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Iron WorksCruiserworks Cruiserboots - March 29, 2005 The first thing I do when trying out a pair of motorcycle boots is to wear them around the office or house for a day. That's because no matter how good a boot is at doing its job on the motorcycle, it's off-the-motorcycle performance that will win my endorsement. You see, any amount of riding - for me - is usually followed by a considerable amount of walking. Be it a few passes up and down Main Street or a lap around the Mid-Ohio Race Course, motorcycle boots need to be excellent walking boots too. But let's start off with the technical details first. The boots is a pull-on style that looks like conventional two-buckle "Engineer" boot. The upper is top-grain leather with a special waterproofing treatment that Cruiserworks says is literally "beat in," as opposed to being sprayed on. The say their process still allows the leather to breathe while 100% waterproof. The uppers are attached to the outsoles with bonded Polyurethane, (like hunting and hiking boots), for a waterproof seal. The V-Grip outsole offers excellent traction on gravel or slippery surfaces and is acid and oil resistant. Inside there's a Poliyou Air Insole - a cushion That's springy and promotes breathing. A Dri-Lex upper lining is designed to wick moisture away from the foot and vent it out the top of the boot. Both of these products work to form a snug, rub-free fit in a pull-on style. Ballistic Ankle Armor, shock resistant footbed, and Styrene Toe Guard offer a measure of protection to the foot and ankle. So how do they work? Just great. The comfort level is exceptional and I burned three or four miles on foot to prove it. No, Cruiserboots are not like a set of broken-in sneakers, but for riding boots it would be hard to find - at lease in my experience - and equal. They're comfortable, even on extended walks. But be advised, size matters-you need them snug enough not to rub, but loose enough to pull on. The makers says they're made to standard North American fit specifications so if you have a pair of domestic-made work boots that fit just right, order that size. They come in men's sizes, 7-13, (medium or wide), with half sizes up to 11.5. I'll have to admit, it too some doing to finally check out their weather protection-hey, who wants to ride in the rain? (See ya honey, gotta go for a bike ride, it's pouring outside!) In any case, Cruiserboots have lived up to the claims of being 100% waterproof. I didn't spend all day in the rain, but allowed enough time to determine that they were massively better than lace-ups I'd been wearing (even with overboots). So I'm sold. Function on the bike, comfort on the street, and traditional good looks; I guess that about covers it, eh? Cruiserboots carry a "Risk-Free" warranty. If you don't like how they feel, send them back. If you don't like how they fit, send them back. And heck, they say, if you mother-in-law doesn't like them, send them back for a full refund, not questions, no hassles, no bull; honest, that's what they say. Personally, I didn't teat that promise-I'm keeping mine. Written by: D. Stemp |
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