Dainese D-Axial Boots
Dainese D-Axial Boots
CW EVALUATION
Casts now or casts later?
IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PUTting on a pair of boots that felt like casts or wearing casts on your feet for six weeks, you'd choose option one, wouldn't you? That's a fair description of the new D-Axial roadracing boots from Dainese. Developed with the help of MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi and physician to-the-stars Dr. Claudio Costa, the Italian-made footwear fea-
tures unique hinged, rigid inner “booties” that resist torsion of the foot and ankle. Interior padding cushions impacts and, much as a helmet does, redistributes the force of the blow.
Two styles are offered: “In, which is worn inside your pant leg, and “Out,” which is worn outside. Both come in a “Light’ version, which
utilizes carbon/kevlar inner booties, while the latter is also available in a less costly standard version that substitutes
aluminum-reinforced fiberglass. Prices range from $499 to $629. We tested the Light In version in conjunction with Dainese’s latest Talos suit, which attaches to the boots via velcro panels at the shins to further prevent twisting. Don-
ning the D-Axials entails a procedure similar to that of rear-entry ski boots. The Lorica up-
upper unzips on either side of the heel to reveal the inner booty, and the hinged heel shell swings out of the way so you can step in-best accomplished if you wear thin cycling socks and use a shoehorn, because it’s a tight fit. The heel shell then velcros back in place, a speed lace snugs the booty, the rear zippers are re-zipped and the pant leg zips over the boot.
That sounds arduous, and it is. But once you’ve got the D-Axials on, you pretty much forget about them. It’s only when you do as our tester did and walk away from a 100-mph-plus get-off that you’ll remember these are no ordinary boots. □
DETAILS
Dainese USA, Inc. 1645 Superior Ave. Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949/645-9500 www.dainese.com Price.. .$599
ps A Superbly protective yet lightweight A Reasonably comfortable on and off the bike, with good control feel A Four color schemes to choose from owns v Expensive right down to the titanium toe sliders `V A pain to get on and off v U.S. sizing is wrong-~go with the Euro sizes
