The Leatt DBX 3.0 flat pedal shoe in the test

The South African company Leatt has finally expanded its range and ventured into the design of MTB shoes – reason enough to test a model right away. We have chosen the DBX 3.0 Flatpedal shoe as a test object, here you will find all the important information and our assessment.

Leatt has long focused on the development of neck braces. No wonder, after all, a fatal neck injury was the starting point for the company's founding. The range was gradually expanded, with protectors, helmets, entire clothing lines, and glasses being added over time. It was only a matter of time before Leatt would also launch its own shoe line. And here it is.

In March 2020, the time had come, and the DBX flat pedal and clipless pedal shoes were introduced. 

☝️The Leatt MTB Shoe DBX 3.0 – What You Need to Know

The brand new Leatt DBX 3.0 Flatpedal shoe is designed to provide its rider with a perfect combination of comfort and safety while enabling an optimal connection between pedal and shoe.

 

📊 The Leatt MTB Shoe DBX in Quick Check

The Leatt DBX MTB shoe does not impress with a spectacular Look, but with excellent comfort and performance.

Material Check: What is the Leatt MTB Shoe Made Of?

• On the outside, the DBX 3.0 features synthetic leather for shape and durability.
• The toe area is reinforced with synthetic suede. 
• There are a few ventilation openings that provide fresh air in the shoe. 
• A waterproof MoistureCool membrane makes the shoe weatherproof, allegedly even in the area of the ventilation openings.

The MTB shoe from the inside

For the inner material, Leatt relies on a moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and antibacterial material, plus there is comfortable padding. The heel of the DBX 3.0 is shaped to stabilize the Achilles tendon, relieve it, and improve the hold in the shoe. To further increase comfort on the pedal, there is a cushioning midsole.

Quick-drying and breathable shoes are an important factor that keeps odor development in check, and the antibacterial material further improves the climate in the shoe.

The fit of the Leatt DBX MTB shoes

To protect the ankle from the crank, Leatt has raised the inside of the mountain bike shoe significantly. Thus, the mountain bike shoe is "low" on the outside, but rather ankle-high on the inside – great, because this way you have freedom of movement on one hand and good protection against nasty pins on the other.

Even with an extremely aggressive riding style or botched landings where the foot is not optimally positioned on the pedal, this prevents a painful impact (our photo is proof).

Can Leatt also do soles?

The most important part of a flat pedal shoe is known to be the sole. To perfect the function here, Leatt has divided it into three areas on the DBX 3.0. The front and rear areas have a grippy profile, which is there to improve the walking properties of the mountain bike shoe. 

Really practical: The profile is designed so that mud cannot stick. This saves you a lot of cleaning work.

Perfect grip on the pedal

The middle part is responsible for the contact with the flat pedal. There, Leatt has installed its in-house "Sticky Leatt Lab" sole. It is not only extremely grippy, but fortunately, it is also maximally tear-resistant, so the (not quite cheap) Leatt MTB shoe lasts significantly longer. Additionally, the sole is puncture-proof and extremely abrasion-resistant, which also extends the lifespan.

All in all, this sounds like a really good shoe, but what does it look like in practice? It's time for the test rides!

The sole of the DBX ensures perfect contact between shoe and MTB. There is a tread at the front and back for walking.

🔎 Leatt DBX 3.0 Flatpedal Shoes in the Trail Test

Put on the test slippers and let's go! We were on different home trails, spiced up with loose terrain, freeride spots with jumps, or challenging downhill sections. We rode the shoes in combination with the Spank Spoon pedals, which we also had in the Bike Blog in the test clamp. 

How did the Leatt MTB shoes feel?

As soon as we put on the shoe, we notice: It is extremely comfortable and nicely soft, yet the foot is very firmly in the shoe. It feels pleasant and gives us the feeling of standing securely on the pedal. 

The heel is well stabilized and finds a secure hold. The downside: We have to open the laces relatively wide to get the foot into the shoe. It takes a bit, easy slipping in and out is not possible.

On Foot

When walking, the sole provides a good grip. Even on wet ground, the shoe does not slip. Pushing ... you sometimes have to ... works well, even with a heavy e-MTB and uphill. The sole does not roll off, which is the usual problem that MTB shoes and cycling shoes generally bring. You walk a bit like a stork in a salad. But the stiff sole offers efficient power transfer and thus perfect propulsion.

Now the important part: The MTB shoe on the bike

Much more crucial is of course the grip on the pedals – and it is gigantic. 

• The design of the sole is made so that the pedal pins can dig in deeply and make slipping absolutely impossible. This is exactly what the soft middle part of the sole is made for.
• Whether it's bone dry or soaking wet, the DBX 3.0 sole sticks to the pedal like glue.
• So you feel very secure even on rough sections and always have good contact with the pedal.
• The sole is sufficiently stiff to move forward without loss of power.
• Sliding around on the pedal to find the right position is out of the question. You have to lift and reposition your foot slightly.

What would an MTB shoe test be without a stream bed? An important point: Is it waterproof? The Leatt DBX test shoe also delivers here!

What we noticed during the test:

1. The reinforced toe edge and the raised ankle area on the inside convinced us. Roots and stones came dangerously close to us again and again. Nothing happened.
2. When the foot was pressed against the crank, the cleverly positioned padding of the shoe prevented worse.
3. In terms of breathability and ventilation, the DBX 3.0 also does a good job. Constant movement at around 18 degrees outside temperature and sun could certainly feel quite different. The ventilation openings on the top make the climate in the shoe quite pleasant.

Are the MTB shoes waterproof?

What about the important point of “water in the shoe”? Even the ventilation openings are supposed to be waterproof thanks to a special membrane. The extreme test at the stream bed showed: Leatt did build MTB shoes and not rubber boots. The feet will eventually get wet. In normal rain showers and trails with puddles the material stays tight, you can definitely ride the shoe in bad weather.

Conclusion: With Leatt MTB shoes you can have fun!

Our first impression was extremely positive. The DBX 3.0 Flatpedal shoe sits firmly on the foot, is robust yet comfortable. An absolute plus: It provides a lot of grip. It also delivers a good mix of breathability and waterproofness, so you can wear it in both good and bad weather. Overall, we can highly recommend the shoe.

• Available sizes: 40 to 47 (only available as men's models)
• Color variants: Black and Brown
• RRP: 129 Euros

The shoe is available in different color variants, but it is also worth considering Leatt's other shoes. Ankle-high, low, for flats or clipless, laces, cable pull or Velcro... a lot has happened here, and there are shoes for every need.

👟 Find the right MTB shoes 👟

MTB shoes | Women's cycling shoes | Men's cycling shoes | Flat pedal shoes | Clipless pedal shoes | Leatt brand shop |

More MTB shoes and helmets in the test in the Bike Blog:

• Five Ten Mid Pro Trailcross Flatpedal Shoe in Test
• Ride Concepts Hellion MTB Shoe in Test
• Leatt DBX 4.0 Mountain Bike Helmet in Test
• Adidas Five Ten Trailcross Mid Pro Shoe in Test
• Five Ten Sleuth DLX Shoe in Test
• Fox Racing Proframe Fullface Helmet in Test