Roadies and gravelers alike can rejoice, now that Rapha has unveiled a refreshed version of its Team Powerweave shoe for both road and gravel.
According to Rapha, it created a special “Wear Test” program to hep aid in the design the new Team Powerweave, tasking 130 amateur and professional riders to give feedback on the new shoe from the initial development phrase to the final production.
“We handpick testers, people I would call experts and seasoned riders. People who are critical, but who want to help us push boundaries,” explains Finn Abbot-White, Rapha’s Wear Test director.
Rapha first debuted its Powerweave technology back in 2020. However, the latest Road model now has a new upper that features a redesigned knitted sock collar, resulting in what the British brand says “ensures a stable, locked-in fit eliminating tongue movement and hotspots”.
Elsewhere, the Road variant is treated to BOA Li2 dials alongside a new 100% carbon fiber sole for optimal stiffness and power delivery, while a new heel counter made from a low-density, thermoplastic polymer material called Pebax both protects the sole and aids in walkability.
As for the gravel variant, instead of a full carbon sole, Pro Team Powerweave Gravel pairs an EVA midsole with a Vibram Megagrip outsole for better compliance and traction when navigating challenging terrain. However, it sticks with the same BOA Li2 closure system as its road counterpart.
“For the Gravel version, we didn’t want a completely stripped back sole, we wanted to keep that off-bike comfort, and at different levels of contact, allowing your foot to adjust to different shapes in the terrain,” says Rapha’s senior footwear designer Tom Matic.
Another notable difference between the Road and Gravel versions is the upper material. While the Road uses a 100% recycled polyester, the Gravel also adds TPU yarn for better abrasion resistance.
