Kensaku
Well-known member
In 2005, Alpinestars redesigned their top-of-the-line racing boot, the Supertech. I had the older version of the Supertechs and liked them so much, I decided to buy the new version to replace my stinky pair. :green
Here's a picture of the old version.
Both new and old versions of this boot has an inner boot that significantly increases ankle support, which is something I desperately need since my ankles are complete dog shit due to basketball injuries (and one surgery). The outer boot is comprised of plastic, leather, nylon, and a couple shiny bits of metal. It is a three-step process to put these boots on:
1) Put foot in inner boot and tighten by pulling the nylon string; a plastic guide/stop (whatever you want to call it) keeps the nylon string from coming loose. The excess string is then wrapped around the boot and is secured by a round piece of velcro that sticks to the outside top portion of the inner boot, shown here (new boot, but the old and new versions use the same inner support):
2) Once you place the inner boot inside the actual boot, you zip up the boot.
3) Lastly, the rear of the boot is secured, and this is where one of the differences is between old and new (continue reading).
Alpinestars' boots are notoriously stiff when brand new and requires several rides in order for them to break-in. However, while I found this true with the SMX Plus, I didn't find it too stiff with my first pair of Supertechs (the old version). In fact, it was even one of the most comfortable boots I had tried on for walking around in right off the bat. It could be that because the version I had were the vented ones where the leather portion of the boot is perforated, but I can't say for sure. I do know that the newer version I have (non-vented) is much stiffer than my first pair of Supertechs. Now, onto the new pair...
Aesthetically, both old and new are virtually identical.
But, functionality has been refined a bit, which has improved the overall quality of the boot. The most significant change is the outer boot's zipper location. It has been relocated from the back of the boot to the side of the boot, supposedly making accessibility easier and also decreasing risk of having the zipper come off its tracks as I have noticed that at times, I had to use quite a bit of unnecessary force to pull the zipper up on my old pair.
Here, you can see the old version's rear entry system...:blush
And here is the new version!
By locating the zipper on the side, it allows the upper plastic shell of the boot to act as a flap. On the inside, they reserved quite a bit of real estate for velcro, which both secures the zipper pull (which is wrapped in velcro) and the plastic shell around your leg.
Here is a picture of the all the velcro.
Finally, the new version has incorporated a plastic rachet instead of a flimsly piece of plastic/velcro to secure the rear of the boot. This is also quite a significant change because, in my experience, Alpinestars' velcro quality isn't the best and the old version's rear flap thing often came loose while riding. This never affected the safety of my foot or my riding for that matter, but it was annoying to feel the little flap...uh...flapping against your calf.
No more flappy.
Overall, I think these boots rock! I'm ambivalent about the new zipper location as it really doesn't make it easier to put on. However, ease of putting them on isn't a big selling point for racing boots for me anyway. It is safety, comfort, and pretty much looking good. :cool
I'd have to say that the support these boots offer are up to par for my needs. Unfortunately, I don't have the convenience of going and trying on every boot out on the market, but I believe these to be some of the best ones for the money, which is roughly around $300.
Here's a picture of the old version.
Both new and old versions of this boot has an inner boot that significantly increases ankle support, which is something I desperately need since my ankles are complete dog shit due to basketball injuries (and one surgery). The outer boot is comprised of plastic, leather, nylon, and a couple shiny bits of metal. It is a three-step process to put these boots on:
1) Put foot in inner boot and tighten by pulling the nylon string; a plastic guide/stop (whatever you want to call it) keeps the nylon string from coming loose. The excess string is then wrapped around the boot and is secured by a round piece of velcro that sticks to the outside top portion of the inner boot, shown here (new boot, but the old and new versions use the same inner support):
2) Once you place the inner boot inside the actual boot, you zip up the boot.
3) Lastly, the rear of the boot is secured, and this is where one of the differences is between old and new (continue reading).
Alpinestars' boots are notoriously stiff when brand new and requires several rides in order for them to break-in. However, while I found this true with the SMX Plus, I didn't find it too stiff with my first pair of Supertechs (the old version). In fact, it was even one of the most comfortable boots I had tried on for walking around in right off the bat. It could be that because the version I had were the vented ones where the leather portion of the boot is perforated, but I can't say for sure. I do know that the newer version I have (non-vented) is much stiffer than my first pair of Supertechs. Now, onto the new pair...
Aesthetically, both old and new are virtually identical.
But, functionality has been refined a bit, which has improved the overall quality of the boot. The most significant change is the outer boot's zipper location. It has been relocated from the back of the boot to the side of the boot, supposedly making accessibility easier and also decreasing risk of having the zipper come off its tracks as I have noticed that at times, I had to use quite a bit of unnecessary force to pull the zipper up on my old pair.
Here, you can see the old version's rear entry system...:blush
And here is the new version!
By locating the zipper on the side, it allows the upper plastic shell of the boot to act as a flap. On the inside, they reserved quite a bit of real estate for velcro, which both secures the zipper pull (which is wrapped in velcro) and the plastic shell around your leg.
Here is a picture of the all the velcro.
Finally, the new version has incorporated a plastic rachet instead of a flimsly piece of plastic/velcro to secure the rear of the boot. This is also quite a significant change because, in my experience, Alpinestars' velcro quality isn't the best and the old version's rear flap thing often came loose while riding. This never affected the safety of my foot or my riding for that matter, but it was annoying to feel the little flap...uh...flapping against your calf.
No more flappy.
Overall, I think these boots rock! I'm ambivalent about the new zipper location as it really doesn't make it easier to put on. However, ease of putting them on isn't a big selling point for racing boots for me anyway. It is safety, comfort, and pretty much looking good. :cool
I'd have to say that the support these boots offer are up to par for my needs. Unfortunately, I don't have the convenience of going and trying on every boot out on the market, but I believe these to be some of the best ones for the money, which is roughly around $300.
