Alpinestars Tech 7 MX Off-road Boots Product Review: 3-month update

Break-in

Minimal break-in is what the Italian gear maker said the Tech 7s need. And if you have ever worn a MX boot, you'd know how important that is because MX boots can be quite painful to live with till these are properly broken in. You can barely walk or ride with them, and your feet feel clamped all the time.

But, true to its word, all it took was about half an hour into my inaugural ride for me to find my footing with the Tech 7s. I could move my feet up and down at the ankle in no time, allowing me better feel. Sure, the movements weren't as free as on regular boots or sneakers, but then that's what you need to keep you from injury.

This was on a dirt bike. Then I hopped on to an ADV, and the Tech 7s felt at home here too. Sure, unlike the dirt bike which requires less flexibility to shift gears,  I had a few mis-shifts on the ADV courtesy the lack of gap between the footpeg and the shifter. But, that too was a non-issue minutes into the ride.

Control

The Tech 7s have a relatively slim toe compared to most MX boots. And that meant I didn't have to pick up my left foot off the peg to slide it under the gear shifter to make upshifts. Instead, with the Tech 7s, gear shifts could be made with the foot firmly on the pegs and the legs tightly gripping the bike. This, didn't just make for better control, but it also kept me from gripping the handlebar too tightly every time I had to make a gear shift.

The feel for the rear brake through those thick soles was surprisingly good too. So, apart from allowing me to apply the rear brake liberally for both confidence and control offroad, it also made coming down slippery slopes far less scarier than it seemed from the top. 

Moreover, if used right, the grippy insides of the boots can help reduce the strain on one's thighs and knees. The inside face of the Tech 7 is malleable enough to help one hook on to the bike no matter how many contours the motorcycle might have in the name of modern design.

Comfort

If you are going to be spending long hours in a pair of boots, especially over trying terrain, comfort is probably as important as safety. You just never know how long you might have to walk or push the bike to find another living soul. And, in most cases, the trade off between the two is just too much.

It's not so with the Tech 7s though. For starters, with four buckles and a wide opening, these are easy to slip on and off. The buckles themselves clip into place with barely any effort. And these feel solid too; like they'd last forever.

The cushioning on the inside further adds to the comfort. It's soft and cushy, and as I have realised, the material inside also helps wick the sweat away pretty well. The collar - or the boot's mouth if you will - is of a soft material as well. Furthermore, the boots' sole are both grippy and pliable which makes walking less tiring, even on dirt.

As for the durability aspect, well, so far the boots have help up well. Like we said at the start, even after taking on the elements, these still look and feel new. But, we will know more about that in the next three months.

But for now, one thing is clear - the Alpinestars Tech 7 are easily one of the best Enduro / offroad boots I have used. And the fact that they look good, is just icing on top.

Photography by Kapil Angane