DHB (the house apparel brand for online retail giant Wiggle) already dominates the budget cycling clothing market in the UK. Low the prices may be, but the company’s quality, design and attention to detail is high for such budget-orientated products. We already rate the DHB Merston bib tights and Rogate long-sleeve jersey as some of the best on the market, so we were excited to hear that DHB were going to launch a range of footwear.
The M1 is the first ever DHB mountain bike shoe, and is aimed at the rider looking for a do-anything, go-anywhere shoe that’s both stiff enough to transfer power to the pedals, but provides enough ‘give’ from the reinforced nylon sole to make hiking about and eight-hour epics a bit easier on the feet.
No, it’s not a thoroughbred carbon-soled racing shoe (although you could easily race with it), but it’s also half the price of those composite models. Attached to the nylon sole is a sturdy but relatively lightweight upper made from man-made leather and nylon mesh panels for breathability. Three wide Velcro straps with a broad unpadded tongue keep the uppers comfortable and secure.
You can have them in black and blue, or black and beige – disco slippers they’re not, but reliable and understated they are. DHB products are always spot on in terms of value for money, and the M1 shoe follows in that tradition. Buy it if you love to ride and shoes are a fact of life, rather than a fashion statement.