Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Mostly super great SPD-compatible sneaker - DZR District

I bought these. They're the DZR GMT-8. (Now called the DZR District.)

I looked at Chrome SPD shoes, but they have too many bad reviews for durability given how relatively new they are on the market. I wreck everything anyway, so I gambled on the unknown. Plus, I'm in the GMT-8 timezone, so there's some synergy there.

The DZR shoes looked normal and they clip in. I'm always looking for this combo.

I've had them for a couple weeks now. So far, so good. If they blow up prematurely, I'll be sure to report here.

Sizing-wise, they're the same as my Shimanos. I wear a 46 in both. Or 44 in Birkenstock. Or 11 in some shoes.

These DZR's are comfy, stiff enough, easy to walk in, and I like the sneaker vibe.

Cutting out the cleat space was a bit dangerous, but for those people that would buy these and not use the cleat feature (not sure who that would be since they have a world of shoes to choose from, but whatever -- stiffness, meh!), the sole is well-intact.

9 comments:

Stine said...

Good to know. As stiff as a basic shimano MTB shoe? Seriously, I've gone back to shimano shoes on my BMX pedals-- no more fasciitis, and I get my nerd on...

Not said...

GMT doesn't change with daylight savings time, so Spokane is currently GMT-7.
- Ventura

John Speare said...

Stine: fasciitis -- that's the scenario. Thanks for being gentle. I don't think they're as stiff as my Shimano mnt bike shoes. But they are as stiff as the nerd sandals. Doesn't get any nerdier than that...

Ventura: dang you. So much for synergy.

Bryan B said...

So you have to cut out the cleat area before you can put on the cleat?

John Speare said...

Bryan - yes, but it's scored, so it's not like you have to cut through 1/2" of sole.

I should mention too, that it doesn't have to be dangerous. I cut mine out with my pocket knife while sitting on the couch.

It would be easy if done right: say, by securing the shoe in a vise and using a box cutter to cut along the scored lines.

Anonymous said...

Bryan- I think cutting through the sole is pretty standard for casual or 'skate' style spd shoes, I've had to do that on two pairs. . . one was a pair of 5 10's and the other was an ancient pair of airwalks if I remember right. I have wider feet and tend to get this style of SPD's for that reason.

Anonymous said...

where did you get them?
and is the cleat really recessed enough not to sound like your tap dancing whenever you walk in them? the stares at the Groc. stores get old...

John Speare said...

Anon: I ordered them online. See link in post.

I live in SPDs and we have hardwood floors.

I also prefer the cleat pushed almost all the way back.

99.95% of non-cyclists never know that i have cycling shoes on. I've polled extensively.

Christopher Grande said...

Does the cleat not contact the floor at all? My cyclocross/mtb shoes have the cleat pretty recessed but still have the occasional 'click clack click clack'... My work is near a brick side walk so it gets pretty aggravating.