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review

DMT KR0 Road Shoe Grey

8
£354.99

VERDICT:

8
10
A big outlay, but worth it if you want some of the most comfortable cycling shoes money can buy
Excellent comfort
Highly breathable
Super-stiff sole
Not the easiest to get on
Price
Weight: 
496g

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The DMT KR0 Road Shoes are hugely comfortable, breathable and light. Using a knitted upper means that they mould to your feet, and if aerodynamics is your thing, there is little bulk to hold you back. They aren't the easiest to get on, though, and the price will raise a few eyebrows.

We've seen a fair few shoes get the knitted treatment, and you certainly do get some added benefits over a more traditional synthetic leather upper.

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The stretchy nature of the mesh means the KR0s literally wrap around your foot, feeling like your favourite pair of slippers. But while it aids the fit, it does make them a bit of a faff to get on, with the opening not stretching much to let your foot in.

2022 DMT KR0 Grey Road Shoe - openings.jpg

It did get a bit easier over time as the material developed a little more give, and I also worked out a specific way to wiggle my foot in. And after pulling them on and off plenty of times over the test period I didn't do any damage to the heel.

2022 DMT KR0 Grey Road Shoe - openings 2.jpg

At just 496g (size 45) they are lighter than most, and that's noticeable when you are riding, especially on longer outings.

Boa Li2s

For closure, the KR0s use dual Boa dials, which tension or release a wire across the top of the foot. It's a very good system, spreading the pressure over the top of the foot without causing any hotspots. It's also easy to adjust on the fly.

2022 DMT KR0 Grey Road Shoe - wire detail.jpg

The dials used here are Boa's new Li2 models, which are made from recycled plastic and have a lower profile than previous versions. This makes it easier to wear overshoes over the top, ideal in the winter months that I've been testing the KR0s as these shoes are very breathable.

Sole

Flip the shoe over and you'll find a full carbon fibre sole that is impressively stiff. DMT doesn't rave on about stiffness or use stiffness ratings, but let me just say these are up there with some of the stiffest I've worn.

2022 DMT KR0 Grey Road Shoe - sole toe.jpg

I got on well with the shape, too; the arch isn't too pronounced, and I found the sole to be supportive without feeling overly harsh on rough roads.

2022 DMT KR0 Grey Road Shoe - instep.jpg

The soles also feature a massive amount of vents to aid airflow.

The KR0s are drilled for three-bolt cleat systems and are compatible with Look's memory adjustment system, which enables you to swap the cleats without having to realign them.

2022 DMT KR0 Grey Road Shoe - sole toe detail.jpg

The overall quality is very high, with tidy stitching under the inner sole and all around the upper. The mesh is hardwearing and scuff resistant too, and despite being exposed to plenty of salt and mud-covered roads they have continued to clean up well.

2022 DMT KR0 Grey Road Shoe - heels.jpg

As well as this grey, the shoes are available in coral or black.

Value

At £354.99 a pair they are hardly what you'd call a bargain, but that is still cheaper than Fizik's Vento Stabilita Carbon road shoe at £374.99 and Specialized's S-Works Ares, a penny more at £375.

> Buyer’s Guide: 10 of the best high performance road cycling shoes

Conclusion

Overall, the KR0s are a very comfortable pair of shoes, and light too, though considering their breathability they are definitely going to be reserved for the warmest of days. They aren't cheap, but nor are they over the top when compared to the competition.

Verdict

A big outlay, but worth it if you want some of the most comfortable cycling shoes money can buy

road.cc test report

Make and model: DMT KR0 Road Shoe Grey

Size tested: 45

Tell us what the product is for

DMT says, "Light, fast , extremely comfortable. The KR0 represents the pinnacle of performance improving on all the best features of DMT knit footwear. Working with our state of the art knit technology a we have created an extremely light shoe that offers excellent energy transfer thanks to the new generation anatomic carbon SL outsole, the double Boa closure and an integrated upper construction that adapts perfectly to each rider's feet. Developed and tested with World Tour riders including Elia Viviani."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

DMT lists:

Full Engineered 3D knit upper with ultralight construction

Variable thickness and knit structures for ultimate comfort

Integrated webbing

BOA® Fit System with double Li2 dials

Anatomic Carbon SL outsole

8mm front-rear cleat adjustability

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

Sizing is spot on.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Considering the light colour mesh, I found them relatively easy to keep clean.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Top-end race shoes with plenty of breathability.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Very comfortable.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

A faff to get on.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

They are very much at the top end, but still relatively well priced against the competition mentioned in the review.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

They are a bit of a faff to get on and off, but they're very well made and can't really be faulted when it comes to performance and comfort. The price is high, but they're very good.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 42  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

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