The DMT RS1 is the latest high performance road cycling shoe from the Italian brand. It was developed with and has been worn by Olympic Omnium Champion, Elia Viviani
A great pair of shoes that are ideal for powerful riders or sprinters owing to exceptional stiffness. I would prefer to see a two-way Boa Dial and i feel the fit could be improved slightly to stop the Boa digging in the top of the foot and side of the shoe rubbing the inside ankle.
Reasons to buy
+
Extremely stiff
+
Looks
+
Well made
+
Reasons to avoid
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Boa dial can dig in
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Fit won't suit everyone
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Boa dial is not two-way
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The Skeleton system is controlled by a single Boa dial on the top of the shoe, which wraps a cable right around the shoe and through the sole. The Boa dial offers incremental adjustments of 1mm and the Skeleton system does a great job of enveloping the foot.
I really like the way these shoes look, but if the white and silver is not for you, the DMT RS1 is also available in black.
The closure system on the DMT RS1 uses a single Boa Dial
(Image credit: Cycling Studio)
The unidirectional carbon sole of the DMT RS1 is ridiculously stiff. I have tested and worn most of the leading cycling shoes on the market and the DMT RS1 feels amongst the stiffest - If you are a powerful rider, sprinter, or just someone who really values absolute stiffness, then these shoes are well worth considering.
The extra stiffness does come with a slight weight penalty compared to super light shoe like the Giro Empire SLX. Which as a comparison weighs just 205g in a size 45 compared to 265g for the DMT.
Watch - Buyer's guide to cycling shoes
The fit of shoes is very personal, so I would urge you to always try before you buy. The DMT RS1 is a wide shoe in the forefoot though, something I like, as I have quite a wide foot.
To put this into context, I find Sidi and Northwave shoes to often be too narrow, while the majority of Shimano and Fizik shoes suit me well. The arches of the DMT RS1 are fairly high too, which suits me well, but it does mean that you may not get on with them if you have flat feet.
DMT RS1 Carbon sole is extremely stiff
(Image credit: Cycling Studio)
As mentioned, the single Boa dial allows the shoe to envelops the foot well, however it does have a tendency to dig in on the top of your foot. Another issue, is that the Boa is a lower spec dial, that can only tighten in 1mm increments and not loosen.
To loosen the shoe, you have to open the dial and release the whole closure. Conversely, the two-way BOA dials on the Shimano S-Phyre and Fizik R1B offer much easier adjustment. In addition to this I prefer having two Boa dials, as it allows you to tweak the fit to a greater degree.
In addition to the supremely stiff sole, the upper is also very firm, meaning that the whole pedal cycle feels efficient. The DMT RS1 shines when sprinting, however, I found the fit around the ankle a little uncomfortable.
The fit doesn't feel quite right around the inside of the ankle, it feels a little too high causing it to rub against the inside of my ankle. However, Elia Viviani doesn't appear to suffer, so try before you buy.
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