• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Become a Premium Member
  • About

Road Bike Rider Cycling Site

Expert road cycling advice, since 2001

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Bikes & Gear
  • Training & Health
  • Reviews
  • Cycling Ebooks
    • Ebooks Training
    • Ebooks Skills
    • E-Articles Training
    • E-Articles Nutrition
  • Member Area
  • Newsletter

Northwave Extreme RR Road Shoes

 

By Sheri Rosenbaum

& Mitch Rosset

4 stars

NorthwaveExtremeRRRoadShoes.WEB

HOT!

  • Light weight and stiff carbon sole for good power transfer
  • Single-dial proprietary closure system for snug, yet comfortable fit
  • Includes two footbeds to customize the fit (Pro Regular Fit & Pro Slim Fit)
  • Above average toebox size
  • Stylish, minimalist design with reflective elements
  • NW Speedplay adapter-compatible
NOT!

  • High price tag
  • Middle of the road breathability can heat up feet
  • Closure quick-release system a bit cumbersome
  • Available only in men’s sizes

www.Northwave.com

Price: $399.99 MSRP
Colors: Black, Yellow Fluorescent
Source: Company website, online, retail
How obtained: sample from company
RBR Sponsor: No
Tested: 60+ hours; including up to a century ride

Tech Specs
Weight: 220g (company web site)
Sizes: 34-50
Material: Ultralight Carbon 15 sole; synthetic uppers

High Performance at a Price

A few months ago, Northwave (NW) contacted RBR to see if we’d be interested in testing their new high-end road shoe, the Extreme RR. We had seen the Italian maker’s shoe at last year’s Interbike show and were intrigued by some of the high-end and proprietary features. My previous experience with NW has only been with their winter riding boots, which I own in both road and MTB versions.

The Extreme RR is only available in a men’s version and sizes, but are definitely fashionable enough to pass as unisex. (As I am over six feet tall, the sizing issue is not a concern for me.) I ordered a 45, since that’s what my NW winter boots are.

When I first tried on the Extreme RR’s with the Pro Regular fit insert, they were a little wide. Then I swapped out the footbed for the Pro Slim Fit, which provides an extra 2mm toe insert for narrow feet. (The shoes come with both footbeds to help dial in the fit.) Since men’s shoes run wider, and I have a narrow foot, the Slim footbed made for a more comfortable fit.

I went on to try the shoes during several indoor CompuTrainer classes before the weather allowed much outdoor riding during springtime in Chicago, but the synthetic upper material was just too warm for me. I also tried the shoes on a couple of road rides when possible but, again, my feet were too warm.

My boyfriend, Mitch, had been looking for a new pair of road shoes and decided to try on the Extreme RR’s. He really liked them and soon he was RBR’s newest product tester. Below are his thoughts on the shoes after putting in many hours of riding, including an 80-miler in Virginia as part of Storming Thunder Ridge (major climbing) and a Midwest century ride in late June.

Numerous Comfort & Fit Features

The Extreme RR offers a number of features for rider comfort and fit. Among them (in addition to the two different footbeds) are a somewhat larger than typical toe box, ultralight Carbon 15 sole (stiffness index of 15.0) and SLW2 dial for step-by-step micro adjustments – either looser or tighter.

The larger toe box provides added room, but not so much that my foot shifted around. The stiff carbon sole and synthetic upper provides great power transfer. And NW’s proprietary Boa-type SLW2 single-dial closure provides a single ratcheting system that enables me to precisely set the tension.

NorthwaveExtremeRRRoadShoes.Yellow.WEB

I can’t say that overall it’s either better or worse than the Boa system that is ubiquitous these days; it just operates a little differently to achieve much the same result. The only negative we found is the quick-release system of the SLW2. It basically requires both hands to operate: you pull and hold up the silver lever (see photo) while pulling out the cable “laces” to loosen them throughout the shoe. Sheri and I both struggled with this at first until we got the hang of it.

The shoe is designed without a traditional tongue and has an overlap section along the top, so that the closure system operates more toward the outside of each shoe. NW’s Xframe® design, combined with the tension cable system and fabric anchor points along the side of the foot, provide a superbly snug fit without pressure points.

Venting and Breathability

The uppers of these shoes are composed of a perforated synthetic leather material that doesn’t breathe that well. However, the bottom of the shoe has large vents. NW’s marketing materials rate breathability as a 4 out of 5. I’d say it is more like a 3. So in warmer weather my feet did run hotter, but nothing too uncomfortable.

Additional Features

We tested the black version of the shoes, which have high-vis details on the side (logo) and a reflective strip on the heal. The inside uses an integrated heel system with a one-way directional fiber (“cat’s tongue”), which prevents slipping. So it is easy to slip on the shoe, but the fabric prevents your heal from slipping out during your pedal stroke.

The sole accepts standard three-bolt cleats, as well as NW’s Speedplay four-bolt adapter for the lowest stack height between foot and pedal.

Bottom Line

Northwave’s new top-of-the-line Extreme RR road shoe hits a home run in my book, being very light, stiff, and comfortable, with a single-dial adjustment system to literally dial in the fit.

This lightweight shoe is good for racing, but also is comfortable to wear on an all-day road ride. The low-cut, minimalistic style fits the bill for me, too.

The price tag is, admittedly, a lot to pay for a pair of shoes. But these shoes deliver the level of comfort, fit, style and performance features that you would expect from an high-end Italian maker.

June 2017

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dave Minden says

    July 6, 2017 at 2:57 pm

    3 years ago I bought a pair of Northwave Extremes (from a British seller). They are Goretex and warm, so work for winter riding to work here in WI. I have had to repair them several times: the lace retaining strap broke, the lace loops frayed and broke. I’m about $70 of repairs in. I contacted Northwave, who would not consider warrantying unless I sent the shoes – to England at a very high cost to me! So, buyer beware, the shoes may not wear well and not be well-covered.

    Reply
  2. James Kangas says

    July 6, 2017 at 6:20 pm

    Recently got a pair of Shimano RC-7 shoes; very happy with them, and they were way less than this. Only problem is they have a vent (my old Sidis let you open/close the vent), but I live in the desert now, so not a big problem for me.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search

Recent Articles

  • ‘Connect’ to Diet-Reverses-Diabetes Study: Even If You Don’t Have the Disease
  • My New Bike: Trek Checkpoint SL 5
  • Weak Muscles Predict Accelerated Aging, Disability and Death
  • Rolflex Muscle Recovery Tool Quick Review

Recent Newsletters

Newsletter Issue No. 1053

Newsletter Issue No. 1052

Newsletter Issue No. 1051

Newsletter Issue No. 1050

Newsletter Issue No. 1049

Footer

Affiliate Disclosure

Our cycling expert editors and writers choose every product we review. We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy from one of our product links, at no extra cost to you. This income supports our site.

Follow Us

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook

Privacy Policy

Still Haven’t Found What You’re Looking For?

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in