Review: Leatt DBX 3.0 Flat Pedal Shoes

Leatt DBX 3.0 shoe review. Leatt entered the highly competitive shoe market in 2020, so how does the DBX 3.0 stack up?

Leatt finally achieved its goal of offering a complete rider outfit at the beginning of 2020 with the release of the brand’s first shoes. Leatt can now sell you a helmet, shorts, jersey and matching shoes, but to sway riders away from more established shoes on the market these new flats have to be pretty special.

The Leatt range consists of a couple of shoes in both SPD and flat options, but the Leatt DBX 3.0 sits at the top of the flat shoe tree and promises to offer high-end performance, fit and features. In fact, it says right on the box that the DBX 3.0 offer “Unmatched Comfort. Ultimate Control” a bold claim for sure, but not dissimilar from the claims made by Five Ten, Ride Concept, Giro and others.

Costing £95, the Leatt DBX 3.0 has similar pricing as rival shoes and the materials used and features included in the design are spot-on for a flat pedal shoe of this calibre.

Leatt DBX 3.0 Design

Leatt has used a synthetic leather upper, with a synthetic suede toe box that features ventilation on the DBX 3.0. The mid-height inner ankle design adds support and protection, while a moulded heel design and reinforced toe area ensure plenty of armour to shrug off rocks, roots and other trail nasties.

Internally, Leatt has fitted the DBX 3.0 with a waterproof and breathable inner liner, and like the mid-sole, the liner is fast drying, anti-bacterial and uses and anti-odour material.

Leatt has specced the DBX 3.0 with a medium stiffness control flex shank, this makes the shoe stiffer than other flat pedal shoes in the range and ensures a stiff, but not too stiff, pedal platform.

Leatt says they’ve designed the FlatGrip Sole with a tread pattern to grip the pedal, while the heel and toe areas have a different tread that suit walking and aids grip off the bike. Mudflow channels are one of those features and one that I’ve not been able to put to the test due to the glorious weather we’ve been enjoying.

The sole is made of a compound that Leatt has designed for themselves called RideGrip. This rubber compound claims to offer great pedalling grip, control and will also resist abrasion and tearing.

Elastic on the tongue keeps it in place and stops dirt and stones from getting in, there’s a simple elastic lace tidy built-in, and a pair of laces keep Leatt’s latest on your feel.

Leatt DBX 3.0 Review

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