£189.99 All-terrain footwear with knitted construction and robust soles
The Good
Supreme comfort; great sole and grip; fair price
The Bad
Don’t keep rain out; need care putting them on
ITALIAN FOOTWEAR SPECIALIST DMT is the pioneer of knitted uppers. The innovative design is licensed by some of the world’s biggest sports brands for the likes of football boots and running shoes. DMT brought knitted uppers to its premium cycling models back in 2018 and it has now launched a dedicated gravel shoe that, at under £200, is close to half the price of those original designs (though still by no means cheap).
The superior comfort these offer comes from the upper’s slightly stretchy, openweave material, which gives a breathable, sock-like fit and conforms to your foot better than any PU material I’ve tried. It has the suppleness of real leather without the bulk. However, openweave obviously isn’t perfect when the rain falls. On the plus side, the shoes dry quickly.
For added durability, a bonded rubberised coating runs across the toe and down the flanks, completely covering the heel area.
The shoe is tensioned using laces that attach onto 10 cords on each side. These then wrap around the sides of your foot and anchor to the outsole. The fit of the upper is so good that I’m convinced these would work well sans laces. There’s no lace retainer, but it’s no problem to tuck the bow behind the lacing.
The natural rubber-compound sole is made by Michelin and provides full cover to the foot plate, plus lots of grip for off-road conditions. The block tread pattern is chunky with 10mm-deep blocks on the forefoot rising to 15mm deep on the heel.
The sole is stiff enough without being ‘race-shoe’ stiff, meaning these shoes are superb gravel companions as the soles absorb vibrations much better than an unforgiving carbon footplate. This, combined with the supple but supportive upper, mean the GK1s have fast become some of my favourite gravel shoes for long rides in warm, dry conditions.
At 753.6g a pair (size 45, UK 10) the GK1s are much heavier than their on-road counterparts due to their more robust build, designed for epic days out and multiday adventures. Sizing runs from 37 to 46 with no half sizes, and they come in all black or black and ochre as well as this maroon and black colourway.
Their lack of water resistance and the fact you ideally need a shoehorn to get them on because of the tongue-free design are minor niggles in an exceptional shoe that’s a great choice for summer riding.
Rivals…
Fizik Terra X5 £150
Giro Privateer Lace £139.99
Lake MX176 £135