Alpinestars Tech 7 MX Off-road Boots Product Review: 6-month update

Gallery Alpinestars Tech 7 MX Off-road Boots Likes Dislikes To buy or not to buy

Alpinestars Tech 7 MX Off-road Boots

We are on the sand dunes of Merzouga. We have a Dakar 450 rally machine at our disposal. And, we have a complete noob as a rider when it comes to sand dunes, me.

The key to stay upright on dunes, I am told, is to let the motorcycle do its thing. The front will move around and threaten to wash out. And, the rear with all that power constantly being fed to it, will practice a completely different sliding routine.

So, for the bike to be able to do this, one must only hold on to the bike with one's legs and knees. And here's when the Tech 7 offroad boots went from being great boots to superheros!

You see, to hold the bike at its centre and no where else, also means the rider must have a centre or core that's as strong as dried concrete. What I have, is jelly for a core. Must cut down on those carbs. But, the Tech 7s, with their grippy inner or medial side allow one to hook on the bike with barely any effort.

It's almost like having velcro closure between the boots and the bike. No wonder, I survived hours of riding on the dunes without having aching arms, shoulders, calfs, thighs or knees!

But, how are the boots otherwise? Here's our list of likes and dislikes when it comes to the Tech 7 after having used it for 6 months...

Likes

Design

The Alpinestars Tech 7 look absolutely gorgeous. What's more, these are easy to slip on and off, have a convenient buckle closure system, and even when it comes to cleaning, the design allows you to reach the smallest of crevices making it easy to keep the boots looking like new. And, of course, these are built to last. Invest in them once, and you are set for many years of offroading without having to worry about water, sand or snow.

Protection.

The thing with offroad riding is you can't predict what's going to be smashing against your legs. Could be rocks being flung by the rider ahead, or a fallen branch you failed to spot. You could fall on a big stone, or into a rut and twist your leg. And therefore, a good offroad boot has to have the protection to safeguard the rider's legs against all these factors. The Tech 7 has mastered this. It has solid shin protection; the blade flex system prevents hyperflexion; and the fit and stiffness of the boot holds out against twisting forces to save them ankles.

Control

Now, most offroad boots don't do control too well. And that's because they choose stiffness over all else. The Tech 7 are stiff as well, no doubt, which is what lends them a high score for safety. But, the less bulky toe area, the more malleable sole, and slightly more play around the ankle to aid rocking movement, give the rider better control of the brake and gear levers.

Comfort

Comfort is another thing offroad boots don't do very well. For most, protection supersedes everything else. But, it doesn't mean one can't engineer some comfort into offroad boots by good engineering and design. Alpinestars has done just that with the Tech 7. One can walk in them without getting the feet hot or swollen or tired. And, the design elements that help improve control also make the Tech 7 less cumbersome to be in over long hours. On my recent ride in Merzouga, Morocco, I didn't feel the need to remove them all day even though we were riding around in the desert.

Dislikes

Two mainly. One, these could have been a bit lighter. No, I get it, offroad boots by design are heavier than road boots, and honestly, you can't feel the weight when you are on the bike, or even when walking around. But, if you happen to carry them, well, you do end up wishing these were lighter.

And two, their price. The Tech 7 are well priced internationally, costing around 350 dollars. But in India, a pair costs Rs 30,000, and this was before the rupee took the massive fall against the dollar. This puts the Tech 7 out of reach for many offroading enthusiasts in India. And that really is a shame.

To buy or not to buy

A definite BUY. No question. Expensive in India or not, if you are serious about offroading, or even taking your adventure bike offroad - be it on mud tracks, over gravel pathways, or through forest trails - you will pat yourself on the back for getting a pair of Tech 7s.