The Rapha Pro Team Powerweave Road Shoes have been updated with a new upper, new soles and a new sock-like collar. They are race-orientated shoes that do an excellent job of balancing performance and comfort.
> Buy now: Rapha Pro Team Powerweave Road Shoes for £350 from Rapha
Rapha has focused on enhanced comfort and improved power transfer for the latest version of its top-tier Pro Team Powerweave Shoes, which feature a completely redesigned upper, a stiffer sole and a new sock-like fit.
While the signature woven Powerweave fabric, first introduced in the 2020 model, remains, the biggest change is the addition of a knitted sock collar, similar to those found on football boots. Rapha claims this update ‘ensures a stable, locked-in fit eliminating tongue movement and hotspots’ and in use, this holds true.
Gone is the traditional tongue, replaced with a soft, lightly padded and stretchy sock collar that offers a snug yet comfortable fit. Despite it being relatively thin, it distributes pressure from the Boa wires well and I couldn’t feel them when riding. This is also down to the fact that the shoes have a naturally snug fit so you shouldn’t need to do the Boa dials up too tight. I really appreciated the tongue-free design which avoids any pressure points across the top of the foot.
Each shoe features two Boa Li2 dials with plastic-coated wires and plastic wire guides, the same as the previous generation, that tighten by turning in one direction and loosen with a turn in the opposite direction. If you pull the dial upwards, you release all of the tension.
While the collar itself offers a bit of stretch, the Powerweave upper doesn’t stretch much, and the shoe opening isn’t particularly wide. That said, this works in the shoe’s favour once it’s on your foot. I found myself relying on the heel loop to pull them on firmly, but once in place they fit securely and are impressively comfortable. They haven’t stretched during testing either, and I’m hopeful that’ll remain the case over time.
Rapha claims the ‘high-strength 3D woven Powerweave uppers’, made up of multiple yarns, provide ‘complete support’. If you hold the shoes up to the light you won’t see through the material but air can still pass through. It’s supple enough to conform to your foot’s shape yet feels pretty strong too. I’ve only been using the shoes for a few weeks, so I can’t speak on their long-term durability just yet.
The Pro Team shoes don’t offer the same breathability as models with large mesh panels, but they do ventilate better than shoes with big areas of leather or synthetic leather. I’ve worn them outdoors in mid-20s temperatures and during indoor turbo sessions, and my feet didn’t feel uncomfortably hot or overly sweaty.
The external heel cup is made of Pebax, a thermoplastic polymer offering a combination of ‘lightness, toughness, flexibility and outstanding energy return’, according to its producer Arkema. The heel cup sits lower than the previous generation, and a heel loop has been added, which, as I said above, I was grateful for when taking the shoes on and off. The reinforced heel helps to prevent lift at the back when out of the saddle sprinting or climbing.
The 100 per cent carbon fibre sole is very stiff. I couldn’t detect any sort of flex whatsoever even with a healthy tug on the shoes when I wasn’t wearing them. The carbon is protected at the toe and heel, and the heel protector is replaceable, using a bolt from the inside.
White is my go-to colour for road shoes, and straight out of the box these look great, but they do scuff easily and it’s unlikely they’ll stay pristine for long. The white sole in particular is destined to pick up marks, but actually, once the first scuffs had appeared I found myself worrying less about keeping them spotless, though a black sole would be my preference.
To adjust the fit, the insole has an interchangeable arch on the footbed. The arch support attaches via Velcro, and mine came with medium support.
Sizing & colours
Rapha recommends going up half a size compared to normal as the sock fit is snug. My Fizik Infinito R1 road shoes are EU 40 and I tested the Pro Team Powerweaves in size 40.5 and they fit me perfectly. Rapha also says they have more volume in the toe box than the previous version.
The shoes are available in 18 sizes from EU 36 to 47, with half sizes from EU 40 to 45. They are also available in three colours, black and dark grey as well as white.
Value
As for price, the previous model retailed at £260 so these are around a 35% increase. This is still a significant investment for most of us, but it’s in line with many other high-end road shoes.
For example, the Bont Vaypor SL shoes are £369.95. They are exceptionally light, weighing slightly less than the Pro Team Powerweaves at 442g (size 43).
The Quoc M3 Pro shoes are £30 less at £320, though the closure dials are only micro-adjustable in one direction and there aren’t any half sizes.
For more options at various prices, check out our guide to the best road cycling shoes.
Conclusion
Overall, the updated Rapha Pro Team Powerweave Road Shoes do an excellent job of combining comfort, stiffness and a secure fit. They might not stay spotless for long, but they are a great looking shoe (for now).
> Buy now: Rapha Pro Team Powerweave Road Shoes for £350 from Rapha
Verdict
Excellent race-focused shoes that deliver a sock-like fit with a super-stiff sole
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Rapha Pro Team Road Shoes
Size tested: 40.5
Tell us what the product is for
Rapha says, “Our latest evolution in racing footwear, re-engineered with elite riders for enhanced comfort and a superior connection. 3D woven Powerweave upper and 100% carbon sole for maximum torque”.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Rapha lists:
Power transfer – 100% carbon sole and Pebax® heel counter for maximum stiffness and power delivery
Dialled-in comfort – New knitted sock collar ensures a stable, locked-in fit eliminating tongue movement and hotspots
On-the-fly – The BOA® Fit System delivers micro-adjustable precision fit, engineered to perform in the toughest conditions
Woven for strength – Complete support from high-strength 3D woven Powerweave uppers and knitted sock collar for flexible comfort and breathability
Adjustable fit – Interchangeable insole arch on the footbed to enhance fit and pedaling efficiency
Pro feedback – Engineered in collaboration with WorldTour and elite-level athletes
Can be worn in cold to hot (0-32°C) conditions
Really well made.
Excellent high-performance shoe combining comfort and stiffness.
As expected, the white soles do pick up scuffs with use, something the toe and heel protectors help mitigate, though the colour highlights marks. So far, the uppers have held up well and feel robust, but it’s too early to comment on their long-term durability.
While the uppers don’t stretch, they are very flexible, and the fit is excellent.
Rapha recommends sizing up half a size and that was spot on.
Very comfortable sock-like fit with no tongue.
They have increased in price since the previous generation, but they are in line with many other brands’ flagship shoes.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
They’re not quite as easy to wipe clean as some shinier shoes.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Do a great job of combining both comfort and stiffness in the sole.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The sock-like fit and lack of tongue, which made them very comfortable.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
I loved the clean look of the white sole straight out of the box, but it’s hard to ignore how quickly it shows dirt and scuffs after some use.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
They are priced similarly to other high-end shoes. For example, the Bont Vaypor SL shoes are £369.95 and the Quoc M3 Pro shoes are £320.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
A really great pair of shoes that do an excellent job of combining comfort, stiffness and a secure fit.
About the tester
Age: 25 Height: 175 Weight: 64
I usually ride: specialised tarmac sl6 My best bike is:
I’ve been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, club rides, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,
