Take4 weeks ago
Shimano Dura-Ace PD-R9300 SPD-SLR clips in easier and sits 2.3 mm lower than R9100. That gain only shows up if your shoes have a sliding cleat mount — on fixed mounts, the stack advantage disappears entirely.
The narrower 10.5° engagement angle and wider catch zone make clipping in genuinely less fussy than SPD-SL, and Dura-Ace now matches Shimano Ultegra PD-R8200 for stack height. But Escape Collective's ride test calls the real-world benefit marginal once you factor in the compatibility break — the pedal only performs as advertised paired with shoes built for sliding cleat position, like the Shimano S-Phyre RC910 road shoes. Bearing durability and cleat walkability remain the actual benchmark strengths, not the new geometry.
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