A good pair of boots can often be the difference between a great ride and one you would rather forget. There is nothing worse than having cold, wet, sore feet and realizing that you still have hours to go before reaching your destination. So, it goes without saying that when preparing for a springtime adventure to the Arctic Circle earlier this year, finding the right pair of boots was near the top of my must have list.
What makes a great pair of boots? While opinions may vary, there is no doubt that protection in the event of a fall or your foot coming into contact with another object is paramount. Of course style, design elements, functionality, the ability to shelter your feet from the elements and even colour can all factor into an individual’s purchasing decision.
Given the realities of riding to a destination like the Arctic Circle, a high value was placed on protection, functionality, weather resistance and comfort to assist in making long days on the bike enjoyable. Enter the Leatt ADV Hydradri 7.5 Boots.
Part of the company’s foray into the world of adventure riding, the ADV Hydradri 7.5 boots were created to meet the unique requirements of this growing segment offering a combination of comfort and protection.
Fit was true with my go-to size 8 (euro size 42) fitting perfectly. Two adjustable plastic straps secured into aluminum buckles on the boot accommodate a fine tuned fit around the ankle and foot while the top enclosure is easy to adjust around your calf thanks to the unique single-direction velcro setup that allows the hook and loop setup to be slid tighter without it sliding backwards.
In addition to looking great, the Nubuck leather exterior is durable and easily came clean, showing no absolutely wear after two weeks of rain, mud, dust and scuffing against rocks etc. The inclusion of rubber reinforcements on the shifter panel and around the toe box will keep the leather from wearing in these frequent areas of contact.
Precipitation is a reality when riding in the spring and our trip north saw us travelling through rain for at least a part of every one of the twelve days of riding and thanks to the breathable Hyradri waterproof liner my feet remained perfectly dry.
The sole of ADV Hydradri 7.5 boots feature an ADV derived lug pattern. The inclusion of a steel shank for reinforcement was initially a concern as one of my main requirements of a motorcycle boot is feel. Some boots leave you feeling like you are wearing cement blocks on your feet with little or no ability to discern the position of your feet on the pegs or to make concise movements when braking and shifting gears. In this aspect, the ADV Hydradri 7.5 boots are perfect with excellent feel not to mention great comfort when walking in them.
Being dry and comfortable is wonderful, but only if not realized at the cost of overall protection. With two decades of innovation and development keeping off-road motorcyclists safe, it should come as no surprise that ADV boots from Leatt include multiple safety components. In addition to a reinforced shin plate and additional support and TPU protection in the ankle area, the ADV Hydradri 7.5 boots incorporate Leatt’s Flex Limiter technology to limit lateral movement in the ankle.
Anyone in search of more robust protection can look towards Leatt’s MX and Enduro focused products, however the ADV Hydradri 7.5 will likely meet the needs of most adventure riders. The $479.99 MSRP falls somewhere in the mid-range of adventure boots on the market today, making them worthy of consideration if you are in the market for a new pair of boots.
After wearing these boots for at least 12 hours a day for two weeks straight there is literally nothing that I would change about the Leatt ADV Hydradri 7.5 boots. I look forward to seeing how the boots wear over the long term but based on my initial observations, I anticipate this positive experience to continue for years to come.
To learn more about the Leatt ADV Hydradri 7.5 boots as well as the complete lineup of products from Leatt visit www.moto.leattcanada.ca and www.kimpex.com.
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