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RiderShop Talk: Gear: Cruiserworks Men's Tour Boots - March 29, 2005 The thing about boots is, you really should wear them when you ride. Feet can take quite a drubbing while on a motorcycle, and an even worse one should you get off your bike while it's moving. If you don't wear boots all the time because you haven't found a pair that are comfortable enough for all day wear or stylish enough to slip past the fashion police at the office, Cruiserworks may have an answer for you in their new Men's Tour style. By removing the straps from their 11-inch Cruiserboot® and making a few other changes, Cruiserworks has produced another comfortable, waterproof, and slip-on boot that lets you feet smile through the miles, whether you're riding or walking. Like the original Cruiserboots, the Men's Tour starts at street level with a flexible, grippy outsole that's bonded to the upper to preclude water seeping in through stitching holes. And inside is the same broad, stiff footbed for quelling foot-peg vibration and providing support for any kind of walking. Next up is a Poliyou insole, which cushions each step with air and helps prevent yucky things from growing inside the boot and your feet. A wicking liner keeps feet dry from the inside, while waterproof, premium full-grain leather keeps out the rain and is the first line of defense against mishaps. The ankles are reinforced with ballistic armor just to be sure a long slide won't wear through the boot. What's different about the Men's Tour is the new boot-strap at the back that makes them a breeze to slip into, and the dual expandable gussets at the top. Anyone with large calf muscles will appreciate the extra comfort that these elastic panels offer. I wore the Men's Tour with a single pair of cotton socks on both my Kawasaki KLR650 (50 plus miles) and my Honda VFR750F (600 miles) and found them to be comfortable and functional in both upright and sporty riding position, due in large part to the flexibility of the V-grip sole and leather uppers. The KLR vibrates quite a bit, and the Men's Tour boots do a better job at keeping the buzz from my feet than any other boots in my crowded closet. The one place where the Men's Tour let down their guard is by not having a positive retention system to keep them on your feet in a nasty get-off. But if their comfort and ease of use means you'll wear boots more often, perhaps that's not a major fault. They certainly are miles ahead in protection compared to the tennis shoes or loafers I see on many a rider's foot. Made in Canada, the Men's Tour boots come in half sizes 7 to 14, in medium and wide widths, as well as half sizes 8 to 13 in narrow widths. They are available from the Cruiserworks website, www.cruiserworks.com, or via their toll-free phone number 800-955-1187. Your satisfaction is guaranteed-Cruiserworks will refund your purchase price for 30 days after your purchase if you're not happy. You can write to them at: Cruiserworks, LLC 5015-F West W.T. Harris Boulevard Charlotte, North Carolina 28269 Note: Cruiserworks recently released a new Lady Rider motorcycle boots that is specifically designed for women riders or passengers. The Lady Riders are waterproof and have all the basic features of the Men's boots in half sizes 5.5 to 11 in medium and wide widths. Written by: Arden Kysely |
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