there's also a second vent/drainage hole in the heel now in addition to the one under the toes. I've found myself taping over the vent holes, which I never had to do with the 701's, and pulling out my full shoe covers I usually only use for rain. That said, I'm really looking forward to that extra airflow when it warms up.
In all, the 701's were a great shoe for a good price and these have a few marked improvements. I wouldn't ditch a perfectly functional pair just to get the new model, but they're well worth a look if it's time for new shoes anyway, especially if you can wait for another sale.
I waited to review this show until I rode with it for pretty much the entire season. I am very pleased with it. I appreciate the wide width and it's not crazy wide. Stiffness is perfect for how I ride. My guess is if you're a hard racer you'd want something a bit more stiff, but for general long rides of 30-70 miles these are great. I highly recommend.
When you consider everything this shoe has going for it, its hard to believe irs not priced among other brand top tier shoes. They're comfortable, stiff, light, good looking, and made to last.
Needed new pair of shoes and found these at a great price. Shoe fits like a glove and very comfortable. Nice toe box. Good stiffness for the climbs. Happy to have Dual Boas to make easy adjustments. More comfortable that my S-Phyre from few years back!
