As a comparatively adventurous adventure rider, I require boots that will protect my ankles when I drop my loaded F800GS, but that also provide enough flex and comfort for a hike or an impromptu rock scramble. Not unlike a dual-sport tire where the consumer is caught between the on vs. off-road capabilities, I’m caught between the on bike protection and off bike comfort.

I began adventure riding with high-end motocross boots, as I spent more time falling than riding. Now I spend substantially less time underneath my bike, so I’ve opted for a bit more flexibility in my boots. After looking at the options available to women, I decided to give the SIDI Stinger a try.

The Stinger is sold as a youth boot. However, SIDI only makes five boots specifically for women, and none are for off-road. So, in order to delve into a boot with more protection, her feet must either be an EU size 40 or larger and fit into men-sized boots, or the limited choice of two youth-specific boots.

Pulling my new Stingers out of the box, I was impressed by the functional beauty SIDI puts into their products. The boots are solidly built and it is a simple process to adjust and snap SIDI’s cam-lock buckle system into place, eliminating any future adjustments when putting on the boots.

The Stingers fit like other SIDI boots I’ve worn, which for me means adding an inexpensive insert to nestle my heel comfortably into the heel well. I have a somewhat wide foot for a woman, and found the Stinger to be about right, giving me just enough room to wiggle each of my toes. The boots fit one European size smaller than my women’s SIDI street bike boots.

They’re constructed in two parts—a lower boot that the foot easily slides into, and an upper that wraps around the calf. The lower boot is joined to the upper by SIDI’s Flex System, allowing ankle movement to have an immediate “broken in” feel. The Flex System allows the rider to either stand or sit while riding, without excessive pressure in the front of the ankle. And for a field test, I climbed 300-plus steps at the Mt. St. Helens National Park in Washington where the Flex System worked as intended.

The downside to the Flex System is that the boots are loud. Loud enough to silence shoppers at a local mall when I squelched by. It wasn’t until my riding partner squirted WD-40 directly into the Flex System that the noise subsided. For a short time, anyway.

The metal toe cap is a good feature for off-road riding, but the cap also provides a little unexpected excitement for women on tall dual-sport bikes who are unable to completely flat-foot their motorcycle when stopped. I managed to skate helplessly across the garage in a useless, yet quite amusing, attempt to push my motorcycle while sitting atop it as the steel tips clacked away in search of traction. 

Stopping at stoplights is equally hazardous where I often hear a distinctive “clink” of the two metal plates touching the ground leaving me to pray neither slips. I recommend removing the toe cap, it’s a simple process of removing a few screws.

While riding, the Stinger is a great boot that feels solid on the pegs and provides ample feedback when shifting or braking. The boot is tall enough to keep from getting caught on the underside of the pegs when lifting my feet off the ground, too. The rubber sole is built for youth weight, and is uncomfortable on my wide off-road pegs after about fifteen minutes of standing. However, for hiking, the rubber sole provides good purchase on rocks.

The Stingers are not produced in SIDI’s premium Italian factory, but its Romanian factory, taking advantage of the lower production costs and keeping this boot at a better price point. Some of the cost-cutting is evident in the dye used in the fabric that wraps around the calf, leaving me with temporary dark circles on my legs after sweating all day in the sun. The boots are comfortably lightweight due to no Gore-Tex liner, and breathable mesh panels.

Women with smaller feet have very few choices when it comes to high-end off-road protection, and the Stingers are a great step in the right direction. I would rate the Stinger at 40% protection and 60% flexibility, making them my go-to adventure boot when I ride easier off-road routes and also have non-riding adventures planned. But in order for companies to make more options for women, we just need to get more women out riding! MSRP: $300.00 MotoNation.com

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