DMT KR3 shoe review

Italian shoe brand DMT was the original innovator of the full-knit upper with its flagship KR1 – Tadej Pogačar wore the lace-up, Tour de France version to victory in last year’s race. The upper isn’t just a knitted, sock-like upper, rather it’s a complex mix of different weaves.

Some are more open for high-heat areas and maximum breathability, while in other sections it’s all about support so the weave is closer, denser and much more elasticated, such as around the mouth of the upper and through the forefoot.

The DMT KR3 complements the knitted upper with a leather heel section, which is deeply padded and textured to hold your foot while pedalling.

For protection against the elements, the upper has a polymer material infused into the fabric (the coloured section on the upper). It does its job against light road spray but I wouldn’t recommend the KR3s as a shoe choice in rainy conditions.

Where I would recommend them, however, is on warm days, particularly ones that involve plenty of climbing. The KR3s are a seriously light shoe at just 499.4g a pair (size 45) – that’s even lighter than Pogačar’s Tour-winning lace-ups.

The fit is about as perfect as the best road cycling shoes can be, with the knit upper conforming superbly and the Boa IP1 taking up any of the slack across the forefoot. The sculpted carbon sole is bolstered by a well-shaped heel cup and foot stability is as good as it gets.

The carbon sole has a replaceable heel bumper for a bit of walking protection, but I would like to have seen something on the toe to protect the glossy carbon sole from scrapes too.

The cleat mountings on the sole have 8mm fore-and-aft adjustability, and for Look pedal users they’re compatible with Look’s memory adjustment system. For everyone else, the markings on the sole are prominent and easy to read, making cleat setup and adjustment easy.

The sole is plenty stiff without feeling uncomfortable over long days out, while the vented soled and perforated footbed all add to a shoe that excels in keeping your feet comfortably cool.

The KR3s are perfect for summer riding, the fit is nigh-on flawless and although pricey they aren’t as expensive as DMT’s range toppers – and I’d argue that this is the superior model.