Over the last few months I've been riding these Tech 7 boots from Alpinestars so we thought it would be good to share some thoughts on what they're like for trail and enduro riding.
For the uninitiated - the Tech 7s are second from top in the Alpinestars line up. They're a tall, 4 strap boot that provide high level, CE rated protection.
In practical terms this means things like - a steel shank and reinforced toe box, which help prevent crush injuries of the foot. A common cause of this is catching your foot in a rut, against the bike. There’s also strong lateral ankle reinforcement that provides significant protection from sideways forces, particularly important when riding large ADV bikes - a 200kilo bike is gonna leave mark if you don’t have the protection of a pair of boots like these. The point is - these are incredibly protective boots.
They’re also incredibly comfortable - things like the memory, self aligning buckles ensure that you can achieve a very consistent and even tension.
And to help with gripping the bike, the inside of the boot has this rubberised honeycomb material providing a great contact patch.
For me, this meant the boots were super comfy, and confidence inspiring straight out of the box - no breaking in required.
These are the Enduro Drystar Tech7’s . Enduro means they have an ‘enduro’ sole. Most boots with this level of protection are MX boots and come with a flat sole. This is fine for foot out cornering, but terrible for dragging your bike out of a mudhole! This enduro sole is far more useful for trail riding. Drystar means a waterproof membrane. This is huge! I don’t think I know of any other boot with this level of protection that is waterproof. And I can confirm they are indeed waterproof! In my experience, it’s not just wading fords that lead to wet feet, or rain for that matter. Even riding through puddles will get your feet wet with other offroad boots - these Tech 7s completely address that with their drystar membrane.
So is there anything wrong with these boots? Well, just two minor gripes. The first - the membrane that keeps your feet dry. It’s described as breathable, but compared to something like eVent or GoreTex it simply isn’t as breathable. This means that after a long hard day on the trails, particularly if it’s warm, you will get a little moisture from inside the boots. The second - is the squeak! Not sure if it’s how I walk but they are really quite loud! This is pretty common with this style of boots, but I feel I should warn you.
For me, these have become my go to boot. Comfortable enough for all day trail riding, and with enough protection for full on enduro riding. Highly recommended.
15 сен 2024
