Finally, I plumped for the SportMaster Gore-Tex ‘in’ boots. And I’m impressed. Regarding Dainese’s infamous cheap zips, I was pleasantly surprised the SportMaster Gore-Tex boots have a pukka YKK zip. And the zip size is sturdy; it looks like the same YKK (size 8?) that Nine Lives and Hideout use. While I haven’t ridden in the Axial boots for comparison, I have tried them on. Like @bigjimmyb, I preferred the SportMaster but couldn’t put my toe on why. It just felt the better boot to wear. Also, the SportMaster’s “distortion control system” is significantly sturdier than I expected – the lateral protection feels superior to my old Astars SMX Plus. Saddle time will tell, but I reckon the SportMaster Gore-Tex will be a shoe in for my best boot yet.
