Alpinestars Supertech R boots review

There are many things that make the Supertech R the choice of world champions, but one of its biggest draws is that this is actually two boots in one. The outer boot looks just as you’d expect, but within it is recessed a secondary, removable bootie. This bootie is constructed using fibreglass reinforced plastic, along with a moisturewicking comfort material. Some people like walking around in the pitlane in the inner bootie, but it wasn’t really designed for this, and in my mind, that just creates unnecessary wear. 

What it is designed for is protection, especially in terms of preventing extreme twisting forces or foot hyperextension in a crash. The hinged biomechanical ankle brace you see on the outside of most race boots is located on this inner bootie. The benefit is that the outer boot gets a clean design on the side that faces the motorcycle, with no armour to be seen. Aside from the hinged armour, the bootie also provides solid protection around the side of your foot, the heel and ankle as well.

That’s not all; the outer boot has a host of protection schemes, including a large section of hard plastic protection for the heel, as well as significant protection for the shin area. The replaceable toe-slider is a smart-looking aluminium unit, while the pentagonalshaped air vents have been designed to help when the boot compresses under impact.

Since it’s so unique, we should talk about how to wear these boots. You can either keep the inner bootie in or remove it, wear it first and then slip on the main boot. The choice is yours, but either way, the important thing is to firmly do up the drawstring closure on the inner boot. Meanwhile, the outer boot uses a recessed zipper along the side and a ratchet closure on top. In case you’re wondering, the inner and outer have to be worn together and neither works without the other! Once it’s all in place, the boot feels very secure but without being restrictive. Alpinestars has really aced the fit and feel, and control on the motorcycle is excellent.

The version we have here has ventilation holes all along the front face and outer side of the boot, while the exhaust vents in the heel extract hot air from within. The result is superb and it feels like there’s a light breeze running over your foot - perfect for our weather conditions! Of course, it won’t be very resistant to rain, but like most race boots, the Supertech is constructed out of an artificial leather called microfibre, instead of full-grain leather. The advantages are it’s lighter yet very strong and will be able to withstand exposure to the elements well.

I’ll cut to the chase - these are the best race boots I’ve used to date. My sole reservation is that the laceup system for the inner boot feels a little delicate, so I’m extra careful while using it. Besides that, the only other caveat is that if you want the best of the best, you’ve got to be ready to pay for it and these boots cost a pretty penny. 

Where: www.planetdsg.com 

Price: Rs 43,999 (available on order)