Testing the Shimano GE900 GTX in Southern California (Are They Worth It?)
- Jace
- Feb 27
- 3 min read
Shimano claims these shoes are built for the rain. Living in Orange County means I had to wait weeks just to find a single puddle. But I finally got the perfect storm to see if these shoes actually hold up or if it is just marketing hype.
Before we jump in, full disclosure: I am not sponsored by Shimano. I do not even think they know I exist. I do have a friend who works there and hooked me up, so I am putting the Shimano GE900 GTX to the ultimate wet weather test on my custom gravel rig.
Daily Wear and True Sizing
I have had these for over a month. I wanted to see what they were like for daily use, so I literally wore them to work all day. Walking around the office in clipless shoes means you definitely hear that metal crunch on the tile, but they are incredibly comfortable.
The Fit:Â They fit incredibly true to size. I normally wear an 8.5 in my Reeboks and my Crankbrothers Stamp Lace flats. I ordered these in a 42, and they are spot on. They hug the ankle perfectly, and I absolutely love having a BOA dial on my cycling shoes.
The Wear and Tear:Â After wearing them daily and hitting the trails, the black paint in the cleat channel scraped off, and dirt got packed into the grooves. Is that normal for walking in them all day? Probably not. But I wanted to test their absolute limits.
Surviving the Mud Spill
During one of our local rides, I took a massive spill right into some deep mud. Nigel totally missed getting it on camera, which is a tragedy. My arm and leg were completely caked in wet dirt, but the shoes did their job flawlessly. The mud stayed entirely on the outside, and my feet stayed completely dry and safe inside the shoe.
The Ultimate Rain Test
It finally started pouring in Southern California. This was my chance to take the custom green gravel bike out and see what these shoes could really do in a storm.
Here is the honest truth about riding them in a downpour:
They are not waterproof. They stayed dry for a bit, but the second I blasted through a deep puddle, they got absolutely waterboarded. The water definitely sank in.
They keep you warm. Even though my feet were wet, they were not cold. The shoes insulated really well against the chill.
Drying time. Because they hold that water and keep you warm, it took a really long time for them to completely dry out after the ride.
Why Clipless is a Game Changer in the Rain
Back in 2024, my dad, my brother, and I rode the Tour de Saddleback and got caught in the rain near the end. I was riding flats with toe clips, and my feet were slipping everywhere.
Riding in the rain with the GE900 GTX shoes completely changed my perspective on going clipless. Feeling physically locked into the bike when the roads and trails are slick gives you so much confidence. You never have to worry about your foot slipping off the pedal and destroying your shin.
The Final Verdict: Are They Worth $300?
As of the date this video was published, the shoes retail for around $300 (though you can sometimes find them for $200 on sites like REI).
I absolutely love the tan color. It perfectly matches my custom gravel bike build. They are incredibly comfortable, and the grip is fantastic. But if I am being completely honest, I would not spend $300 on these shoes for my specific lifestyle.
Here is why: I live in Southern California. It is sunny and gorgeous almost every day. The absolute perfect environment for these shoes is a foggy, misty morning ride up in Chino Hills State Park, where the moisture is just hanging in the air. In those conditions, they are flawless. But paying $300 to wait around for a foggy day just does not make sense for my casual riding habits.
But they do look killer, style-wise (I still wear them daily to work).
What do you think? Do you ride in the rain a lot? If so, what is your go-to wet weather gear? Maybe you are a hardcore bikepacker or racer and these are exactly what you need. Let me know in the comments below!
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