Stylmartin adventure trail boots

[clint640]

Just bought a set of these. (edit: actually Stylmartin ACTIVE TRAIL boots)

I've got a set of full on MX boots, Gaerne RX2's, heaps of protection but not that great to walk in & not remotely waterproof, & I've got some Diadora road boots that are good to walk in but are a bit flimsy for dirt riding & they aren't very waterproof either.

So I wanted a waterproof boot that was solid enough for some enthusiastic adventure riding, but flexible enough to stroll around in when on tour. I've seen the Sidi Discoverys, which are similar, but they're around $700, & also the similar Forma adventure boots which look good, but the Stylmartins seemed just a little more beefy than the Forma's. They sell for $380.

I've only done a few hundered km in them but they seem pretty good so far. Very comfortable to walk around in & quite light for the amount of protection they have. I'm about a size 8 shoe, I got these in size 43 which allows for a couple of pairs of socks underneath.

Haven't tried them in the wet yet, the waterproof-breathable membrane comes up to between the top & middle clip. I'll report back once I've been properly rained on.

Cheers
Clint

[tri boy]

Nice boot Clint.
I'm in the market for something like that. Diadora,Forma,Style M etc.
Let us know if the water stays out.
Got hit in the shin by a bit of gravel last week(wearing my road boots), f**king owyowowee.

[pritch]

I've got two pairs of SM boots, a pair of touring boots and some "urban" boots.

Both are allegedly waterproof with a magic membrane but if you ride far enough in the wet you will get wet feet. (The KB ride to Turangi this year was a case in point - three hours in a deluge.)

[tri boy]

With my hand on my heart, I swear my 12yr old Goretex Alpinestar road boots have never allowed water in. This includes 3 months in India riding the high roads of Ladakh, numerous wet weather rides/adventures, including KB gathering and Adv assault Whangamomona, can walk across shallow muddy streams as at Cold Kiwis.
Alas, these are the real Alpinestars that were made in Italy to a high standard, not the rip off rubbish that NZ imports from China.
Brand new, $500 Aus in 1995.
The only reason I need new ones, is because they are not that suitable for gravel/off road.
Maintenance wise, they are on their second resole, and i swear by Beeswax treatment every two years.
Dry feet rock.
I am waiting for the Forma ATV boot that is backordered from NZ suppliers. (another 4 weeks). Why is there f**k all stock of anything nowadays.

[dino3310]

saw the stylemartins in a bike mag thinking about buying a pair i havent heard anythink bad about them yet they sound like the bees knees

[clint640]

With my hand on my heart, I swear my 12yr old Goretex Alpinestar road boots have never allowed water in

Yep, genuine Goretex is good, I've got a set of Meindl Goretex tramping boots that are really good, even after a lot of hard km. If I could have found a similar adv boot with Goretex I would have happily paid a bit more.

I've been told the Sidi Discoveries are really waterproof, but they are near twice the price of the Stylmartins & aren't quite as solid.

I've been through a couple of decent showers now with no worries but mine are yet to be properly wet-tested.

Cheers
Clint