The Leatt mountain bike shoe range continues to grow at a rapid rate. Having launched in 2020 with a limited selection designed primarily for trail riding, the South African based company now has everything from lightweight clip shoes for XC riding, right through to full-blown winter boots equipped for the wettest climates.
When it comes to flat pedals, we counted no fewer than eight different options in the current lineup. Here we take a look at the mid-level option; the Leatt 3.0 flat pedal shoes.
Leatt 3.0 Flat Pedal Shoes
- Sizes: US8 – US12
- Price: $219 AUD
The new 3.0 Flat sits somewhere in the middle of Leatt’s flat pedal shoe lineup. The models above this (ProFlat 2.0 and ProFlat 3.0) utilise a more complicated ratchet-based retention system. In comparison, the 3.0 sticks with a lace-up design. They aren’t any old laces though, using a compression fabric that help to minimise slippage so they don’t lose adjustment through the ride. The laces tuck into a elastic band to keep them from flapping around while riding, and there are bright orange pull loops at the back of the shoe to help you slip the shoes on.
There’s heaps of other neat features throughout including neoprene padded gaiters for keeping debris out of the inside of the shoes, reinforced caps for the toes and heel cups, and ventilation panels on each side of the synthetic leather upper.
Sticky rubber
Compared to previous flat pedal shoes from Leatt, the 3.0 gets an updated outsole. The RideGrip PRO rubber compound is new, offering a stickier and softer feel to maximise grip on flat pedals. Leatt says the rubber still offers excellent wear and tear resistance.
More obvious is the change in tread pattern. Leatt’s original flat pedal shoes used an inverted design with hollow pockets not dissimilar to a pair of Vans. The new 3.0 flat pedal shoes flip that around to a more conventional profile with externally protruding lugs that are designed to latch onto pedal pins in a slightly less locked-in manner.
