While on the subject of boots, does anyone know why manufacturers make boots covered in chunks of alloy, plastic heavy duty armour, and bits of carbon fibre and use recycled yoghurt pots to make the zips...
That is so true! Of course, the leather(ish) tags on my Alpinestars zips both broke years ago, but that's not an issue as with split rings you can replace them (and split rings aren't going to fall to bits). Still, it's pretty obvious, it seems to me, that you need a lot of force to close the zipper and a leather(ette) tag is bound to break well before the rest of the boot. And you're right, the zips do look a bit feeble (but so far, after about 10 years) haven't broken. I could level the same criticism at my Givi soft luggage. The whole shebang is held in place with noddy, weedy little zips. I get worried at what a 100mph wind is doing to the zip when the bag is loaded with kilos of gear. One day one of them is going to break, and then the bag may fall into the back wheel. Gulp.
Got a pair of sidi vertabra carboot specials,a few years back.Brilliant boots.Very comfy and adjustable too.Be aware if you buy online/mail order that the sizes can be out.The sidis and a pair of astars I have are a 9 whereas I usually take an 8.
Daytona GTX everytime I have heard of pairs lasting 15 years!! you can get replacement bits for them, they have two zips and two bits of stretch so brilliant for big calfs , waterproof and sturdy. I can walk about in mine all weekend .. so comfy like slippers to me!! They are pricey but again if you look on feebay you can often if you keep looking get pairs worn once or as new for under £100. I have two pairs so worried was I about trashing a pair !! love mine been through so many boots and these are just the dogs!
Had a pair of the dainese co-axial boots for about 5months now and can say they are the best boots i have owned. comfy as fick, serious protection and they bloody fit dainese leathers!!! bit pricey but worth it
Having almost suffered from Trenchfoot through wearing crappy leaky boots, I bought a pair of Alpinestars SMX3 Goretex many years ago and they were awesome. Fitted well, looked good, crashed well (I raced in them for 4 seasons!) and were not that expensive. They did wear out eventually, but spread the cost over the years I've had them and the abuse they've taken and it's peanuts. They got replaced earlier this year by another set of Alpinestars, but the latest SMX-R Goretex ones, which cost me £200 at the Excel show. Slightly different with the ski-boot like strap but just as comfy and robust as the old ones (and yes, I've crashed in them twice already on track!) but the design faults from the SMX-3 have gone so these ones might even last longer! Great advice to go and try them all on as even different models in the same brand come up in different sizes. Then you can be ruthless and buy them at a show or online for the cheapest price you can find.
TCX Race Goretex are the ones to go for now, IMHO. Bought some a month ago and wore them for a whole weekend on the bike first week i had them. Took no breaking in and comfy from the off. Top rated boot on RIDE mag.
Going to try a pair on Monday only problem they have to be special order cos Ive got big feet (49) great for skiing and I can't walk on water
totally agree. if its comfort from the off you want and weather protection you cannot fault these. i have had about five pairs so far.
I bought some Oxtar TCX waterproof sports boots at the bike show a good few years back. I paid £70 or £90 for them. Since them I've bought dozens of pairs of boots trying to find something as comfortable - and as waterproof - as them, without success. I also rated Ashman boots highly; they were British and very good quality but lacked style in a big way. Shame, cos they were really good boots that'd last you years.
