First Look: Shimano TR9

— By Joel Vosburg

In the summer, we announced that Shimano had released the TR9, a new elite triathlon racing shoe. We received a pair at the office last week and were immediately impressed with its lightweight, comfortable design and sleek appearance in Shimano’s signature blue. Here are our first impressions.

Triathletes won’t have to worry about fiddling around with their footwear in T1 with the TR9. Its extra-wide, outward-opening velcro strap makes foot entry as easy as possible, shaving valuable seconds off your transition time. The dual-strap system, designed to give triathletes optimal comfort and snugness, ensures you can adjust the shoe to fit your specific foot shape.

The shoe is durable with a stretch-resistant, synthetic leather upper but weighs in light at just 502 grams (size 40). Its three-layer, mesh ventilation system allows your feet to breathe, especially after the swim. Whether you’re racing at the sprint or full distance, you won’t have to worry about damp feet feeling uncomfortable without socks for the duration of your ride.

The TR9 features Shimano’s unique Dynalast footbed shape. It hugs the unique curves of the foot to enhance muscle-efficiency and make your ride as smooth as possible.

For those who aren’t a fan of the blue (which we love), the shoe also comes in white. We’ll have a full review in the next issue of Triathlon Magazine Canada.