The Ultimate MTB Outsole for Any Ride
Battered, beaten, and taken for granted, the outsole of the MTB shoe is a critical workhorse connecting rider and bike. And when it comes to mud wrestling, harnessing pedaling power, high-speed descents, rocky power climbs, and high-altitude hike-a-bikes, the right shoe sole can make all the difference. Available for both SPD and flat pedals, ULTREAD delivers control, support, durability, and comfort on and off the bike.
ULTREAD is the latest evolution in MTB shoe sole technology, pairing different tread patterns and rubber compounds to tackle the unique demands of each MTB application. The proprietary technology is engineered for XC, DH, enduro, trail, multi-day bikepacking adventures, and anything in between.
A Hundred Years of Engineering Excellence
If there is one thing we focus on at Shimano, it’s harnessing the power of small details to make a huge difference in overall performance, comfort, and quality of the ride. With over 100 years of component manufacturing expertise, Shimano has not only been in the game for a long time, but we’ve changed the game over and over again.
Born from over thirty-five years of MTB footwear expertise, ULTREAD is completely engineered, designed, and manufactured by Shimano. It's produced in-house, allowing us to deliver the ultimate MTB footwear platform on which every great MTB ride is built, no matter the discipline. These segment-specific outsoles deliver increased durability, reduced weight, and exceptional grip on and off the bike to provide the right combination of stability and control for each riding style.
The Right Rubber + Tread for Each MTB Job
ULTREAD is more than just a one-size-fits-all mountain bike outsole. The technology features four rubber compounds, four tread patterns, and three midsole/outsole structures.
Using different combinations of these factors allows us to create discipline-specific outsoles that offer the perfect blend of durability, comfort, confidence, and grip for each riding style.
ULTREAD ME - SPD Trail Riding
The ULTREAD ME found on Shimano Gravity Enduro MTB shoes are made to handle the tough demands of enduro racing and trail riding, from technical descents to tough climbs on slippery surfaces. The sole pattern is optimized for stability and flexibility on SPD pedals, with hexagonal lugs on the forefoot, heel, and along each side.
The specially designed pedal channel guides the cleat and pedal together for easier engagement when the going gets rowdy. The extended channel shape and wider pedal landing strip result in a faster step-in, and when engaged with the SPD pedal, the side of the shoe will rest on the pins of the pedal platform. This provides an even bigger contact patch for more control and stability, whether clipped in or disengaged, but still in need of solid pedal contact.
The ULTREAD ME compound is a solid blend of durability and grip, with enough stick to find sure footing on wet rocks while not getting chunked out and torn when pulling a foot out at high speeds.
ULTREAD GE – SPD Gravity Riding
For those who really earn their turns with extended hike-a-bikes, the ULTREAD GE lineup features the same sticky ULTREAD ME rubber compound but with a super aggressive tread pattern for hiking-a-bike, up or down. That's right, sometimes you've got to walk down. The aggressive heel lugs act as braking blocks to keep from slipping no matter how the trail undulates. They also optimize your efficiency while pushing a bike in the wet or recovering after a dismount.
The ULTREAD design of the GE lineup complements the SPD compatibility of the shoes, making this the choice of DH champions, Enduro slayers, and dedicated trail riders.
ULTREAD GF - Flat Pedal Grip and Support
ULTREAD GF prioritizes grip on the pins for ultimate control, connection, and confidence when riding flat pedals. In other words, this compound is sticky, sticky, sticky. The slow rebound of the rubber conforms and engages with the platform shape and the pins on flat pedals but doesn’t tear off when disengaging from the pedal and putting a foot out. It’s a fine line to walk, but Shimano’s engineers have struck the ultimate balance of grip and durability with the ULTREAD GF compound.
The hexagonal tread pattern is the same as the GE lineup, but it covers the entire bottom of the shoe (no SPD pedal channel means more room for lugs). This drastically improves flat pedal grip thanks to multi-directional stability and secure pin engagement, especially on rough terrain, mashing over roots, rocks, braking bumps, and all manners of trail chunder.
The combo of security and stick means it'll stay firmly planted to the pedal without squirming around like some soft compounds are prone to do. The GF800 and GF600 shoes have special drain channels on the midfoot's perimeter, allowing mud and slop to squish away from the shoe and maintaining a clear tread for better grip in worsening conditions.
Like the ULTREAD ME, the ULTREAD GF also features a super aggressive tread pattern on the toe and heel for hiking a bike up and down. Or if you're the kind of maniac who will send it down anything, consider the heel tread as a great tool for sure footing on track walks or scoping on the landing on that next massive huck.
The GF also comes in the GR3 compound that is even stickier and optimized for riding below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This compound is available exclusively on the GF800GTX, the low-temperature version of the GF800 flat pedal shoe.
ULTREAD XC - Efficiency and Durability, Up or Down
Specially formulated for cross-country MTB and cyclocross racing, ULTREAD XC is rigid, durable, and lightweight for maximum power transfer and rider control in all conditions. This is an outsole for those who constantly go outside of themselves, pushing the limits of cardiovascular function in the pursuit of speed, efficiency, and glory.
The XC sole pattern has minimal tread to keep the weight down. But don't mistake fewer lugs for lack of traction. The lugs have sheer edges and sharp angles to penetrate rugged surfaces and provide grip as you're clawing for forward momentum up a climb or through the mud. When it's extra sloppy, the vector-shaped blocks around the SPD plate clear debris for more reliable and confident pedal engagement. If the conditions turn delightfully atrocious, the XC outsoles feature a spike mount to mount extra grip in the utmost slop. The lightweight scale armor in the arch area also provides extra grip for precarious footing or catching a pedal during a remount gone awry.
The lugs around the shoe's forefoot are constructed from a stiff compound and are engineered to boost pedaling efficiency. They rest on the SPD pedal, providing a more significant contact point and platform to push harder without any give in the sole. Thus, the majority of the grip comes from the aggressive lugs on XC shoes since lightweight and pedaling efficiency is the name of the game.
The outsole rubber also features increased tear strength to ensure that the tread blocks not only grip the ground but also have excellent durability for tearing through the CX fields or running up rocky chutes.
ULTREAD EX - Adventure Support and Confidence
Designed for bikepacking and adventure touring, ULTREAD EX combines a lightweight rubber compound with a tread pattern optimized for a secure grip and high traction. The result is efficient pedaling performance, maximum stability, and traction on and off the bike.
The tread pattern itself is designed with walkability in mind and features better ground clearance with the cleat to avoid a clicking noise while off the bike. The SPD-cleat positioning is also further back in the midfoot, which reduces pedaling hotspots and is more comfortable biomechanically for the lower cadence pedaling of touring. This results in more comfort and control, resulting in happier riding.
The EX series features the same rubber compound as the ULTREAD ME outsole. This provides the perfect blend of grip, durability, and support, whether pushing up a steep pass, spinning through the forest, walking on wet cobbles, or hopping across an alpine stream.
Wherever the next ride takes you, and regardless of what you demand of your footwear, Shimano's next-generation ULTREAD outsoles are purpose-built to deliver the ultimate MTB footwear experience.
