Alpinestars Supertech Touring Gore-Tex Boots
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Nice boot, no real ankle protection
I really like this boot, yes it takes some getting used to in terms of putting it on, but once it is on no crash is going to take it off.
Pretty comfortable, though stiff, and definitely waterproof.
The toe area is huge, which I don't quite understand.
And though this is a heavy duty boot, no question about it, it completely doesn't have a real ankle guard like I'm used to seeing. It also doesn't really have a hard shin protector.
These two things were almost deal breakers and still make me wonder what Alpinestars is thinking, but the reality is that the leather is pretty thick on these boots, so probably not a big deal.
December 18, 2012
Excellent boots for protection.
The boots fit well and are correct compared to other size shoes I have. The protection is good they are a bit warm for Brisbane summer weather however you tend to forget about that when you are caught out in a thunderstorm. Like all Alpinestars boot they are good quality product.
October 15, 2012
Too bulky, and no additional protection vis-a-vis A* Soho
I bought these along with Alpinestars Sohos. My plan was to wear the Sohos for nights on the town in jeans (when I might be willing to sacrifice a little bit of road protection in deference to looking good) and to wear what I thought would be the beefier more protective "Supertech" Tourings for everyday commuting.
As it turns out, the Sohos offer just as much protection as the Alpinestars, are a whole lot better looking, are lighter and less bulky, and a fair bit less expensive. I really see little or no difference in the level of protection between the "Supertech" Tourings and the Sohos. The Sohos looking better and feeling better, I returned the Supertech Tournings and decided to keep just the Sohos.
In both the Sohos and the Supertech Tourings, there is really not a whole lot of shin protection, which simply consists of only a slightly firm "injection" which is easily overcome and deformed by the pressure of a thumb. The toe box and heel both offer a satisfying level of protection. These are not steel, TPU, or otherwise rigid; however, they are firmer and, my guess is, a fair bit more protective than similar "touring" style boots. Again, however, the level of protection is essentially the same between the Soho and the Supertech Touring.
The Supertech Touring is about 25% bulkier than the Sohos, which are really quite sleek and streamlined. Wearing a pair of Nudie jeans, which are very tight about the calves, I can easily slip the pant leg over the Sohos. NOT SO WITH THE Supertech Touring! Those are way too bulky to fit under my jeans, let alone look GOOD under my jeans. So RTA is it....
In terms of fit, the Sohos have a full-length zipper whereas the Supertech Tourings only zip up a little past the ankle. Therefore, the Sohos tend to grab on more securely about the calf.
Up the calf, the Supertech Touring rely only on Velco; there is no zipper up the calf. My concern is that, with time, the Velco may stop sticking firmly to itself and the boot may keep loosening about the calf. I have no experience with the boot to back that up, but that has been my experience with Velcro used in similar repetitive donning/doffing applications.
Despite the solely Velcro system about the calf, the Supertech Touring's will not come off in a crash. If there is one potential safety advantage with the Supertech Touring compared to the Soho, it is that the Supertech Tourings utilize a velcro tabbed QuickLace system. Although this ensures that the boot will not come off in a crash, it also means that it is somewhat laborious and time-consuming to don or doff the boot. (I would get tired of doing this a couple times a day.) It also adds a fair bit of bulk to the boot, which not only detracts from boot's appearance but also makes it more difficult to get pant legs over the boot (see above).
Don't get me wrong: These Supertech Tourings are outstanding boots, extremely comfortable, well-made, and quite dandy looking. But the Sohos are so much more and offer just as much protection.
Both the STT's and the Sohos offer an amazing amount of arch support and cushion, more so than any other motorcycle boot I've worn. These are amazing comfortable, more so than the $600 Fiorentini+Baker fashion boots that I bought in Soho!
Fit is, as with most Italian brands, somewhat on the narrow side. I am an American 8.5 and wear a 42 Birkenstocks. However, I need to wear European 43 in Alpinestars footwear. It does slip a BIT in the heel, but even with the 43 my little toe is still a bit pinched.
The Sohos actually look so good and are so comfortable, I bought a pair of these over a pair of standard fashion boots. For a combination of snazz and protection, the other boot to consider would be the Alpinestars Gran Torino, which, with its anodized aluminum slider, offers a scosche more malleolar protection.
In my opinion, between Dainese, Sidi, and A*, Alpinestars makes the best, most comfortable boots.
June 11, 2012
Heavy duty. Worth it.
OK. I wanted to wear these for a while before I posted. Then time slipped away. So, I've had them for about a year now. I'm in southeast TX and wore these all winter (from 10/17 until March the next year). My very first impression out of the box is that the footbed feels better than any other m/c boot I've bought (and I've bought many). The footbed is neither wide nor narrow. All day comfortable. Secondly, these things are bulky. When I first wore them I worried about that; but since they are actually leather (unlike many boots on the market) I thought they would wear in. I was right. After a month or so they limbered up well. In fact, I could tell a difference after 1 week. They are somewhat tricky to get on/off initially, but very quickly you'll get used to the inner booty/ speed laces, etc. That becomes second nature. The sole is grippy. No slip on wet pavement, or on wet pegs. They are stiff, but not excessively so. Just right in that regard. Protection? You bet. I can't imagine a more protective touring boot. Heavy duty, several layers, and waterproof (...I do use a leather conditioner (Renapur) once a month to keep the leather from soaking up water however). Even with that however, I've worn them in the mid-80s and not been too hot. Finally, yes, they are expensive. But worth it. And for sure, they will be my fall/ winter/ early spring boots for many years to come - so mentally I can spread the price over then next several years and not feel bad about it. Besides, it's the price of quality leather. You'd pay more for a nicely constructed pair of western boots to wear to the rodeo!
April 1, 2012
Good touring and commuting boot
These boots fit me better than the boots I had before. I have wide, flat feet, and I guess my ankles and calfs must be pretty skinny, because the old boots pinched the little toe after spending some time on my feet, and were loose around the calf and ankle. Problem solved with the Super Tech Touring. The width is perfect, and the inner booty with speed laces gives me a nice snug fit. For a touring boot it has great protection, and I can walk around easily. I wore it all day at work and at the end of the day they still felt great. First boot I did not have to replace the insole to improve the fit or comfort. I haven't ridden in the rain, cold, or heat yet, so this review is limited, but from what I have experienced so far I don't think they will be any hotter than the others. They are guaranteed waterproof, very nicely made, and appear durable. Somewhat finicky to put on given the velcro, zipper, and speedlace, but thats how I get the good fit. I noticed that compared to the Sidi Canyons the soles must be thinner, as it is a bit of a further reach to the ground when at a stop, or backing up. Very expensive, but worth it for me.
December 8, 2011
Awesome long-distance comfort
I recently rode over 10,000km with these boots right out of the box.Fort Worth to Key West to Madawaska, ME to Quebec City to Toronto, Detroit, Des Moines, Kansas City and back to Texas.
My feet didn't know where they were! They were so comfortable
they never knew we left Texas! Paired with the Rev'it Summer Socks I never felt the heat and it was HOT. There were two half days of rain in Illinois and Missouri, but the feet were blissfully
unaware of the "drama". I spent the money to get performance and peace of mind. I got what I paid for - kick aXX boots!
September 3, 2011
Alpinestars SuperTech Touring boots - a good choice
The boots were comfortable from day one. I rode 250 miles the first time I wore the boots, one-half of which was in a heavy rain. The boots were very comfortable and completely waterproof. The three closure systems - draw cord, zipper, and velcro (both sides) make it easy to get the fit just right. The boots fit true to size and have a slightly wider toe box than most European boots that I've tried.
August 23, 2011
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