It's just a toe cover, right? For all practical purposes, yes, but the Shimano S-Phyre Toe Cover gets the same S-Phyre approach to design and material technology as the rest of the line-up. Given Shimano's long, highly regarded history with cycling shoes, a cover that is designed to integrate perfectly with the S-Phyre RC9 and XC9 footwear can't be dismissed, as "just a toe cover".

The clear visual starting point is the cut out on the lateral side of the foot. Placed to expose the Boa dial adjustment of the RC9 and XC9, this simple yet important feature is actually technically difficult to achieve, as the shoe and cover sizes must be matched, and with variations in foot shape and volume, the toe cover must stretch just enough to fit properly over the dial, yet not be too loose or too tight otherwise.

With the S-Phyre Toe Cover, Shimano's goal was to build a simple outer shell that closely integrated with the shoe while blocking wind and water, and supplying some insulating properties- all while improving aerodynamics and not sacrificing functionality or comfort. Each set of toe covers is anatomically left-right specific via Shimano's 3D fit method, specifically matched to the S-Phyre footwear design. The dominant material used for the shell is a rubber-polymide blend, which is the foundation of the protection and the stretch fit. A polyester-polymide blend is featured on the base and finished edges. Shimano used a bonded construction process, so seams are flat, and allow the two materials to work together without bunching or creating any structure that can cause discomfort.

The materials block air and water, which in turn prevents cold air inflow, thus allowing the foot to retain heat. A Metallic Thermal Tech layer also actively radiates heat back to the shoe and foot, warming the airspace (however minimal) between the cover and shoe. Under the toe box a reinforced open cleat zone has a detailed finished edge and is durable to manage essential walking and toe-down actions at stop signs and lights. The same finished care is applied to the upper elastic cuff, which enhances the fit and hold of the cover design, and also prevents damage to the raw edge of the base material.

Finally Shimano offers serious reflectivity via the main body to add safety in dark or low light conditions. In the Details section below we have listed the S-Phyre Toe Cover size options with the recommended corresponding Shimano shoe sizes. While clearly optimized for S-Phyre Boa dial equipped footwear, this toe cover system will work with other Shimano road shoes, with perhaps a B-level fit. The S-Phyre concept was developed with ideal integration in mind, while delivering exceptional performance, comfort, and functionality. If you ride S-Phyre shoes, you really should have a pair of S-Phyre Toe Covers for shoulder season riding when a full bootie-style cover is overkill.

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