Bike Gear: Alpinestar Tech 7 Enduro Drystar Size 47 or US 12 Boots vs Forma Adventure WP Size 46 or US 12 Boots

Alpinestar Tech 7 Enduro Drystar Size 47 or US 12 Boots

Let's get the sizing gripe out of the way!

There does not appear to be any uniform standard of sizing, particularly with European manufacturers who use there own interpretation of what the US equivalent is. Case in point : Alpinestar claims its 47 = 12 US, while Forma claims it's 46 = 12 US...with most US retailers advising that Alpinestar leans to a smaller than true size fitment i.e go up 1/2 size...while Forma trends to closer to a true to slightly larger fitment i.e. you may be able to down 1/2 size. My foot is between an 11.5 & 12 in length, but is an E width.

On with the review

Waterproof ADV boots with good ankle/foot protection, reasonable walking comfort & soles stiff enough for extended standing that fit my E width foot are limited. The Alpinestar Tech 7 Enduro Drystar (standard width) & Forma Terra Evo Dry (X in USA) (wider than standard width) being my current favoured offerings. I took advantage of GA Checkpoint's Client Appreciation Week 15% discount & ordered the Alpinestar Tech 7 Enduro Drystar boots, which are reviewed as one of the better Adventure boots in terms of protection/feel/quality/weight + being waterproof. See the 'Atomic Moto' & 'Living Off The Slab' video reviews at the bottom for additional & technical info. My size 46 or 11.5 US E width, flat feet requiring orthotic insoles fit my Forma Adventure size 46 boots well with a roomy fore foot & toe box & was concerned if the Tech 7 would fit ok because they do not make 1/2 sizes & have a narrower forefoot & toe box. Initial non riding/regular use impressions are that they seem to fit ok (w/normal weight motorcycle socks) while noting a few differences from the Forma Adventure that fit/feel like a hiking boot, but lack the technology, protection & additional height of the Tech 7 & waterproof gator. They begin to feel somewhat cramped in the toe box & widest part of my foot when using thicker socks while wearing them in the house for break-in. The size 45 or US 11 was a little too snug in the forefoot width & length for me. My foot measures 29.3 cm or 11.5" long & 10.8 cm or 4.25" at the widest point. The size 47 or US 12 weigh 1.9kg or 4.2 lbs/boot with my orthotic insoles.

The Tech 7 has a narrower foot bed & toe box vs the Forma Adventure (see comparison pics below), but for the observations noted above, appear to be wide enough for my E width foot, at least given the limited indoor wear during break-in. The Tech 7s strategically features suede type leather for some of the upper/outer forefoot area (widest part of foot) that in theory may stretch more than the protective TPU used in much of the boot...but the question is if it will mold to the foot with additional use..perhaps the use of suede leather is more to permit flexibility of the ball of the foot to the toe area while walking or kneeling. The lining feels luxurious & supple with slightly thicker padding in the ankle area coddling your foot + comes with a shaped insole lacking arch or metatarsal support with breather holes for the forefoot & strategically shaped/placed cushioning material elsewhere. My full length orthopedic insoles fit nicely & provide slightly more heel retention vs the looser fitting heel with the Alpinestar insole, which is deeply molded in the heel area. The 4 buckle system is well implemented allowing finer tuning/snugness fitting of the foot, particularly the middle 2 straps which help to push my heel toward the back of the boot reducing heel movement somewhat. It appears to be a similar adjustable, high quality & replaceable buckle system as used on the Tech 10 with rotating strap anchors that aid alignment & also has thin black plastic extensions under the straps to protect the microfiber synthetic leather underneath....but do require paying attention that they are layered/positioned under the overlapping outer portion of the boot opening to ensure correct alignment/position. The Forma uses a simpler 3 strap system.

The Tech 7 feels much more supportive/protective than the Forma Adventure & relatively light (devoid of the pendulum effect of heavier soled boots) & comfortable enough for walking without feeling overly clunky like some more off-road focused boots (the front of the sole is angled up to facilitate a rolling heel to ball of foot to toe motion without much ankle articulation) & has a toe box height slightly taller than the Forma Adventure, but have less feel than the Forma Adventure boot that is predominantly leather...I had to raise my shifter to facilitate upshifts, even with the PivotPegz 15 degree rotation, at the expense of now having to lift my foot off the peg for downshifts. The 2 articulating ankle & 1 rear pivot/flex systems, which do produce some creaking noise (silicon spray did little to quiet it), aid walking comfort/ease while still providing increased lateral rigidity/protection, but will not approach the Forma hiking boot feel for comfort...a small compromise considering the superior foot/ankle/leg protection. If I flex the forefoot the maximum range of motion the TPU shifter pad trailing edge where it transitions to suede leather cuts into the upper top outside of the foot, which may be an issue when kneeling to change a tire or other things that require 3/4 to full flexion of the forefoot...other than that they are comfy & this does not occur with normal flexion of the forefoot. In trying to determine who the Tech 7 boots are for I think that riders will have to decide on their priority for protection vs comfort....if the Forma Adventure had better ankle protection & a slightly stiffer, but still walking friendly sole they would be a near perfect Adventure/Touring boot for the average rider (Forma's Terra Evo Dry is closet facsimile). I believe that the Alpinestar Tech 7 Enduro Drystar offers a unique feature set approaching/combining dual sport levels of protection/performance with the waterproof characteristics & almost the same level of comfort of an Adventure/Touring boot at an affordable/competitive price point that is currently unmatched imho.

Fitment Issues

Unfortunately, after extended periods of wearing the Tech 7 indoors fitment issues affecting comfort are surfacing. When using the Alpinestar insoles, which are thinner & more sculpted than my full length orthotics, both feet feel the TPU in the instep & outer portion of my feet at the widest point. When using my orthotic insoles this is diminished & not so prevalent, but my left foot is developing pressure points that become uncomfortable & sore at the widest outside part of my foot...oddly my right foot has not experienced this, so perhaps it is slightly narrower and/or there may be minor differences between the boots at that spot. I can feel the TPU ridge, on the inside of the boot with my hand, where the lower forward edge of the TPU lower foot buckle assembly transitions to the suede leather & then where the toe box TPU juts up a few centimeters further forward.

Perhaps my fitment issues are compounded by my E width feet, a slightly larger left foot, the Alpinestar size 47 or 12 US standard width sizing being 1/2 size longer length than my normal size 46 or 11.5 size & a lose fitting heel that permits my foot to move forward/back/up/dn more than optimal (more prevalent with the Alpinestar insoles because they position my foot lower in the boot) + a boot design that utilizes a significant amount of TPU which is not as forgiving or form fitting as other more pliable materials. I will continue to experiment with beak-in, different socks, switching insoles again & perhaps even use of a heat gun on the TPU areas causing the discomfort to aid molding of the boot to my feet much in the same way ski boots are heated to assist forming to each foot (am somewhat hesitant to do this if I don't keep them). I have now adopted more aggressive manual manipulation of the TPU of the foot area forward of the instep using my feet & hands to work/flex the boot in as many directions as possible to increase suppleness & flex with up to 100 repetitions/direction which does seem to be yielding some benefits...who knew leg, arm & hand Spring training involved boot break-in...lol. It appears that boot designs utilizing significant portions of TPU can benefit from this time consuming & physical process to accelerate break-in..perhaps equivalent to weeks of daily riding & use.

My take away from all this for anyone who has feet that deviate from standard widths, has narrow heels & are 1/2 size length equivalents & considering the Tech 7 or other Alpinestar boots with a similar foot bed & sizing (which tend to fit slightly smaller than some other boots of an equivalent & true size) is to have an extended store fitting & really duplicate as many riding/walking scenarios as possible...bring your riding socks & orthotics. My wish list to Alpinestar would be for 1/2 size equivalents, a snugger heel fit, slightly wider forefoot/toe box & a repositioned toe box TPU rear edge to eliminate/minimize cutting into the foot when fully flexed...otherwise the Tech 7 is a nice hybrid of MX & Adventure style/features & uniquely positioned offering.

Quality control issue - separation of TPU & leather - Warranty Replacement

With ONLY indoor break-in wear a quality control issue has developed. A separation of the left outer forefoot suede leather & TPU at the widest part of the boot where the forefoot flexes pushing the TPU outward away from the leather which may impact water penetration & boot integrity at that point. See pics below. May 18, 2022: Returned for warranty replacement.

June 30, 2022 & 1st Ride Observations

My warranty replacement Tech 7s arrived...will monitor if further issues arise. They require some adjustment to shifting technique & required raising the shifter & brake levery…because of their height & stiffness it is harder to flex your ankle to get the toe under the shifter & take pressure off it between shifts, resulting in some missed up shifts, even with the Pivot Pegz 15 degree rotation...hopefully this improves with break-in. They don't have great tactile feel for the shifter or brake & hope to improve my finess as I become more acclimated are comfortable while riding so far. The stiffer mid-sole is so much more supportive than the Forma Adventures providing extended standing comfort & a more direct interface with the pegs.

Aug 2022 10 day 3,800 km Trip Ride Review

This was a hot & dry trip with daytime temps mostly in mid 30s C (mid 90s F) range & about 80% of the distance on pavement. Full trip details can be viewed on my blog here. The boots were comfortable for all day riding & a little warm, in part because they are so tall & don't breath as well as shorter all leather boots...unzippimg my First Gear Kilamanjaro 37.5 non-vented pants to the knee permitted unbuckling the upper buckle & a larger velcro opening that helped them breath a little better. I used thin knee high Moreno wool blend socks & talc powder & never became clammy or wet.

Because of their height they can be a little fussy ensuring that the gator is properly folded in with out creases, otherwise they get uncomfortable against the upper shin bone quickly....this occurred mostly on my right leg, so perhaps just a nuance of that boot. Walking around regular distances is ok, but feel somewhat ski bootish & after some gravel roads squeaked noticeably...rinsing them with water & using silicon spray help alleviate, but not eliminate the squeak.

I still missed the odd upshift because I had not fully released the shifter, so further break-in/acclimation is needed. Off-road is where they shine with a much stiffer mid-sole/forefoot than my old Forma Adventures, being comfortable for extended periods of standing & providing a more secure interface with the bike, allowing me to move my feet forward & back on my Pivot Pegz. Small trade offs, imho, for the added safety/performance over more street biased boots 👍 I may have to resort to submersing them in water to evaluate their waterproof rating 😎

Aug 2024 Lower Portion of Boot Leaked in 3 Hour Rain/Wind Storm!

While on an 8 day 4,360 km tour I rode for 3 hours in rain & high winds & discovered that my feet were wet & suspect that the water entry was at the soft fabric on the foot potion of the boot. I did not see rain for the remainder of the trip so was unable to re-confirm the issue. I wore riding pants over the boots so the only exposed area of the boot was below the top of my ankle. I have treated the boots with NikWax Tent & Gear Solarproof & will monitor the results...if that does not help, then will try Snow Seal.

Water Leak Update Oct 2024

Despite treatment with NikWax Tent & Gear Solarproof both boots leaked again at the suede type material on the foot area riding in light on/off again rain & dirt roads with many puddles & standing water. It is difficult to determine if the issue is lack of or improper fitment of the waterproof liner or delamination of the bond between the TPU & the suede type material...which is where the failure of the boots occurred when new & subsequently replaced under warranty...regardless, extremely disappointing! They are past the warranty period so no joy there...I will try treatment with Snow Seal & report back.

Alpinestar Tech 7 Enduro Drystar Size 47 or US 12 vs Forma Adventure Drytex Size 46 or US 12

The Tech 7 has a significantly stiffer mid sole with diamond pattern on the instep for good peg interface, that can be replaced, providing improved & extended standing comfort & a more pronounced heel transition/shoulder that should help with a more secure foot peg placement vs the ramped transition of the Forma that can more easily be bumped off the peg. The bulkier Tech 7 upper TPU, which is adjustable separately from the inner boot piece that attaches via velcro, barely allows my standard leg jeans to fit over the boot, but my First Gear Kilimanjaro 37.5 pants easily do...there seems to be a wide range of adjustment of the upper TPU section that may accommodate some knee braces. The upper portion of the boot is angled forward a few degrees encouraging a slight knee bend & attack position while standing & the additional height & boot stiffness act a sort of built in steg pegz stabilizer for your core. The molded rubber sole with multi-directional grids/patterns has a tread depth of 5 mm or 3/16" on the forefoot & heel which reportedly offers good grip & tactile feel. Alpinestar utilizes honeycomb cut surfaces on the inside leg TPU surfaces with the section above the ankle a softer compound for improved grip on the bike with your legs. Alpinestar's experience & attention to detail shine! I have found the Forma Adventure boot (circa 2016) to be 100% waterproof, a little on the warm side & slightly clammy in hot weather (up to 40 C or 104 F), but never uncomfortable or wet inside & would anticipate the Tech 7 to be similar....although the extra height of the boot/waterproof gator & increased use of TPU may add some warmth/clamminess. Further commentary & ride review will have to wait until the T7 is insured in May.