LEATT HYDRADRI 5.0 PRO CLIP SHOE REVIEW

DRY FEET WITHOUT DETRIMENT

Words by Michael Walker  |  Photos by Caitlin Wilkinson

Living and riding bikes in the northeast of Scotland means we often face damp conditions, from the heights of summer to the depths of the winter riding season. To combat this, it can be worth investing in gear that will keep you somewhat dry and warm whilst out on the bike.

Over the winter and spring seasons of the North East of Scotland, we’ve been running Leatt HydraDri 5.0 Pro Clip clipless shoes, putting them through all of the cold, wet and sloppy mud we could to see how they held up. Keep on reading to find out if these are the ultimate adverse-conditions clipless shoes.

QUICK HITS

• 10K/10K Hydradri membrane
• Control Flex Shank
• Leatt SPD Channel
• MOZ Cable / SLIDE LOCK lacing system

WE DIG

WE DON’T

ABOUT THE LEATT HYDRADRI 5.0 PRO CLIP SHOE

The HydraDri 5.0 Pro Clip is arguably a much more versatile take on some of Leatt’s other wet-weather footwear, which keeps a wider balance of attributes over a pure focus on weather proofing alone. The 5.0 Pro Clip’s outer layer is constructed mostly from Leatts HydraDri fabric, which is a 3-layer waterproof and breathable fabric offering 10K/10K waterproof and breathability. There’s a more durable upper layer fabric being used where less waterproofing is required.

Leatt has chosen to use a MOZ slide lock ratcheting system for the HydraDri 5.0, opposed to a conventional lace set up. This system enables micro adjustments for the perfect fit and comfort, and makes adjustments easy on the fly.

The sole of the shoes features Leatt’s RideGrip compound in the WaffleGrip pattern, which offers good stability, pedal feel and some additional grip beyond the connection of the cleat. Internally there is a semi-rigid flex shank, which is integrated for a closer foot-to-pedal connection. Unique to Leatt’s line of shoes, the SPD channel features extended adjustability to ensure they are suitable for all types of riding and rider preferences.

THE DIRT

Out the box, these Leatt shoes looked and felt fantastic, with a quality construction and finish all round. Getting my cleats setup was straightforward, with clear markings in the cleat channel making matching the positioning of both shoes a breeze. I found the channels to be deeper than usual, however I did not feel cleat spacers were required for my set up on Hope Union pedals.

In terms of fit, I typically wear a UK size nine shoe, and I found the Leatt 5.0 Pro Clip shoes to be on the looser side. This was easily fixed when wearing a thicker pair of socks, but it may be worth sizing down if you’re looking for a closer fit. As always, it’s worth trying before you buy to ensure you’ll be comfortable.

The MOZ dial system was a breeze to use, and did a decent job of keeping things tight. However I found the system mostly tightened down on the top of my foot, and didn’t do the best job of transmitting the tension evenly across the top of the shoe. This never caused any discomfort, but it did contribute to that looser feel mentioned previously.

On the trail the HydraDri 5.0 Pro Clip were super comfortable, with the semi rigid flex shank combining with the EVA midsole to allow for just enough flex and squish to keep your feet comfortable on the downs. They retained a sufficient level of stiffness, which translated to confidence on trail. Touching on the deep cleat channels again, I found that these shoes combined with my Hope Union pedals did have a very “close to pedal” feel, like that of riding flat pedals. I felt slightly more connected to the bike than in other clipless shoes, which was much appreciated.

The star of the show feature for the HydraDri 5.0 Pro Clip shoe is their weather proofing. Leatt struck a really nice balance with this shoe, which kept the water at bay for 99% of the time, but didn’t sacrifice comfort elsewhere. The shoes never rode too hot and always remained airy and comfortable, with only the tops of my ankles getting wet on the worst of days throughout the winter.

In terms of durability, the Leatt shoes continue to look great. With a distinct absence of soft or weak materials, they have proven to be scuff and abrasion resistant up top, showing very little in terms of marks or tears. The stitching and soles have also remained in really good condition throughout, so I’m expecting to get many more miles out of these shoes.

The Wolf’s Last Word

I’ve really enjoyed having the Leatt Hydradri 5.0 pro clip shoes as an option to review. They’ve been my go-to riding shoe throughout the winter season and into the spring. Their comfort, durability and weather proofing have overall left me really impressed. I found the MOZ dial system focused the tension a bit too directly across the top of my foot leaving the shoe at times feeling looser than I would like but never uncomfortable, and some riders may be best served by sizing down.

Price: $190 /£180
Website: Leatt.com