Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystar Review

Alpinestars are well-known for their off-road bike gear and these Tech 7 Enduro Drystar motorbike boots are the latest in a long line of popular, high-quality dirt bike kit.

When I ride on the road, I tend to go for the lightest and most comfortable kit I can get my hands on. I’m all up for riding jeans, urban boots and mesh or leather jackets (when the weather allows). But if I’m heading onto the dirty stuff, I always prioritise safety… because I’m excellent at falling off.

The Tech 7s make you feel like you could head off to conquer a hard enduro at a moment’s notice, but unlike some pure MX boots I’ve worn, you can still just about feel the foot controls and they’re comfortable enough to walk around in, too.

Practical touches like the rubberised knobbly patches in contact areas (inside ankle, gear shift patch, central portion of the soul) to help you stay on the pegs are a great feature, as is the replaceable section in the arch of your foot where off road pegs are most likely to cause damage.

Best of all, they’re properly waterproof, whether you’re zipping along a motorway in a downpour or submerging the pegs on a river crossing, your feet will stay dry and that means a lot on a long ride.

In fact, I wore these boots on the recent Suzuki V-Strom 800DE launch and there were a few squelchy boots for other road testers but not me.

Are the Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro boots comfortable?

I think if a proper, sturdy pair of off road boots achieve five stars for comfort, there’s something wrong. I was once told that your MX boots were right if your shins hurt and you couldn’t feel the foot pegs.

While that’s not the case with the Tech 7s, there is a reassuring weight and stiffness to them that knocks a star off for comfort – but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

They’re great for all-day riding and seemed pretty breathable in the Sardinian sunshine but they do feel heavy off the bike and gearshifts are a bit cumbersome while you break them in.

The clasp mechanism on the buckles is really easy to operate, too, even when all your blood is rushing to your head, bent double in the rest of your off road kit.

Do the Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro look good?

I think the Tech 7s look fantastic in this trick black/grey/gold colour scheme, but they are a bit flash and won’t appeal to all. Luckily, there are some more subtle options available.

The overall design of the boot (disregarding the colour) is aggressive and cool and you can tell that Alpinestars have been at this a very long time.

There is branding almost everywhere you look, from the more obvious A-Stars logo in white on the shin to the subtle number 7 built into the rubberised grip material on the inside ankle. You feel like a factory rider, even if you can’t throw a bike around like one.

Are Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro boots good quality?

As I expected from Alpinestars, the quality is second to none - my last pair of off road boots from the brand lasted me over 15 years. Not only would I expect these to stand the test of time, I would feel completely confident crashing in them, which is bound to happen sooner or later off road.

The first thousand miles on a mixture of roads, gravel, dirt and river crossings hasn’t even managed to take the showroom shine off them.

Do the Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro boots offer good protection?

Unsurprisingly, the Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduros are CE level 2 rated and incorporate abrasion resistant materials, TPU shin and calf sliders, lateral ankle protection, a lower section reinforced with a metal shank and a reinforced toe.

Whether you’re cruising around the NC500 on tour, commuting to work on your GS, dabbling with some greenlaning, visiting your local MX track or tackling a hard enduro, they will have you covered.

Are Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro boots good value?

Good value doesn’t always mean cheap and the Tech 7s are at the upper end of the motorbike boot market. But they will last for many years, they’re genuinely waterproof and they’ll do the business in an off.

Sidi’s Adventure 2 GoreTex boots are £350 or a pair of Stylmartin Impact Pro will set you back £250. But TCX offer their Comp Evo 2 model – a similar blend of adventure and competition style – for £440.

As I said before, I’m a big fan of sturdy, dependable off road boots and I wouldn’t baulk at paying the asking price for the Alpinestars.

The verdict

If I set off around the world on an adventure bike tomorrow, these would be the first boots I reached for. They look brilliant, feel comfortable and I trust them to keep me safe if/when I fall off.

Having waterproofing you can trust is convenient if you’re commuting or on a single day ride-out but it becomes far more important than that on multi-day trips off the beaten track and the Tech 7 Enduros are truly impervious to moisture. I would spend my own money on them any day of the week.