This is my 2nd pair of the RX801. The first pair (RX-800) are 3+ years old and have been great. I tried the Sidi MTB Gravel and after riding them several times gave up on them - the footbed never felt right. So, you could say I'm fussy about shoes. I ordered the 801's in the same size as the 800's and they feel 1/4 size bigger. I've only ridden them about 10x on my Wahoo Kickr doing Zwift rides so have not used them real life so-to-speak. Somewhere in the memory banks it seems the 800's felt a bit off until after 5-6 real-world mountain bike rides. I use these shoes for road, gravel and mountain with different Crank Bros pedals. I always buy the Crank Bros Shoe Shield after having a Sidi Dominator sole crack. Bottom line - I think I like these alright. Once the snow is gone and the trails and dirt roads are open again I'll know for sure. One thing much better is the BOA lacing system - this new iteration moves much freer and is easier on/off. I had to replace one on my old pair because it was so stiff to release the laces ended up partially unwinding. BOA was good about replacing but even the replacement is harder to unwind than the new versions on the 801.
This is my first pair of SH-RX801 cleats. The first version RX8 has a flexible, cloth piece inside the cleat on the arch. This helps to sung up the entire shoe before you adjust the boa closure. Secure and sung and fit just right. The new version of the SH -RX801 does not have this inside flexible, cloth, stretch on the arch. Sure to be a cost savings for Shimano when the eliminate one part of the shoe when they are manufacturing on a large scale. Other and missing this stretchy cloth, it's a quality cleat.
Great shoes, love the Boa system. Highly recommended.
