The days of putting up with MTB shoes are a thing of the past; gravel shoes are now the norm. The days of putting up with MTB shoes are a thing of the past, as gravel shoes are now the norm. We bring you a list of the best gravel shoes, featuring the previous generation of gravel shoes.

Shimano's RX8 is a gravel race shoe, not one for more general use (think harder soles and less time spent hiking up the bike), but in this latest iteration, given the growth of adventure racing as a genre, the model has two distinct versions It has branched out into.

The older RX8 is already on our Buyer's Guide of Best Gravel Shoes, and this latest version is based on a racy platform that blends road and MTB techniques; the RX801, in addition to the same Boa and Velcro combination as the previous model, also has a newer version of the RX801, with the same Boa and Velcro system, Heel stabilizer and an upper that wraps around the foot rather than closing at the apex for a more snug and comfortable fit, and the toe box design has been tweaked. This model is also available in a new half-size to accommodate those who are picky about their foot size. More importantly, a very gravelly tropical foliage pattern is available to match your favorite gravel lace Hawaiian shirt.

The RX8 is available in sizes 38 to 48, with a wide range of options. It weighs 268g and is priced at $275/€229/£229.99.

But what about the more adventurous gravel rider? That's where the RX8R (in this case, the "R" stands for "Rally") comes in. Ostensibly the same shoe as the RX8, it has a built-in ankle gaiter that prevents gravel and pebbles from getting into the shoe and causing all kinds of trouble. Unfortunately, there is no tropical motif, but instead a rusty metallic orange is available.

The RX8R, which has the same size range as the RX8 but with slightly fewer wide and half-size options, costs $300 / €274.95 / £269.99 and weighs 290g.