It's possible to spend a very great deal of money on shoes. But not, perhaps, necessary. Shimano's M180 looks almost identical to the M221 race shoe, but it's twenty quid cheaper. It's described as an "expert level off-road shoe", which means that it's got all of the external accoutrements of a race shoe - ratchet buckle strap backed up by "Velcro-style" hook-and-loop straps, spikes on the sole, all that stuff - but made in a slightly cheaper way.
The main difference is tucked away inside. Instead of a posh carbon-fibre plate in the midsole, the M180 makes do with fibreglass. It's just as rigid, giving you all the stiffness you need, but not quite as light. The uppers are polyurethane-coated leather and mesh - out of the box they're silvery-grey and blue, the ones pictured have a slight patina of use.
Obviously shoe fit and comfort is a somewhat subjective thing, but the M180's ratchet buckles make for a secure fit and the heel cup and toe box are snug and roomy respectively. The sole is grippy on most things, although wet rock or roots will demand care. If you're planning to walk a lot, though, you're probably not looking at this kind of shoe anyway.
Although the lightweight construction and mesh panels don't lend themselves to winter use, we've used these over a winter anyway - there's enough room up front and adjustability to get a waterproof sock in without cutting off all the circulation to your feet - and they've held up well. One of the ratchets got smashed off on a Spanish rock, but replacements are readily available and easy to fit.
 Plenty of features for the price, secure fit
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 Rather well-ventilated for cold or wet-weather use, slightly vulnerable ratchets
Verdict
Proper race shoes for a not-too-terrifying amount of money
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PERFORMANCE
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VALUE
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OVERALL
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