Forma Adventure Boots Review: Living with it

The not so good bits

Now we did mention in our earlier report that the Forma Adventure boots do look like gumboots in black. So, these aren’t the best looking boots in the business by any stretch. And, if you look closer, you’d also find these aren’t well finished either. It is especially true for the way the sole has been tacked on to the boot. Also, the inner liner around the neck looks coarse and cheap.

We weren’t impressed with the buckles on the Adventure boots either. The top buckles on both shoes refuse to clip-in properly. Not that it has affected the fit in any way, but it leaves you with the feeling of a boot that’s not greatly engineered.

Finally, the waterproofing. We used these boots through what can comfortably be called a deluge on a number of occasions. And yes, we did have our rain pants covering the boots down to the first buckle from the bottom. But, the water did make its way in. It wasn’t flooding in to leave us with drenched socks, but yes, it did get wet inside. The good thing is, once the rain stopped, there was good enough airflow into the boots to dry some of the insides.

The good bits

Now to the things we liked. One of the nicest things about the Forma Adventure is the level of comfort these offer. These might have a fat toe but even then, shifting gears on bikes with rearset footpegs wasn’t an issue. What we like most however, is their all day comfort levels. I have been spending long days in office walking around in them (I would recommend wearing the jeans over the boot rather than tucked in when in office; you’d blend in better) and they don’t feel overtly stiff or tiring. These are reasonably flexible and good on cushioning too.

We also like the grip the soles offer, particularly in dirt. The deep lugs bite in well, be it gravel, muck or sand, and there was hardly a moment wherein these felt slippery or out of their depth. Now, unlike hardcore motocross boots, these Adventure boots are more flexible. Yes, this flexibility does take away from safety to an extent but then that’s only true if you are going to be indulging in some seriously challenging off-road fun. We weren’t up for that. So for our mild trail riding, small hops off the ground and some rock climbing, we thought the boots were a good compromise between flexibility (read comfort) and stiffness (support).

Furthermore, the Forma Adventure boots are easy to put on and remove, easy to clean, and relatively light, or at least lighter than they look. We also found the material for the collar wherein the rider’s shin and calf touch the boot alternatively while walking, to be soft and not abrasive.

Final call

So, the Forma Adventure boots are comfortable. These are useful in the dirt and rain. And, though they might occupy a little more space than I would like in my gear cupboard, at least they are light. But, the reason I like these is that I can wear them any day and on any bike (mostly) without worrying about the riding experience: A do-it-all sort of a boot, really. And it gets better because now there’s a ‘Low’ version on sale in India too. It is priced at Rs 14,000 – Rs 2,000 less than the ones we have – and they come in a nice, rugged brown hue. Now, what remains to be seen is how durable these Forma boots prove to be. The report for which will come after another six months of hard usage under the title: To Buy or NOT to Buy. Stay tuned…

Photography by Kapil Angane

Click here to read Forma Adventure Boots Review – Introduction