Sometimes you don’t want to be wearing a full motorcycle boot. Either the trip is too short, or you need to be walking around and/or looking casual when you get to your destination. But you need protection when you’re on the bike.
Richa’s Krazy Horse boot is made for this kind of task. They look like a kick-around leather trainer – so fit with denim jeans real easy – but come with real motorcycle boot features. So we’re happy to find soft ankle protection (that’s actually pretty hard!) and reinforced heel cups under the strong leather outer.
When you put them on for the first time you’ll feel that added protection, they’re a stout boot that feel to enclose your foot and ankle in a fairly substantial protective enclosure. They’re actually a little stiff on first wear so need a little breaking in. But with the non-slip sole and relatively modest overall bulk they’re still light and slim enough to allow a pretty tactile feel for your footpegs and levers, which is always to be valued.
Icing on the cake is the waterproof membrane. The boots kept the water 100% out during a torrential downpour I encountered while cruising on the Triumph T120 Ace. My waterproof trousers started to leak during this downpour (pants, literally) and the bottom of my jeans got properly soggy – I rode through quite a few flooded dips – but the boots (and my socks) were bone dry inside. Happy days!
So okay, I’m not going to go adventure riding in them, nor riding enduro, but with so many quick trips and commutes in between my off-roading jaunts here’s my new go-to boot for those.
Last thing, I rode in these boots, plus a pair of jeans and Richa’s cool Toulon 2 leather jacket when making the 150 mile journey to Silverstone when returning their KTM 1290 Super Adventure R – when I got there the staff commented how smart-casual I looked and were a little surprised I’d actually ridden there at all given the, err, sartorial elegance. So yes, top result all round!
