The Leatt Hydradri 7.0 Clip shoes are a new, and welcome, entry to the world of clipless winter mountain bike shoes. It doesn’t feel like long ago there few options for decent winter shoes for mountain biking, and the Leatt shoes on test here pose a legitimate threat to others on the market.
Leatt HydraDri 7.0 Clip key specs
- Waterproof and breathable
- Price: $219
- Buy from Leatt retailers
What does a South African brand know about producing waterproof shoes? A thing or two, as it turns out. HydraDri is Leatt’s own 3-layer breathable waterproof membrane, which they use across a range of jackets, pants, and even one-piece overalls for mountain biking. (Editor’s note: We reached out to Leatt to find out if HydraDri uses PFAS chemicals but did not hear back at the time of publication.) The 7.0 clip shoe is the latest addition, and is made in a clipless-pedal version, seen here, as well as a nearly identical flat-pedal version.
Features
Made for winter riding in foul weather, the Leatt HydraDri 7.0 Clip is both insulated, and waterproof, with Leatt’s HydrDri MAX 10k/10k membrane, and should be a solid companion for winter riding. The shoe features a water- and dirt-resistant gaiter around the outside, with a long water resistant zip closure, with a push snap closure at the top covered by a small flap.
The HydraDri membrane is part of the inner bootie, rather than the outer gaiter. The inner boot is fastened with a single speed-lace on each shoe, and has a fabric loop to help pull the shoe on, as the fit is meant to be snug.
The Clip shoe has a black upper with gum sole, and the flat version is black on black. Personally, I think the black/gum looks good, and the shoe itself looks inoffensive as winter boots go; a friend likened them to cross-country ski boots. They’re relatively low profile and yet well insulated, and should work equally well for mountain biking and gravel riding. All the seams on the shoe appear to be welded, and the shoes are nicely made overall.
The sole fits standard two-bolt cleats, and comes with cleat shims for a range of cleat fitments. The cleat channel is generously wide, for shedding mud or snow, and the sole has good tread, for hike-a-biking when necessary.
Leatt HydraDri 7.0 Clip shoe fit
Pulling on the HydraDri 7.0 Clip takes a minute; the fit of the inner bootie is pretty snug around the top. The loop on the back helps, but it attaches further down the back than is ideal, so the top of the shoe folds over on the inside every time and needs to be pulled back out. The speedlace closure is easy, but the lace feels overly long, and it can be tough to get it really tight, so riders who like to be locked in may not like this so much.
I usually fit a size 45 shoe, but the 44.5 on test here fits great, with just the right amount of space to be snug without feeling tight in any direction. While the speed lace doesn’t go overly tight, the fit helps the shoe feel pretty secure. The cuff at the top of the gaiter offers a looser fit, and doesn’t fit snugly around my ankle which means water could drain down inside if my pants cuff isn’t covering the top of the shoe. I do have skinny legs, but a tighter fit here would be appreciated. The snap closure at the top is also a little finicky, and can be tricky to get closed. Once the shoes are on, they’re comfy, but getting them on is a bit of a process.
On The Trail
The Leatt HydraDri 7.0 Clip shoes are easy to live with on the trails. Once they’re on, they’re very warm, and quite dry. I tend to struggle with cold feet, and having ridden with these at close to 0°C, paired with a good pair of merino socks, they kept my feet toasty past the point where most other shoes would fail me. As far as waterproofing goes, they do a good job of keeping the water out, and my only real complaint is that when riding fast, wet trails, the spray can come down the baggy ankle cuff. That said, my feet stayed warm, which is half the battle. When submerged fully in ankle-deep water, I’m happy to say that they didn’t leak on me.
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The soles on the HydraDri 7.0 are plenty stiff. Though they’re hardly an XC race shoe, they’re good enough for winter mountain biking, gravel riding, and commuting. Power transfer is good, partly thanks to the stiff sole, and the snug fit. The fit in the heel could be better, since it feels like it doesn’t cup as well as it could, despite cinching the laces tightly. This is most noticeable when off the bike pushing up trail, and also when riding aggressively. Despite that, they are comfortable to wear for longer periods of time.
The cleat channel on the HydraDri 7.0 is plenty long and wide, even when running the cleats as far inboard as possible, and this makes finding the pedal easy enough. The sole provides a solid platform, even on smaller XC-type pedals, so even if you can’t clip in, they still provide some stability.
Longevity has been good so far, with no real wear and tear to note, and everything is still working as it should. They clean up well, and the welded seams hold up to abuse and make cleaning easy.
Pros and cons of Leatt HydraDri 7.0 Clip
Pros
- Waterproof
- Well insulated and warm
- Comfortable
Cons
- Ankle cuff is loose and can let water in
- Hard to cinch speed laces up tight enough
Bottom line
The Leatt HydraDri 7.0 is a solid contender for winter shoes. They have an aesthetic appeal that most don’t, and have a quality feel to them. They keep feet warmer and drier than some, though the fit around the ankle cuff is loose and getting them cinched up can be a little tricky. Despite those small complaints, they’re genuinely comfortable, and a welcome addition to my winter riding setup that I look forward to wearing all winter long.
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