1 year ago

#mountainbike #emtb #enduromtb
Are you looking for the best mountain bike shoe? Well, you have another contender to consider. For 2023, Leatt placed a big focus on increasing the performance of their footwear range, especially their flat pedal mountain bike shoes. With some mixed reviews on their last generation mountain bike shoes, namely riders seeking extra pedal grip and a more tactile feel, Leatt dove in deep. But why just improve grip? Leatt decided to revamp their shoe line and improve other elements while they were at it.

Leatt developed a new rubber compound; designed a new tread pattern, and analyzed the performance of each and every detail of their shoes to seek extra traction, comfort and feel. Further proving they listened to the public, Leatt are offering flat pedal shoes with a MOZ cable lacing (BOA-style) retention system. The overall result is an updated footwear range that’s worth checking out.

THE TECH
New Rubber Compound | RideGrip PRO
For flat pedal riders, we’d argue there probably isn’t much that’s more important than pedal grip and feel. There are a number of factors working to keep your feet on flat pedals but the one thing that really makes the pedals stick in place is the rubber compound. Leatt took a step back to re-examine what materials stick really well? Adhesives, especially the industrial kind.

New Sole Tread Pattern | WaffleGrip PRO
The tread pattern of a sole takes the rubber compound and makes it interface with the pedals and ground in a way that enhances the grip. For the new WaffleGrip PRO sole tread, Leatt inverted the design of their existing WaffleGrip pattern, yielding a number of benefits both on and off the pedals. WaffleGrip PRO has a shape that provides a more locked-in feel for pedals with shorter pins, without sacrificing the ability of longer pins to bury themselves deep. The increased size of the raised tread segments allows the rubber to conform to the pedal below, reducing the likelihood of slipping. These raised lugs, when combined with the mud flow channels in between, allow for significantly improved penetration into the ground when walking, regardless of the surface.

New Midsole
It’s easy to assume that the rubber on the outside of the shoe is the only contributor to the grip and feel, but the mechanics of how the shoe sits on top of the pedal and how your foot applies force through the shoe into the pedal also greatly affect the end result. Leatt sought to improve the interface within the midsole, removing the stiffening Nylon shank and replacing it with a new EVA foam and rubber blend compound.

This doesn’t just decrease the stiffness of the shoe, but instead changes the way that it reacts to forces when riding, allowing for some deformation of the shoe below the foot to increase control while improving energy dissipation to reduce foot fatigue. This should all add up to increased traction on the pedals, improved confidence in your foot placement, and less chance of foot pain on hard impacts and long descents.

Lighter, More Breathable Uppers
Leatt tweaked the upper parts of their shoes to reduce their bulk, improving comfort and breathability. They employed new upper materials that are lighter and more flexible but added extra structure and stiffness to the most vulnerable areas – the heel, toe and instep – to keep your feet protected and retain the structure of the shoe. Additional perforations to the top of the toes and the upper increase ventilation, further aiding in the comfort during long rides.

Shop Now: https://leatt.com/us/shop/mtb/protection/shoes
Learn More: https://theloamwolf.com/2023/04/14/tech-check-leatts-new-mtb-shoe-family/

Chapters
00:00 - 01:01 - Intro
01:02 - 02:25 - Design
02:26 - 07:13 - Tech
07:18 - 07:54 - 1.0 Shoe
07:55 - 08:02 - 2.0 Shoe
08:03 - 08:22 - 3.0 Shoe
08:23 - 10:39 - 4.0 Shoe
10:40 - 11:16 - 5.0 Shoe
11:17 - 11:40 - 6.0 Shoe
11:41 - 12:30 - 7.0 Shoe

#loamwolf #mountainbiking #leattmtb

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