Leatt releases another bang-for-buck endurance shoe — the nylon sole, ProClip 6.0…

| WORDS: Myles Kelsey | VISUALS: Maximum Sullivan |

A few weeks after the launch of their first endurance shoe, the ProClip 8.0, Leatt released a more affordable XC / Gravel-style version, the ProClip 6.0. The new shoe places a little more emphasis on comfort, but is still a performance-level shoe, aimed at competitive riders.

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Details

The ProClip 6.0 is offered in sizes 38.5 to 48.5, with whole and half sizes between the 43 and 46, EU. Hence this shoe is available in 12 sizes. The upper is made from a translucent polymer fiber, featuring mesh-like panels to add breathability.

The toe bumper is rock solid and looks like it will provide ample protection. The rear of the shoe has a lot of padding, specifically around the heel where Leatt has placed some ‘cat’s tongue’ type material to prevent any heel lift. A single Moz Dial takes care of tensioning and is a replaceable item.

Under the shoe, a rubberized tread pattern wraps around the cleat, forefoot and heel. The tread is spaced widely to prevent clogging and shaped to maximize traction when walking up or down trails. Overall, the design is well thought-out and incorporates high-quality materials, with a premium look and feel.

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Ride Impressions

FIT & ADJUSTABILITY | The shoes fitted me perfectly and the toe box is nice and roomy. The cleat range is extensive! If you run your cleats very far back then this is a shoe you can keep on your list. I run my cleats closer to the rear of the shoe than most and there’s still about 15mm of range available. The uppers conform nicely, hugging the foot and there’s some extra padding around the heel with some ‘directional fabric’ to prevent it from slipping or sliding out.

COMFORT & PERFORMANCE | The ProClip 6.0 is a very comfortable shoe. The combination of the supple polymer upper, a thin layer of padding on the tongue and a quality footbed creates sneaker-like comfort levels. They are slightly less minimalist than the ProClip 8.0 (read the review here) but definitely not bulky. Shoe mass is rotational mass and so it matters more than most riders may realize. Despite having no carbon, these shoes are only 356grams on the scale – which, at this price point, is a very impressive number.

The single Moz Dial is an effective closure system and the lacing is correctly positioned to ensure the shoe wraps snugly around the foot. Straight out the box, I never experienced hot spots and had no problem wearing these shoes on four hour test rides. The spacing and positioning of the grip lines the cleat up perfectly with the pedal, which is something that clip newbies will love. One more thing about the Moz Dial that I should point out — on these shoes it is located a little higher up the side of the shoe, which I think will reduce the potential and severity of rock or stump strikes. That’s a good thing.

In terms of stiffness, without any high school science experiments or visits to a laboratory it’s difficult to say if there’s much flex and energy loss. The power transfer feels very good and for a 100% nylon sole, these shoes actually feel pretty stiff when watting about. Some nylon soles can flex around smaller pedals but I didn’t feel any of that going on here. There does seem to be a little more off-the-bike comfort than the ProClip 8.0 but it’s honestly so marginal I might be imagining it.

BOTTOM LINE | Leatt is fast becoming a big-time player in the endurance market. For riders who want to get the most out of their Rands, the Proclip 6.0 is a comfortable, lightweight and quality XC shoe, worthy of attention. Without a carbon sole, the power transfer is marginally compromised but the upsides are next-level comfort, walkability and surplus Rands in your pocket. //

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