Daytona Road Star Boots
A couple of month ago when I needed to get some good winter weather boots I had a good look at the usual places (Online, Hein Gericke UK, RAD Belgium, etc.), keeping in mind a budget of around £250 (€ 300). There are lots of tests out there and each of them have another idea what is good or bad.
However after trying on several different boots I decided to go for Daytona Road Star.
That is what Daytona says:
Features:
- the Daytona Road Star Goretex is a perfect fit, available for narrow and wide feet
- hydrophobic special full cowhide
- watertight and breathable with GORE-TEX® climatic membrane
- velcro fastener for different calf sizes
- two zip fasteners to get in quick and easily
- the Daytona Road Star Goretex has a reinforced gear change cushion from abrasion resistant PU foam
- PU foam sole
- anatomically formed climatic insole
Safety:
- plastic ankle protection, both sides, padded inside with open-cell special foam
- wide shinbone protection, padded with latex foam inside
- plastic reinforced inner sole with a hot-dip galvanised steel inlay, that allows you to gently roll your feet
- the Daytona Road Star Goretex has 3M-Scotchlite heel reflectors
- special grip knobbed rubber sole
- Height of shaft: ca 29 cm
My Review:
None of the shops I spoke to ever heard of different fits for wide or narrow feet, so I wasn't able to test this. I assume I was testing the wide-feet ones as my feet are not especially narrow. The fit is not as good as it could be. It sits perfect around my lower leg (calf), but my foot has too much space. I did try a smaller size, but that was too small. So on go the low socks, it is winter after all and there we go - perfect fit.
They are very light, but not flexible at all. They feel like a very light sky boot. However I can walk in them alright.
The leather feels nice and looks good, they look like they cost some money.
First time on the bike and I felt like being on a different bike. I just wasn't able to change gear up. The boot is so solid that I couldn't get my foot underneath the gear changer. I had to completely change my seating position and even then it was a pain in the foot (literally).
It did get a bit better after a while, but even after 600 KM, it still is a hugh issue for me. Just for comparison I did tried it with my old Hein Gericke Goretex boots and no problem at all. I just hope the leather will soften soon.
But they do shine in the weather protection department. I have never wore a boot which can deal with everything you through at it. I was on the road in -14 degrees Celsius for over an hour and my feet felt comfortable throughout. I was on the bike in torrential rain for over 20 minutes on the motorway, no wet feet, perfect.
That's it for now, but I will be updating this review next week after my trip to the MCN Bike Show in London. The trip Brussels - London in this weather should be a great test.
Stay tune for my updates. ... back from London.
To give you the short run, we had torrential rain for 2 hours up to Calais and no rain, but wet roads up to London (that makes a change). The Daytona Road Star have been brilliant. No water came in and my feet stayed nice and warm.
Now I am convinced I made the right decision.
Beside that, the rain must have softened the leather a bit, as switching gears up is much less of a pain now and walking about the exhibition was not a problem at all.
All thumbs up for the Daytona Road Star Goretex!
JodiSte - 7th of February 2010
