The stiff nylon midsole, condura and synthetic leather upper are breathable and insulating in a range of temperatures, Three Velcro straps keep weight down and make fit secure and comfortable. It's difficult to say 'no' when it all comes in under £50. How ever the very cycling-specific technical design will not be so inconspicuous at the office.

The competition is tough at the entry-level price range, with each brand using it's best technology and thinking, then passing it down through the range. just pipping the others to the line are the shoes from dhb...

dhb already dominates the budget cycling clothing market in the UK. Low the prices may be, but the companys quality, design and attention to detail is high for such budget oriented products. We already rate the dhb Merston Bib Tights and the
Rogate Long Sleeve Jersey as some of the best on the market, so we were excited to hear that dhb were going to launch a range of footwear. The M1 is the first ever dhb mountain bike shoe, and is aimed at the rider looking for a do-anything, go-anywhere shoe that's both stiff enough to transfer power to the pedals, but provides enough give from the reinforced nylon sole to make hiking about and eight-hour epics a bit easier on the feet.
No, it's not a thoroughbred carbon-soled racing shoe (although you could easily race with it), but it's also half the price of those composite models.
Attached to the nylon sole is a sturdy but relatively lightweight upper made from man-made leather and nylon mesh panels for breathability. Three wide velcro straps with a broad unpadded tongue keep the uppers comfortable and secure. You can have them in black & blue or black & beige, disco slippers they're not, but reliable and understated they are. dhb products are always spot on in terms of value for money, and the M1 shoe follows in that tradition.
Buy it if you love to ride and shoes are a fact of life, rather than a fashion statement.

A solid, reliable off-road shoe with amazing value for money

At this price, the M1 punches well above its weight. The dhb looks like a racer, and it performs pefectly well as a race shoe, especially with its stiff reinforced nylon sole that delivers the power superbly. That said, it's still forgiving enough for those moments when you have to dismount. The nylon mesh panels allow for good breathability and dry out quickly when they get wet. Three velcro straps cover the lightweight manmade uppers and hold them very securely to your feet.
inside you'll find that a thin stretchy neoprene tongue keeps your feet comfortable, while a hardier outer tongue takes care of protection duties. A padded heel and ankle finishes off a comfy fit for this great-value racer that looks and performs like shoes with a much higher price tag.

A great little number that offers solid performance at a great price

There's no need to fret if you're on a tight budget, the M1 has plenty to offer the budding racer at a very reasonable price. There's enough padding and protection to keep you comfortable for hours in the saddle and they perform way above their price point. The nylon reinforced sole is stiff enough to feel solid when it comes to putting the power down yet comfy enough when you have no choice but to dismount and push. While the mesh nylon panels work well in drier weather and help the shoe dry out quickly, you are going to get damp feet on wet days. Waterproof socks are the answer.

Three Velcro straps keep the shoes firmly in place; an outer tongue cover keeps the debris out while a neat neoprene inner tongue keeps everything comfortable.

Great value shoe for the budget racer.

Nearly every time we bring up the subject of mountain bike shoe pricing, dhb's £47 M1 is held up as the exception to the rule that you have to pay for good quality. Winner of our Value and Gold awards in many of our previous shoe group tests, the M1 sets the budget shoe bar high with a nylon midsole that performs as well as those shoes costing three times as much.

The out sole doesn't feature anything high tech but it does what it is meant to: it grips, and it grips well. The workmanlike upper is a mix of manmade leather and wear-resistant Condura panels and comes in low key black, tan or racy red colour ways. The result is good wear and a shoe that's neither too warm in the summer nor too cool in the winter. The rear plastic heel cups are well shaped and stiff to give good stability, while the wrap around plastic toe guard means you'll cope better when rocks leap at your feet, and the triple Velcro straps work well to keep your foot planted.

The fit isn't especially stunning but is perectly acceptable, especially given the price. We've tried before but, once again, we really can't fault the dhb M1 for under £50. A fantastic value for money bike shoe.

The dhb M1 is a revelation: it costs half of what it could and performs twice as well as expected.