DMT WKR1 review: a great lightweight winter boot – but can it cope with the coldest rides?

SQUIRREL_13178093

DMT’s WKR1 does winter differently. The Italian 3D-knit shoe specialist has taken its high-cuff, mountain bike/gravel KM1 upper and combined it with a winter-specific, unvented outsole.

The whole upper is then wrapped with a waterproof high-stretch softshell outer skin (essentially a non-removable overshoe).

The combination creates a winter-ready cycling shoe that comes in at a weight – 516.8g for a size-EU45 pair – that wouldn’t be considered heavy for a summer road shoe.

DMT WKR1 specifications

The upper is made using DMT’s signature 3D knit, which is a blend of wool and polyester.

In my experience, this creates a form-fit that’s superior to standard PU uppers in terms of comfort.

The fit is controlled via a low-profile Boa Li2 dial located on the inside of the softshell outer skin.

The wrap-over softshell exterior cover has a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating to ensure water resistance, although, like any DWR finish, you’ll need to stay on top of keeping the shoes clean and re-treating them with fresh DWR from time to time.

The cuff of the outer combines a stretch ankle cuff with silicone grippers. The all-black finish has contrasting fluorescent orange bands on the rear, waterproof zips and reflective detail print.

The softshell is lightly fleece-lined to help trap warm air and prevent your feet getting cold.

The outsole is designed specifically for winter riding. It’s a lightweight carbon/nylon sole that’s noticeably stiffer than rivals such as the Sidi Nix, EKOI Perf W4 Boa or Lake CX146.

It comes with a large textured replaceable heel bumper, but no bumpers on the toe. Thankfully, it’s vent-free too.

DMT WKR1 performance

On the road, the WKR1s are excellent. The lack of mass compared to most winter cycling shoes will be welcomed by riders looking to do high-intensity training rides rather than steady-paced long rides.

The water resistance is also impressive for such a svelte shoe, with the close-fitting ankle cuff doing a great job of keeping moisture out.

Inevitably, if your bib tights soak through, water will still creep downwards and into the shoe, although I found wearing the Sportful NoRain bib tights over the cuff solved this.

I did, however, find the minimal insulation meant my feet started to feel the chill a couple of hours into a ride where the temperature didn’t get above 0ºC.

Combining the DMTs with Bridgedale’s heavyweight winter socks improved things immensely, though, and I didn’t need to size up (as is often recommended for winter cycling shoes) thanks to the flexible uppers.

DMT WKR1 bottom line

Overall, the WKR1s are a great winter option for days when it’s wet but not overly cold.

They excel in anything from a few degrees upwards, but for anything lower, you'll need to reach for a pair of thick winter socks.

SQUIRREL_13178093