My feet like the Scott Gravel RC Carbon

Patrick Bardelli

16-4-2026

Translation: Veronica Bielawski

Pictures: Patrick Bardelli

The Scott Gravel RC Carbon combine performance with comfort thanks to their adjustable insoles. I’m a fan!

Ever since I switched from running to gravel biking a few years ago, I’ve been dealing with sore feet – more specifically, numbness in the balls of my feet. I’d already tried all sorts of shoes. Depending on the brand and model, my symptoms would sometimes get worse and sometimes better. But they never went away completely. Eventually, I’d almost resigned myself to the feeling, thinking this was simply how it would be.

I’ve since learned that my forefeet are quite wide and therefore press against the edges of the hard carbon plates in cycling shoes. After a while, this leads to that feeling of painful numbness. I had previously tried wide fit cycling shoes, but they were too wide around the heel and had me feeling like I was slipping out of them.

On top of that, my feet roll too far inwards when I walk (or run), which is referred to as overpronation. Oh, and I have flat feet. It’s a tedious combo that has me relying on custom orthopaedic insoles.

Suffice it to say I have a complicated relationship with shoes, no matter the kind.

Performance or comfort...

Cycling shoes often rely on a lightweight carbon-composite sole that can be very stiff; the stiffer the sole, the better the power transfer to the pedals. Brands often use their own rating scales, which makes comparisons tricky. For example, Shimano’s stiffness index ranges from two (maximum flexibility) to 12 (maximum stiffness).

If you go through the woods on a gravel bike, sooner or later you’re bound to have to cover at least a few metres on foot with the bike hung over your shoulder. This is where ultra-stiff shoes that don’t bend at all when you walk become extremely uncomfortable. That’s why, when it comes to gravel biking, sole stiffness is always a compromise between performance and comfort.

... or both?

With a stiffness index of ten, the Scott Gravel RC Carbon are shoes built for performance. Other key specs:

• Weight: approx. 340 grammes
• Closure: Dual Boa Fit System
• Cleats: SPD (2-bolt)

What makes these shoes special are their adjustable insoles. Thanks to removable pads for the arch and midfoot, they can be tailored to the rider’s needs and preferences. The midfoot pad is designed to reduce numbness in the forefoot and distribute pressure more evenly. And by adjusting the arch support, you should be able to properly align the foot. These are exactly my problem areas.

With these two removable pads, the Gravel RC Carbon’s insoles resemble my orthopaedic insoles, which also feature built-in cushioning around the midfoot and reinforced arch support.

I still have a complicated relationship with (cycling) shoes. The Gravel RC Carbon, which Scott provided for testing, are no exception. The removable pads do significantly reduce my discomfort, though. I’ll be leaving them in for sure. While the numbness can kick in quickly with other cycling shoes, it takes much longer with the Gravel RC Carbon and is far less severe.

As is to be expected, walking in these shoes is uncomfortable. This is the trade-off between performance and convenience that I mentioned above. Soon I’ll be testing a slightly cheaper Scott model that focuses more on comfort.

In a nutshell

The Scott Gravel RC Carbon offer performance and comfort

I like the customisable insole concept. My feet appreciate it too, even if the shoes don’t totally prevent me from feeling numb in the balls of my feet. I wasn’t expecting them to. But the numbness is significantly less pronounced, which is a win.

The Gravel RC Carbon with stiff carbon plates are aimed at ambitious, performance-oriented riders. That means you do need to accept some compromises when walking. That said, the non-slip rubber sole gives the shoes good grip, and the two Boa dials let you fine-tune the fit really well.

I’m giving these shoes four out of five stars.

Pro

• Two Boa dials
• Stiff carbon plates for efficient power transfer
• Non-slip rubber soles
• High-quality finish
• Adjustable insoles

Contra

• Too narrow for my forefeet

Cycling shoes

Scott Sports Gravel RC Carbon Shoe

44

4

Patrick Bardelli

Senior Editor

Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.ch

From radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.

---

Product test

Our experts test products and their applications. Independently and neutrally.

Show all

These articles might also interest you