First Look: Leatt Launches Two Flat Pedal Shoes With New “supertack” Rubber Compound

Today, Leatt is adding two new flat pedal shoes to its lineup: the Flat 3.0 SuperTack and the ProFlat 5.0 SuperTack BOA. Both models feature Waffle Grip-patterned soles made with the brand’s new, proprietary SuperTack rubber compound. Leatt says SuperTack has been in development for six years and claims it provides “grip so good, it’s scary.” The Flat 3.0 is a lace-up shoe with a sock-like KnitNet tongue and Cordura upper. The top-tier ProFlat 5.0 is a mid-top shoe with added ankle protection and support, with a BOA Li2 closure.

Just before Sea Otter last April, Leatt hosted several members of the bike media for a sneak peek at its new shoes made with the SuperTack rubber soles. We also went for a ride in prototype versions of the new shoes, and I got to take a pair home with me for further testing. I haven’t ridden in them very much, but I’ve got enough ride time in them to have some fit and performance impressions that I’ll share at the end of this article.

Leatt Flat 3.0 and ProFlat 5.0 Details

Leatt’s new Flat 3.0 and ProFlat 5.0 have different closure styles and vary in appearance and ankle cuff heights. But they share the same SuperTack rubber soles with a new Waffle Grip pattern, along with Cordura Re/Cor uppers.

SuperTack Rubber

The most important component of any flat pedal shoe is the sole, and Leatt’s new SuperTack rubber compound is undoubtedly the biggest story here. According to the brand, this unique new rubber is “the culmination of a six-year development process involving seven iterations of the rubber compound and five revisions of the outsole pattern.” The soft rubber compound was designed to provide maximum grip and vibration-damping to compete with the best in the business.

Leatt didn’t provide many specifics about the compound, but it is, in fact, quite soft and super tacky. It’s easy to press your thumbnail into, and it actually feels sticky to the touch. SuperTack has been tested by Leatt’s team riders, including Josh “Ratboy” Bryceland, who had this to say: “Been running SuperTacks for nearly a year, giving the guys feedback, and yeah, they have really created something very, very good here. These things are insanely grippy.”

Waffle Grip

In addition to the soft, grippy SuperTack rubber, Leatt’s new flat pedal shoes have an updated tread pattern. They refer to it as a Ride-Biased Waffle Grip Pattern, and it consists of triangular lugs of varying heights. In the middle of the sole, the lugs are shorter, and the channels between them are shallower. At the toe and heel, the lugs are taller and more widely spaced for hike-a-bike traction.

Cordura Re/Cor Uppers

Leatt says that it built both the Flat 3.0 and ProFlat 5.0 around a footwear last that’s roomy but not too boxy — “It even works well for riders with wider feet.” The uppers are constructed with Cordura Re/Cor, which is a 100% post-industrial material that reduces environmental impact and reduces waste. The 1260D material was also chosen because it’s tough, durable, breathable, water-resistant, and quick-drying. The high-wear areas of the shoes also feature synthetic leather and TPU reinforcements to protect against damage from impact and abrasion.

Flat 3.0 SuperTack

The Flat 3.0 is a low-top lace-up flat pedal shoe that includes the above-mentioned features and materials. It includes a stretch tongue/liner made from a material called KnitNet that provides a snug, sock-like fit. This KnitNet material stretches over the midfoot and up to the ankle collar “to seamlessly eliminate pressure points, improve retention, and repel debris.” At the rear of the ankle collar is a small pad that wraps around above the heel and creates a deep pocket, along with a directional cat-tongue material to lock the heel in place.

For the closure, Leatt went with stretch/compression laces that can expand and contract to accommodate foot swelling. Additionally, the laces are made with a high-grip texture to lock them in position and stay tied while riding. Unlike most lace-up shoes with elastic lace retainers, Leatt has created Lace Stash Pockets to tuck them off to the side between the KnitNet liner and the Re/Cor upper.

Flat 3.0 SuperTack Specs

• UPPER: Cordura Re/Cor (100% post-industrial recycled fabric): • Durable synthetic leather
• CLOSURE: Leatt compression laces with “Lace Stashes”
• OUTSOLE: NEW SuperTack compound: Supernatural grip
• INSOLE: Removable EVA insole with anti-bacterial fabric • Anti-compression, quick-dry, and anti-odor
• CONSTRUCTION: Knitted tongue/collar fits feet like a sock and adapts to any instep height and shape • Directional fabric on heel to prevent heel slippage 
• WEIGHT: Approximately 320g per shoe (Size EU 43) 
• SIZES: Men US 6–13 / UK 5.5–12.5 / EU 38.5–48.5 / CM 24–31 • Women US 6–9.5 / UK 4.5–8 / EU 37.5–42 / CM 23–26.5
• COLORS: Black and Vapor Grey
• PRICING: $149 US MSRP / €149 EUR / £130 GBP / $200 CAD

ProFlat 5.0 SuperTack

The top-tier ProFlat 5.0 shares the SuperTack rubber soles, roomy last, and Cordura Re/Cor upper material with the Flat 3.0. It steps things up with a mid-top design that adds support and provides enhanced ankle protection. It has a more traditional tongue and features a single BOA Li2 dial and lacing system with the dial centered on the upper tongue. 

ProFlat 5.0 SuperTack Specs

• UPPER: Cordura Re/Cor (100% post-industrial recycled fabric) • Durable synthetic leather: suitable for tough riding conditions
• CLOSURE: BOA Fit System with Dial Li2 delivers micro-adjustable, precision fit, engineered to perform in tough conditions
• OUTSOLE: NEW SuperTack compound: Supernatural grip 
• INSOLE: Removable EVA insole with anti-bacterial fabric 
• CONSTRUCTION: Midtop design with ankle support and coverage for added stability and protection 
• WEIGHT: Approximately 335g per shoe (Size EU 43) | SIZES: Men US 6–13 / UK 5.5–12.5 / EU 38.5–48.5 / CM 24–31 • Women US 6–9.5 /UK 4.5–8 / EU 37.5–42 / CM 23–26.5
• COLORS: Black and Vapor Grey
• PRICING: $200 US MSRP / €200 EUR / £170 GBP / $300 CAD

Flat 3.0 SuperTack: First Impressions

I’ll be completely honest with you: I’ve only ridden in my prototype Flat 3.0 SuperTack shoes a handful of times, despite having them since April. That said, the first ride I ever took in them was over four hours long on a huge range of trails in and around Santa Cruz, California. I recently revisited them and refreshed my memory in anticipation of today’s official launch.

The Flat 3.0s give a good impression right out of the box. I think they look pretty cool, with a fairly low-profile silhouette and style. They’re also pretty darn light in hand, and my size 44s weigh 339 grams per shoe. That’s about 25 grams lighter per shoe than my Freerider Pro BOAs. Continuing with the Freerider comparison, the soles have a very comparable in-hand flex. I’d call it right about middle of the road, which is what the majority of flat pedal riders are already accustomed to.

Fit-wise, the Flat 3.0s are roomy as advertised, and I’d say they’re bordering on wide in the forefoot. Up front, they’re definitely a touch wide for my average-width and low-volume feet. That changes in the midfoot, where the KnitNet liner stretches around and provides a comfortable compressive fit up to the top of the ankle cuff. At the back of the ankle cuff, the pad above the heel and the cat-tongue material combine to really lock the heel down — they’re actually a little challenging to take off.

The stretch/compression laces seem to work quite well, and they’re definitely comfortable if nothing else. The lace tuck takes a little getting used to, but it looks really tidy and keeps the laces out of harm’s way. The Cordura Re/Cor material is fairly light, and I’ve found it to be pretty breathable, but it isn’t the most structured or supportive. If you like a shoe with lots of support, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere.

Moving to the soles, I think Leatt is onto something with its new SuperTack rubber compound. It’s really quite grippy, and in side-by-side testing with my Freerider Pros, I’d say it’s neck and neck with Five-Ten’s benchmark Stealth rubber. The moderately flexing sole settles into the concavity of the pedal platform, and pins sink all the way into the rubber. When weighted, I’ve found the grip to be absolutely rock solid. At the same time, I haven’t found myself feeling stuck to the pedal, either. I’m surprised how easy it is to reposition my feet when needed, especially considering how grippy they are. 

Like mountain bike tires, sole durability is a tradeoff for grip and traction, and one that many riders are willing to make. I haven’t ridden in the Flat 3.0s enough to comment on sole longevity just yet, but it’s fair to expect rubber this soft and sticky to wear pretty quickly. This was evidenced by some pretty significant pin scarring on the soles after that first test ride back in April. I’ve ridden in my Freerider Pros quite a bit, and they don’t look nearly as marked up as the Leatts did after just one ride.

Still, my first impressions of the Leatt Flat 3.0 SuperTack shoes are generally quite positive. While the uppers aren’t the most supportive or protective, they are breathable and contribute to the shoes’ low weight. The KnitNet liner provides a sock-like fit, and the compression laces are both comfortable and secure. The SuperTack soles are the headliner, and, in my opinion, Leatt’s new rubber compound is right up there with the grippiest in the business. I think they’re worth checking out if you’re in the market for some new shoes, and they’re a particularly compelling option for those with wider-than-average feet.

leatt.com