Leatt might have solely been making mountain bike footwear for a few years, however they’ve already progressed so much, and the 2023 lineup sees huge efficiency upgrades at affordable costs, a giant half due to their all-new WaffleGrip Professional tread design and softer RideGrip Professional rubber. We’ve been using the waterproof Leatt HydrDri 7.0 Flat and mid-level Leatt MTB 3.0 Flat Professional footwear on platform pedals for the previous few weeks, and have improved how nicely they follow traction pins in any climate.
Leatt revamps MTB shoe vary to swimsuit path to gravity riders
We’ve truly already teased a great bit of the second-generation MY23 updates to Leatt’s mountain bike shoe vary, nevertheless it’s price taking a better take a look at improved efficiency that makes its approach all the best way all the way down to their $99 entry-level footwear. And to be trustworthy, the naming schemes are a bit simple to combine up, so price explaining. Plus, I’ve been using the 2 higher-end variations of the brand new flat pedal footwear, so can supply some real-world suggestions on how nicely they stick.
Just about all of Leatt’s MTB footwear initially had a hollowed-out waffle-pattern tread like Vans skate footwear with loads of unfavourable area (referred to as WaffleGrip). However the webs connecting the tread truly made the footwear too stiff for the most effective grip. So that they inverted the design, creating WaffleGrip Professional with particular person 2mm tall triangular tread blocks that may every deform individually, and permit the only beneath to flex unrestricted by the tread. The result’s loads of unfavourable area for each quick & lengthy traction pins to dig in, plus a extra self-cleaning design.
But, Leatt nonetheless wished extra grip, in order that they formulated a 20% softer rubber – dubbed RideGrip Professional – that’s even stickier on the pedals, in addition to off-the-bike scrambling up rocks. Plus, it’s stated to ship nearly the identical degree of sturdiness because the more durable rubber, so the footwear will nonetheless final you many seasons.
Evaluate Leatt MTB 3.0 Flat Professional footwear
The massive evolution in Leatt’s flat pedal footwear continues from the brand new grip and stickier rubber, additionally to an improved midsole that mixes EVA foam and rubber to supply further damping of vibration and impacts. Very like a versatile shoe can bend over the pedal to keep up grip, if the construction of the shoe can damp impacts a bit, it’s extra more likely to keep on the pedal and never bounce off while you barrel by chunky rock gardens. Plus, the shoe:pedal interface is the most important switch of forces between rider and bike if you find yourself flying down the path, so the extra consolation & stability the higher.
The $150 / 170€ Leatt MTB 3.0 Flat Professional footwear are focused at all-mountain, enduro, and downhill using, combining the medium-stiffness upgraded sole with a bolstered higher. With a large skate shoe sneaker really feel, they’re minimize pretty excessive on the ankle each inside & out with a loose-fitting neoprene cuff that provides a little bit of safety from an errant pedal or flying path particles, and has so honest stored most filth & rocks out with out feeling too tight.
My Professional-level footwear are tightened with a micro-adjust MOZ cable & dial (Leatt’s personal Boa-style system that they again and supply substitute elements for) connected to the stiff rubber encompass of mesh facet vent panels, and a protracted velcro strap up prime. They get additionally get perforation vents throughout the remainder of the artificial leather-based higher, and heavy-duty rubber toe & heel safety.
The footwear really feel fairly mild for a well-protected enduro shoe with a sticky rubber sole, weighing in at 809g for the pair in my measurement 43 in snow camo.
There’s additionally a lace-up model of those 3.0 Flat Professional footwear that promote for $130 / 150€ for individuals who don’t need the added complexity of the dial closure, plus chances are you’ll even save a number of grams.
I’ve been using and mountaineering trails now for some time in these new Leatt MTB 3.0 Flat Professional footwear and might actually admire their newest sole & midsole development. On the bike, they really feel firmly planted on a few totally different platform pedals I’ve tried, hooking up like velcro whether or not the pins are quick or shin-shredding lengthy.
Hike-a-biking within the snow & mud exhibits they aren’t magic, however any filth, rock, or root to grip on on the revised WaffleGrip Professional tread is a big enchancment over the older Vans-style tread. After only a few, you possibly can begin to see small divots within the tread blocks from the longest pins making contact, however now round 10 rides in there’s probably not any extra put on because the pins appear to have discovered their place.
And actually, the footwear may even really feel extra linked to the pedals now. Or that might be my creativeness, as I simply get used to new footwear which might be breaking in round my toes?
Evaluate Leatt HydrDri 7.0 Flat footwear
Now extra in additional season-appropriate circumstances, the most costly footwear within the 2023 Leatt MTB lineup are these $190 / 210€ waterproof HydrDri 7.0 Flat footwear, unsurprising as they’re definitely extra advanced. In contrast to many winter footwear, they aren’t insulated making them extra versatile in all seasons, and the outer shell will not be truly what makes them waterproof. As an alternative, beneath you discover a extra standard shoe development with a Leatt 10k/10k breathable membrane on the within and easy speed-laces that cinch tight, held in place with a cam lock.
On the skin, the HydrDri 7 footwear do have a troublesome outer gaiter shell that’s extremely waterproof but versatile, additionally with heel & toe reinforcement, a water-proof zipper, and a safe snap closure on the prime that matches tightly however comfortably towards your leg, and underneath your pant leg. Then, there is identical top-tier WaffleGrip Professional x RideGrip Professional sole for max platform pedal grip.
That’s actually the place these footwear shine, providing the identical flat pedal grip, even when the climate exterior is depressing.
Even with the outer safety gaiter, the Leatt HydrDri 7.0 Flat footwear aren’t a lot heavier than an everyday pair of gravity footwear, an actual 895g for my measurement 43 boots footwear.
I even have to actually resist the temptation to name them boots. They appear like boots and sit subsequent to my insulate winter boots from Northwave & 45Nrth in the intervening time. However actually, due to the low-cut internal shoe development, they really feel much more like an everyday path sneaker than actual winter boots. In the event you journey within the Arctic that is likely to be a draw back, however actually these are simply extra versatile.
That huge shock right here for me is that the HydrDri 7.0 footwear are actually simply foul-weather footwear, not winter footwear. In reality, they don’t really feel overly heat in the intervening time after we are nonetheless within the loss of life throes of winter. However in the identical measurement 43, these footwear do supply a bit extra room for thicker socks. Which means I can go along with merino ski socks to remain heat in freezing temps, however I’ll nonetheless be capable to journey in these waterproof footwear when temps heat up.
However the cuff stays tight towards my leg, and stays underneath slim-cut using pants, so the mud stays out, my toes truly keep dry whereas using tremendous sloppy moist trails, and you may simply hose them clear on the finish of the journey with out worrying about moist socks. And after I’m worrying about trying to find grip underneath my tires on slick trails and muddy off-cambers… I’ve had sticky predictable grip on my pedals.
I already talked about that it’s good to have the very same grip on summer season & winter footwear, proper? That’s a welcome new function to me, as I normally had resorted to non-cycling-specific boots for winter platform pedal using. And now I’m wondering why I didn’t get correct winter flat pedal footwear earlier than.
Different MTB Flat & Clipless shoe choices
I haven’t tried the Leatt clipless footwear in any respect. They do share some related development particulars up prime, however mix a stiffer WaffleGrip (not Professional) sole with a recessed cleat pocket cutout. The uppers are similar to my 3.0 Flat footwear, with the choice for the $160 / 180€ Leatt MTB 4.0 Clip Professional with the identical MOZ dial closure or the simplified $150 / 160 Leatt MTB 4.0 Clip with traditional laces. These clipless footwear use the unique hollowed-out waffle sample (WaffleGrip) with block tread lugs on the heel & toe, and persist with the longer-wearing however not fairly as comfortable RideGrip rubber.
I additionally haven’t ridden the $99 / 120€ Leatt MTB 2.0 Flat footwear, however their sole development is precisely the identical as the three.0 Flat Professionals I’ve been using, simply with a less complicated skater sneaker-style lace-up higher. Phrase on the road can be that Leatt will proceed to introduce restricted version designs at this inexpensive value level, as nicely.
Wrapping up extra stable Leatt using gear…
Additionally of notice in these using images that we present final week at Mountain Bike Connection Winter in Tuscany…
I’m using in Leatt’s new denims – the $120€ MTB Gravity 3.0 Pants that are surprisingly snug on & off-the-bike due to a hard-wearing stretchy polyester denim material with loads of motion to suit over kneepads, and smartphone-friendly pockets. The kneepads I’m carrying are the brand new $130€ AirFlex Knee Guard Hybrid Professional that provides prolonged protection and further safety above the knee. After which the $150€ MTB All-Mtn 3.0 helmet with 360 Turbine anti-rotation influence safety, a pleasant Fidlock magnetic closure, and dial-adjust that makes this lid match my head extra securely than every other Leatt half-shell helmet but.
