The Mamba from DZR mixes a skate-style mid-top trainer with the performance of a clipless shoe. Although they’re aimed more at urban cycling, distributors Fisher say they’re still a good option for MTBers looking for more casual off-road shoes.
The full grain leather construction is well finished, with lovely stitch detailing that will wear and look better with time. The well-padded heel cuff adds cushioning and keeps the heel in place when pedalling hard. The heel and toebox areas have no reinforcing or protection, which shows that they’re not specifically designed for off-road use.
The full-length nylon sole is semi-rigid, so there’s flex in the right places. This makes for good power transfer yet the shoes are still comfortable off the bike. They’re better suited to mucking about in the woods or uplift days rather than longer rides. They’re water resistant enough to take a shower but will get saturated in heavy rain.
If you want a more casual shoe, then these are worth a look, but their lack of off-road specifics means they’re better suited to casual fair-weather rides.
This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.