Alpinestars SMX-R Gore Tex Boots

LONGTERMERS BIKEWEAR REVIEW

Words: Gordon Compton

Pictures: Becci Russell

Yes, before you say anything they were shiny and black not too long ago. (Luckily there isn’t enough room on them to write, “Clean me”, or alternatively, “I wish my wife was this dirty”)


Alpinestars SMX-R Gore Tex Boots

Contact: www.alpinestars.it

RRP: £215.00

Date Purchased: November 2008

Mileage so far: 2000


Mmm, waterproof boots, so waterproof that if water gets in, it can’t out, smell funny, look clonky, heavy and not unlike something James Herriot would have worn on a farm.

Nice.

Well, on the other hand, what about an all weather boot that can be worn without looking like an escaped Oompa Loompa at a fancy dress party, and have the thought, detailing and design like a top end race boot.

Now that’s an idea.

Alright, alright, calm down! Alpinestars are not the first to have thought of this, but great ideas have to be seen through to make a great product come to fruition, and with Alpinestars, and this product, nothing seems to have been forgotten.

The Supertech boot design is a classic in it’s own right, and all of the main features of this design have been grafted in to the SMX-R such as the exoskeleton type heel/ankle/calf protection, integral calf/shin ratchet system and outside calf zip closure.

The SMX-R has been a gradual evolution since 2006 when the very first variation of this great mid range boot appeared, but add the virtues of Gore Tex as a Lining, it has become a fully fledged weather resistant road/race boot. It keeps the wearer comfortable, supported, protected, fairly cosy, and dare I say it, pretty snazzy in the footwear fashion stakes. Shame to get them dirty really.

Anyway, as previously mentioned, the SMX-R Gore Tex carries the Supertech style exoskeleton heel protection, which extends to protect the Achilles tendon, as well as being vented vertically along the outside edges of the heel reinforcement. The bending areas between the heel and calf, upper foot and shin are catered for with softly padded ribbed leather panels. I presume to keep costs down, and not to merge model identity, the heel does not contain a bolt on replacement plate like the Supertech, so is not replaceable if the rear of the heel section becomes damaged.

Simplicity itself, despite having a very obvious lack of moving mechanical joints the SMX-R Gore Tex is full of subtle detailing (even when they're covered in muck)

The inner sides (the side that rests against the side of the bike, if you were talking in the back, NOT paying attention!), of the boot features a stitched in inner heel pad to stop the leather surrounding the arch and the heel being scuffed when the boots are on the pegs. The outside side (the side not resting against the side of the bike, PAY ATTENTION!) has more plastic reinforcement which covers the ankle area, (is vented too), this carries on up to the ratchet closure at the top of the calf of the boot as one piece to maintain maximum strength, and minimising twisting between the foot and ankle.

Holey moley! Thanks to all these holes the Gore Tex lining can actually do it’s job of keeping the boot dry, and fresh inside.

The rest of the leather structure of the boots is covered in various areas with tiny perforations, not unlike the Vented Supertechs, which the SMX-R seems to closely mimic. The upper boot is fitted with a good strong shin plate, (again riddled with more holes, some bigger than others), and substantial looking nylon strips over both big toe areas to stop gear selectors damaging the boot uppers.

“Full of holes, that’s going to work then!?”, I hear you cry, well actually, it does.

If we remember from the blurb, (Page 86, at the top Harris!) Gore Tex is a two way material, keeps the wet out, wicks moisture away, and is dry on the inside. And what exactly do feet have the uncanny knack of doing in boots? Sweating, and subsequently making the boots stink like hell, and staying like it for the rest of the time you own them. However, the holes that are all over the surface of the boot, allow through air into the boot, when moving, which then keeps the lining aired, so effectively helping the boot stay relatively odour free, and uncannily dry.

To finish off the interior of the boots, there is a removable dense foam foot bed, which does take the shape of the riders foot over a short period of time, and despite only being thin, does insulate the sole of the boot, not only from the cold, but effectively from annoying vibration from the bikes pegs.

In fact, this is one of the things that does become apparent is the lack of the Supertech type inner boot, which isn’t a bad thing, but is something that brings to light the range crossing nature of the SMX-R’s design simplicity. However, the calf section of the boot makes up for this by having an elasticated piece along one side of the zipper, and on the opposite side of the boot, an elasticated panel outside, with an adjustable Velcro leather pad. They are there to allow a degree of security, but the ankle can still move comfortably when the ratchet is securely done up.

Finishing off the overall “Supertech/SMX family” look is the two colour sole, wrapping around part of the front of the toe of the boot, to protect the area from scuffing. The soles are fairly grippy on damp tarmac, which comes in handy for shorter riders who might be balancing on the front of one foot whilst waiting at traffic lights. Also, the outside front edge of the boot has the Alpinestars universal replacement toe sliders

You gotta have sole. These one’s just happen to be very hardwearing, and usefully grippy on wet tarmac. The toe sliders are the standard clip on interchangeable type used across most of the Alpinestars boot range. Note also the outside calf zipper position, with the narrow elastic panel alongside for flexibility. Velcro is sooo eighties dahrlings. (that’s why the little bit they do have is hidden inside)

The main features that really stand out asides the look and feel of the boot are really minor touches, such as the zipper positioning being on the outside of the boot, as opposed to the inside of the calf/ankle.

Traditional designs all seem to have a zipper that is on the inside of the ankle/calf area, which is the generally covered by a Velcro lined leather flap. It’s not the worst design ever, but it does not keep the boot 100% sealed, and water eventually seems to work it’s way past the flap, and then the zipper. To add insult to injury, the Velcro flap is expected to stay put around an area that has to flex, and consequently comes apart on a regular basis, catching the frame and pegs, and ultimately, just driving you mad, and giving you wet feet.

Alpinestars seem to have come up with really, personally I think, the best solution, (and another Supertech design idea) by simply putting the zipper on the outside of the boot. The boot can move freely, there is no Velcro to muck about with, and water has less of a chance of getting inside as the zipper is positioned higher up, plus the zipper itself has a simple but nifty Velcro tab which stops the zip toggle from flapping about, which then is covered by the ratcheted shin section.

The one thing about these boots which may get people thinking twice, is the fact that the boot is really designed for trousers to fit in to, it is a road style boot after all, but after riding through all sorts of weather combined with Alpinestars Leather track pants (some might think a mad idea), The calf closure seems to be an effective seal to keep it all out. In fact, the only way to really get any water through them is to ride head long into a flood, which I had to do about a month after the boots were bought, on my way home in the dark. I was very impressed, as the lining let by literally a tiny dribble of water into both boots, fantastic really considering my bike has no lower fairing.

If this still cannot keep you from being utterly inconsolable with doubt, then over trousers would make a 100% seal in all instances, but really, this is just an additional waste of money in hindsight. Just think, you could spend the money on useful things like some Titanium toe sliders instead or some Deely boppers.

Above: Don’t be wet! It does what it says on the label Mabel


CONCLUSION

Alpinestars have really created a practical good looking stop gap between the Race boot and the more agricultural looking touring boots that are available on the market currently.

£215 is a reasonable sum of money, but that is also a halfway price group between top end boots, and the more basically specified budget offerings, but have justified the costs by heavily integrating the features from the top of the range Supertech race boot.

The only obvious real competition from a big name as such, is the Sidi Vertigo Mega Gore boot, but at £15 more than the SMX-R, it is a tough act to take on, despite being a technically minded design, with an intricate calf adjustment/retention system and heel shock absorber of the Vertigo, good ideas, but how good compared to the simple well thought out design of the SMX-R, even down to the thicker longer lasting sole of the SMX. Another thing to mention briefly is, the Alpinestars sole and uppers are more spacious, with less of a formed arch, so even flatfooted riders will be comfy, whereas the Sidi tends to be a tighter less generous sizing on the sole, and “toe box”.

All is not rosy though, as there are two points, not bad, but points nevertheless, is the ratchet system, and the initial fit of the boot.

The sealing of the boot relies mainly on the calf and shin sections of the upper boot clamping firmly together, sounds blatantly obvious, I know. However, if the boot is plainly “done up” whilst sitting down on a chair, with the foot flat to the floor (as done generally), you will find the boot will get draughty, down the shin, causing a nice place for rain water to go down. However, this can be overcome very easily by leaning forward on the chair when you are putting them on, and pointing the foot down in the boot so you go tip toe, then ratchet them firmly up, problem solved.

Strap up! One of the weaknesses with the boot relies on the seal between the riders trouser leg and the upper halves of the boot. Practice getting them on with the upper Calf ratchets adjusted up properly, (5 minutes to suss 1st time) then you’ll be laughing.

Looks are deceiving with the SMX-R, as it does not look like a bulky boot, although first thoughts were mixed when I rode off for the first time, as the initial feedback from the pegs and the toes was vague. I believe this to be the foot bed going through it’s initial shaping, as after about an hour, they felt as sensitive as anything.

Good value (considering the features/design), good looking, hardwearing, and do the job impressively, you’d be hard pushed to match the performance and cost, especially with those Deely Boppers you’ve been promising yourself for ages.