Scott Gravel RC Carbon Shoe

The carbon sole is incredibly stiff — I felt every watt transfer straight to the pedals on my last gravel race. The fit is snug but not uncomfortable, even after three hours in the saddle.

The BOA dials let me micro-adjust the fit even while riding, which was a game-changer on a long gravel race. The stiffness really does translate every watt to the pedals without any flex.

I was skeptical about the stiffness of these shoes, but the hard carbon sole made every pedal stroke feel more direct and powerful on my gravel rides. They lock my foot in place without any hot spots, even on a long 60-miler.