ADV riding is my jam, but I actually don’t like adventure boots. They’re too bulky, too heavy and too rigid. My adventures go from where the road ends, to where the trail ends, to beyond . And for that final stage, I need something comfortable enough to get off the bike, hike a few kilometers into the mountain and then climb down a cave … if necessary.[1]
So, my rider-hiker of choice is Icon’s Patrol Waterproof Boot . This is my own pair and they’re the best piece of motorcycle footwear I’ve ever owned. Absolutely stunning and not a dime over 200 dollars. Unfortunately, I’m gonna have to make ‘em last because Icon has now replaced the Patrol with something crappy and more expensive.
Alpinestars Roam 2 Waterproof Boot
So , if I were to put a new rider-hiker into my ADV lineup right now … I’d have to choose the Alpinestars Roam 2. Yes, it’s a touring boot and, yes, I still think it’s the best choice.
The Roam has a heel counter, toe box, ankle plates on both pointy bits, a laminated shin shield and a steel-shanked sole to round out the CE-approved suit of armour. It also comes up higher than my Patrols, so if I go for a slide I’ll have a few more inches of skin left over.
I was worried that the extra height would make it harder to walk in these boots. Not the case. The accordion fabric across the front and the Achilles does an excellent job keeping my ankle movement free. The weight is also fantastic for hiking: a feather-light 800g for each of these 45s, which is half the weight of everything else on my list.
My only gripe in terms of walkability is the sole – minimal tread is great for a footpeg interface, but not so hot on mucky trails.
Now, waterproofing – it’s in the name of this boot and, surprise surprise, it’s in the liner too. Not Gore-Tex mind you, but then again it’s only a 225-dollar shoe. I wouldn’t worry, because the Roam 2 has some killer reviews in terms of waterproofing. Breathability isn’t so good though – this synthetic leather is suffocating and I suspect that the waterproof liner underneath wasn’t all that breathable to begin with.
Fitment-wise, the Roam 2 sizes just like a regular shoe and it’s bedroom-slipper comfortable right out of the box. Closure is done with three Velcro straps that give a pretty custom fit. Adventure riders get all hot and bothered over buckles but – on a softer boot like this – Velcro is just as good.
Gaerne G-Adventure Boots
Now, the middle price range used to be a free for all. We had boots like Gaerne’s G-Adventure at 400 bucks, which were hugely popular. It’s a high boot – a little more rigid with three buckle closures and this TPU shin plate. But , there’s a lug sole on the bottom and enough flex panelling to actually be able to walk on it.
So, the G-Adventure is descended from the motocross world, but still comfortable and waterproof enough for a bit of touring. The perfect ADV boot … right?
Wrong .
The G-Adventure is a dinosaur. This boot was great five years ago, but adventure motorcycling is growing fast . New gear improves month by month and the old stuff – goes extinct.
Alpinestars Corozal Adventure Drystar Boots
The latest meteorite to blow away the competition is Alpinestars’ Corozal. Same full grain leather construction – although we get an extra inch of it here – and similar waterproof and breathable membranes. The A-stars’ is called Drystar – I’ve ridden in the stuff before and it’s not as good as Gore-Tex but it’s good enough for me.
Look at how the Corozal excels on the medial side: way bigger shift panel and a way more technical heat shield. Here we have a hard ankle protector baked in, a gripping pattern and – up top – suede for pinching against the side of my motorcycle. The dinosaur, on the other hand, is plain old leather. No armour, no grip, nothing.
Round the back – reflective, reflective. Nothing. Doubled-up accordion stretch, single accordion stretch.
Moving to the outside now, this is a big one. The dinosaur has standard buckles screwed into the leather. Not even a malleolus plate in there. But the Corozal has a wealth of hardware. These buckles are modern arrowhead designs – stolen straight from the Tech 7 and Tech 10 motocross boots. And they’re mounted on this huge hard piece that acts as a biomechanical hinge. Basically it allows my ankle flex up and down, but it inhibits those torsional forces that tend to break bones.
Ending on the front now – the dinosaur’s buckles are hard-stitched into leather straps. But the Corozal’s straps are rigid TPU with these circular spinners. That keeps the fit firmer and safer, but still frees up a comfortable amount of movement with the spinners.
So, when the Corozal landed, every other middle-priced boot became an endangered species. It’s really hard to survive next to this boot, especially when it only costs 330 dollars.
Fitment-wise, the Corozal sizes just like a regular shoe. I should say that the steel-shanked soles are incredibly rigid. Still super comfortable and perfect for standing up on footpegs, but you’ll look a little robotic walking around in them. Think ski boots, Canada.
Alpinestars Toucan Boots
So, Alpinestars hit the bull’s eye with the Corozal. But did they also shoot themselves in the foot?
Because A-stars makes the premium Toucan for over 200 dollars more. And with how impressive the Corozal is, I wonder if it still makes sense to go premium?
So let’s see. On the inside, we get a full plasticized heat shield on the Toucan, so there’s some extra protection that comes with that. Up front – both boots have two lower buckles and Velcro up top. But the Toucan has two contact points on the lowest buckle for a more precise fit. And while both boots have TPU shin shields, the Toucan’s has a hinge mechanism for progressive flex resistance. So alright, I like how this is going to far.
Around the outside, we get blue accents on the Toucan. That’s more of a toonie feature than a two-hundred-dollar one. Down here though, we see aluminum arrowheads rather than plastic. At the ankle, both boots have hinges but the Toucan’s is obviously more substantial. And at the bottom of the Toucan, we get doubled-up leather around the foot cockpit and some venting that the Corozal doesn’t have.
Based on what I’ve seen already, I’m sold on the Toucan. This is a better boot than the Corozal and still an exceptional value for its premium price tag. But , there’s one more feature that seals the deal for me. Did you see it? Gore-Tex. That means 100% waterproof, guaranteed.
Fitment-wise, the Toucan is pretty much identical to the Corozal. It sizes just like a regular shoe, and it’s comfortable despite having a rigid sole. I know – in my head – that the Toucan is more bomb-proof. But the weight gain amounts to a negligible 40 grams, so it feels just as nimble on my foot.
That’s it for my favorite adventure and dual-sport boots! I know it was the Alpinestars show today, but those just happened to be my favorites so what can you do? Thank you guys very much for watching.