VOLUME 58 ISSUE 34 AUGUST 24, 2021 P107
S TANDOUT FEATURE
The best fitting boot I've ever tried,
which reduces fatigue and makes the
ride more enjoyable
RIDER AN ALYSIS
If I think really hard, there's prob-
ably about seven or eight times in
the last seven years of working at
Cycle News where I haven't been
wearing a pair of Supertech R's.
These boots have always been
my go-to, and I've become so ac-
customed to them that any change
could almost be met with trepidation
from my end.
I've spent one full track day in
the new Supertech's and have thus
only just broken them in but already
there are three standout features.
The first is how well the new inner
boot system snugly fits into the outer
boot. Previously I always had trouble
trying to get the inner boot to sit
perfectly, and if it wasn't, it was near
impossible to zip up. This is now a
very welcome thing of the past with
the new boots (I even know a couple
top racers that left the inner boot set
and never took it out because the old
system was too much of a pain to set
right).
Once the boot is set, the comfort
is a much higher level. Like when
you get a helmet that fits absolutely
perfectly, the boots are a bit tight at
first but you soon forget about it.
The second point is the airflow is
increased. I'm not sure if it's actually
more, but the new boot does a better
job of dissipating what heat is there.
Normally I'd take my boots off once
them in line with brands that don't
have inner boots like Sidi, which is
no mean feat considering the extra
parts in there.
Rennie Scaysbrook
•SLIMMER DESIGN GIVES
A TIGHTER FIT
•MUCH EASIER TO GET THE INNER
BOOT IN AND OUT
•MORE AIRFLOW MEANS
MORE COMFORT
•INNER BOOT DESIGN MAY NOT
BE FOR EVERYONE IF YOU'RE
USED TO A TRADITIONAL BOOT
•SLIMMER DESIGN GIVES
I come in after a session, but these I
left on all day and didn't think twice
about it.
The third point is the overall fit,
from the new inner boot to the outer
shell, it is slimmer, which for me is
massive as this is the first A'stars
boot where I didn't touch the toe
slider down, even on three different
bikes. The slimmer fit makes getting
your feet set on the pegs easier, and
the new sole stops my feet from slid-
ing on the pegs as much as before.
Each boot weighs (on my scale)
1.1 pounds lighter than my 2020 Su-
pertech R's, and although it doesn't
sound like much it does make a
difference over the course of a track
day. That little bit less weight means
everything moves a little freer, a little
easier, all of which adds up at the
end of the day.
The new Supertech's don't feel
radically different to the old ones,
but they are improved in little areas
everywhere. The slimness now has
LOWDOWN
SUPERTECH R ROAD R ACIN G BOOT
List Price: $499.95
Website: https://www.alpinestars.com