Alpinestars Tech Road Boots

ALPINESTARS TECH ROAD BOOTS

All-weather footwear

COLD, SOGGY FEET WILL DAMPEN THE riding experience quicker than a triple-digit speeding ticket. So it’s a good thing Alpinestars’ Tech Road boots feature breathable Gore-Tex liners for added warmth and immunity to the elements.

Alpinestars (3860 Del Amo Blvd., #401, Torrance, CA 90503; 310/542-5996) sells eight Gore-Tex boots, the Tech Roads being the premium touring model. But don’t let the subdued styling dissuade you: The Tech Roads incorporate many of the protective features found on the company’s more exotic-looking GP Pro roadracing boots.

Heels and toes are reinforced with plastic, and injection-molded nylon cups shield the ankles. Flexible Schoeller Keprotec inserts below the padded shins enhance braking and shifting movements, while fulllength zippers and expansion panels ease ingress. Velcro flaps seal out cold and water. Serrated one-piece rubber soles offer superb grip on both wet and dry surfaces. But unlike the foam-backed soles on the company’s Circus boots, these don’t delaminate with use.

Unlike the racy made-from-synthetic GP Pros, the Tech Roads have fullgrain, 1.8mm-thick leather uppers treated for water resistance. Nippled rubber shift pads are sewn to the tops of both boots, and instead of replaceable toe skids, scuff-resistant kevlar strips adorn the toe boxes.

Available in black, black/red and black/yellow in sizes 8V2 to 12, the snug-fitting $260 Tech Roads adapt well to varying weather conditions. While we were touring the snowcapped Alps last year, for example, the boots stood up to snow and rain. Back in sunny Southern California, though, the non-vented boots were a tad steamy on warm days.

Despite a few sweat stains, the Tech Roads still get our vote for all manner of street riding, from commuting to canyon carving. Consider them de rigueur for motorcyclists who are hot to trot, rain or shine. □