Italian shoe manufacturer, DMT, has a new flagship – the Vega – and we’ve just taken delivery of a pair at RCUK Towers.
With Ardennes Week fast approaching, look out for these on the feet of Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing), the former world road race champion and winner of all three of the hilly Classics in 2011.
The sole
A carbon sole is de rigueur for a performance shoe in the modern age and DMT claim the neatly moulded base of their offering is from aerospace-grade composite. They haven’t skimped on its use: the carbon sweeps above the sole at the heel, forming an elegant contrast with the ice white upper of our test pair (black also available).
It’s made from unidirectional carbon and shaped in a monocoque moulding – a process typically used in the construction of framesets. The sole’s smooth finish is interrupted at the ball of the foot, where a sandpapered texture has been deployed to provide a more secure attachment for a LOOK cleat.
Other features include a mesh-covered vent in the toe box and, at the opposite end, a replaceable heel counter made from plastic and secured with three screws.
The upper
The upper is one fashioned from two fabrics: for the most part, a leather-like substance with a shiny surface that looks as if dirt will wipe from easily, and large sections of breathable mesh. The heel cup is nicely padded, while the tongue is very thin. The tongue attaches to the upper on the left side with a small Velcro patch, which should help it to remain in place beneath the pressure of the closure mechanism.
In what looks like a considered detail, DMT have deployed two different methods of ventilation, one on either side of the shoe. On the ‘off-side’, three mesh panels have been used, while on the ‘near side’ where some element of rubbing against the crank arm is almost inevitable, a more conventional series of perforations have been used.
The closure
Laces are considered a thing of the past by much of the cycle shoe industry: a shame in our opinion, and that of Bradley Wiggins, presumably, who rides in a lace-up Giro. So-called BOA mechanisms, however, are widely considered to offer a more equal distribution of pressure.
Each manufacturer offers a subtle variation on the same theme (see the Vittora Hora EVO, for example, which places a single dial above the centre of the tongue). DMT have opted to place two dials on the outside of the shoe. An early fitting suggests they work with impressive efficiency. Lifting the dial allows the shoe to be opened, while tightening it is a matter of pushing it down and twisting in a clockwise direction. The stainless steel cord tightens in small, ratcheted increments.
We’ll be testing the Vega shoe in the weeks ahead. Check back soon for a full review.
Price: £220
Size: 39 to 46
Colour: black, white
Website: DMT
Distributor: Paligap
