The Story of Cruiserboots®
Cruiserboots® are a product of frustration, frustration
experienced personally and that of friends who ride. Like a couple million
other people, we ride big cruisers. We wanted boots that had a classic
look, were super comfortable so you could walk in them when you "got there,"
were weatherproof (we're all in our 40's and 50's now and wet feet aren't
as much fun as they used to be), had super grip when you put your foot
down, and had a few safety features. So the search began and we tried
them all, including:
Cowboy Boots - They
looked "OK" but the soles are curved, giving me little surface to surface
contact when I put my foot down. Makes sense. When you stop your horse,
you don't have to put your foot down to hold the horse up. They weren't
waterproof and the stacked heel hurt my back. I'll use them to ride
horses.
"Combat Style" Hunting
Boots - They were pretty comfortable but just didn't have "classic"
biker attitude. People kept asking, "Get your deer yet?" And, the lug
soles didn't slide well on the pegs. The cleats would hang up, so I
needed to shift my weight to slide my foot. When I stopped and put my
foot down, the sole was a little on the hard side, so the grip wasn't
great. I kept them for my ATV.
The Classic B /Engineer Boot - They
had the right attitude, but I was back to the stacked heel and when
I walked in them my back hurt (see cowboy boots). They also weren't
waterproof, or even slightly water resistant. The insole was uncomfortable
and outsole too hard to really grip when I put my foot down at intersections
with loose sand and gravel. They looked good on James Dean in the 50's
but he was, what, about 22 years old?
European-made Engineer Style Boot - I tried
these too. Unfortunately, they were sized metrically for Europeans,
had no insole (this was a major brand product) for comfort, and the
Europeans chose to "improve" on the classic American design with a few
of their own notions of style. They were ugly, hurt my feet, didn't
fit right, did I mention ugly?, and, get this, didn't have a 90 degree
heel! Instead of "hanging on the pegs", they would slide right on off!
I don't get it. I've seen Ducatis! I know they have pegs! Anyway, I
wouldn't wear them now to dig a hole in the yard (unless maybe I left
the boots in the hole).
So, by now, frustration was setting in big time. We started
thinking: Thousands of people who are baby boomers are buying cruisers
and tour bikes.
These folks, like us, wanted to be comfortable and dry.
They wanted classic style to match the classic ride.
They had come to appreciate "high tech" benefits through their other outdoor
sports. So we started our own company and named it Cruiserworks®.
We then went all around the country looking for a manufacturer that had
a high quality record of building "all weather" leather boots. After spanning
the country, we finally found the right match in Canada. We quickly discovered
that up in Canada they really know how to make boots. (After all, up there
they have about two weeks of summer and the rest of the year is "boot
weather.") Anyway, we sat down and designed a boot especially for boomers
who bike. First we selected materials: Leather - Premium work boot leather
with waterproofing "tumbled" into every pore of the hide (not "painted"
on the surface).
Outsole - Oil
and acid resistant. Soft enough to be super comfortable and grip well,
but tough enough to wear and wear. Also, we chose a "V-grip" sole design
that grips loose sand and gravel like nothing you've seen.
Ankle Protection - We put
a layer of super tough ballistic nylon around the ankles on both sides
of the boots. It is abrasion and puncture resistant and adds a measure
of protection.
No Steel Shank - Instead,
we used a technology that was designed for cross-country ski boots.
It is a fiberboard footbed with 4,300 lbs./sq. inch tensile strength.
It means that bike vibration is spread over an area approximately 300%
larger than a steel shank, dampening the effects of the vibration. And,
the broad footbed adds stability when walking on uneven terrain.
Military Toe Box - The toe box we use is developed for the Canadian military. It's lightweight,
won't conduct cold, yet tough. Don't drop a transmission on your foot,
it's not that tough. But it will stand up to repeated shifting and will
keep your boots looking good for years.
Hardware - The
nickel-plated hardware is great looking and rustproof. They are forged,
not stamped out of cheap metal. Also full grain, water-proof polishable leather will leave you and your boot looking the best for wear.
Insoles - We have PU, air-injected, super wicking, super comfortable insoles.
They help keep you dry and comfortable, and they are antibacterial and
odor resistant.
Boot Lining -
, one of the most moisture wicking fabrics known to mankind. It's like
climate control for your feet. When it's cold, it wicks away the moisture,
keeping you warm. When it's hot, our internal moisture management system wicks away moisture,
keeping you cool! It is amazing stuff and it really works. Also our new footbeds supply great support & cushioning.
So, we took all those materials and put them together in the
form of the 50's era traditional "engineer style" boot (and later our
"tour" style) that we bikers have come to love. The end result is a boot
that:
- Perfectly matches your classic or tour ride.
- Keeps you dry (guaranteed) and comfortable.
- Helps you hold your bike upright at lights.
- And is so comfortable your feet say ahhh when
you stick your feet in them!
All Weather...All Comfort...All Biker.®
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