I bought my first pair of RC-703 Series shoes in 2018. I now own five pairs. They are the most comfortable cycling shoes I have ever had on my feet. The combination of stiffness and comfort is unparalleled. My 703's deliver efficiency and power transfer in just the right amounts. Continue to bring out more colors and designs.
I have an older pair of Shimano S-Phyre shoes with 18,000 plus miles on them. I think they are the first-gen S-Phyre shoes, so my following comparison is with these. They are super comfortable, but my left one is ugly due to serious scuffs from a bike crash I had a couple years ago. I chose the RC703 for a replacement since it adopted much of the design from the S-Phyre model. After 600 miles of use, I can say the 703's foot comfort is almost the same as my old S-Phyre. I personally can't tell any difference in the stiffness between the two models. The 703 toe-box is similar, but the S-Phyre's might be a little better form-fitting on my feet.
Shimano seems to have saved costs on the interior of the shoe and its footbed. The 703 doesn't tout the Silvadure treatment, but I used a nanosilver spray on the inside of the shoes and footbed for an antibacterial and odor guard. So far, the bright white outer surface seems to clean up nicely with a mixture of Simple Green cleaner in a spray bottle. Hopefully, the heel pads will wear longer than those of my S-Phyres. Although they have two BOA closures, they are not the LI2 BOAs that can both tighten and loosen without pulling up on the dial. That's a small sacrifice to put up with in order to save a lot of money. I do recommend these shoes for anyone wanting the feel of an S-Phyre for much less cost, especially when on sale.
Would've been 5 stars if I hadn't worn three pairs of S-Phyres already. Yes the RC7 upper is little stiffer. Not quite a a glove soft foot hugger like the S-Phyre. But that's my only issue. At my 150 lbs the sole is plenty stiff. I've dialed in the fit now and am completely satisfied with them. Especially at $200+ cheaper than the new S-Phyre.
The sizing is identical to the others too. Maybe a tad wider in the forefoot.
Would've been 5 stars if I hadn't worn three pairs of S-Phyres already. Yes the RC7 upper is little stiffer. Not quite a a glove soft foot hugger like the S-Phyre. But, that's my only issue. At my 150 lbs the sole is plenty stiff. I've dialed in the fit now and am completely satisfied with them. Especially at $200+ cheaper than the new S-Phyre.
The sizing is identical to the others too. Maybe a tad wider in the forefoot.
I've had this model shoe for several years and beat it up on a minor fall, so ordered a new pair and they fit perfectly (same size 45) and have more ventilation. The forward BOA was redesigned a little, but otherwise a solid shoe. Note: I like to slide my cleat back to alleviate foot pain, and this is the only pair I found that had enough adjustment.
These bad boys are not only stiff af, but they also got that clean look at a reasonable price. Go ahead and grab the S-Phyre if your shaved leg Fredulite friends on plastic spaceship bikes are teasing your for being a normal person that can't spend a trillion dollars on gear. This shoe is made for us mortals who love riding but couldn't be fudged to care about what Fredulites think as you drop em.
I really like my RC7, nice texture. Great value & it is my second pair. They are great all around!
