With a rich history in racing, Alpinestars is known for their seamless marriage between form and function, combining Italian styling with innovative safety features. Their track gear has proven to be superior, so I was eager to see their take on multi-functional adventure riding boots. Many boots I’ve worn have either been too minimal and not protective enough, or too bulky and difficult to ride with. The Alpinestars Corozal Adventure Drystar boots are the happy medium that Goldilocks would pick if she were an ADV rider.

They sort of popped into a comfortable position immediately as I slipped them on. There was no shimmying my feet around to find that sweet spot; it was just there by default. Adjusting the ratchet straps took a few tries to get right, but after that it felt like they were custom-tailored for my feet. The way the boot contours to the instep makes it move with your foot instead of having room to play inside. This makes it easier to shift and brake without a lag in your movements. A down side to having this snug fit is that there isn’t much ventilation, if any. Your feet will sweat, but so will the rest of your body while doing a strenuous activity. Even though the Corozals are comfortable, they took a few rides to become flexible and break in properly.

As advertised, these boots are waterproof. While riding in the rain and through water crossings my feet stayed comfortably dry. If submerged in water above the Drystar membrane line three quarters of the way up, they will take on water. That’s really only a problem that occurs beyond normal use, so I can’t be too critical about it. Drying them out is a bit of a pain, but drying most things usually is. The benefit to having a dense foam EVA footbed is that it will absorb impacts well. The down side is that it will take a while to dry.

The degree of protection these boots provide inspires confidence when riding. With an internal toe box, lateral ankle protection, and a polymer shin plate, worries of crashing and walking with a limp are slowly dissolved. When you can free your mind of those thoughts, concentrating on what’s in front of you becomes much easier. The tough vulcanized rubber soles in the Corozals allow you to put your feet down in turns, improve stability, and enable you to power through where previously trying to maintain traction.

Overall, the Alpinestars Corozal Adventure boots are durable enough to take a beating, and comfortable enough to keep wearing ’til you’re relaxing by the campfire. For a set of boots that will last for years, offers superior protection, and has minimal drawbacks, the price is easily justified. For the months and miles that I’ve put on these boots, they’ve only gotten more comfortable and saved me from injury time and again. MSRP: $299.95 Alpinestars.com

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