Gear Review: Exustar Canyon boots

The Boot

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Exustar offers a wide variety of motorcycle boots. Whether you’re looking for something for street riding, motocross, or for touring, they have a few to choose from.

But one in particular has the added protection I needed for the track but also the functionality of footwear that can double for road riding: the Canyon boot.

Here’s the skinny: The upper section of the Canyon boot is made of a hi-tech microfiber leather. It has a wide padded front and rear area offering comfort and flexibility. This feature especially comes into play when on foot, off the bike.

When looking at the Canyon boot, you’ll see a polyurethane shock absorber structure, strategically positioned to protect the ankle, tibia and heel. The hinged ankle allows you to freely move with the boot on. You wouldn’t want to run a marathon in these, but you can walk around with little to no issues.

The sole of the boot is made with a firm-gripping rubber. That way, when you’re on a sport bike, or you have your feet on wet pegs, they’re highly unlikely to slip off.

The boots aren't officially waterproof, but they did repel H2O while Alex was testing them.
The boots aren’t officially waterproof, but they did repel H2O while Alex was testing them.

Other protective parts include a heel and shin protector, shifter guard, toe slider, a flexible thermoplastic calf and heel protector and more. The boots are fastened by a zipper and Velcro on the inside of the leg.

For those who are fashion-conscious and want boots that match their gear, the boots are offered in black, white/black, and red/black with a little bit of white.

These boots are not gender specific. They come in Euro sizes 37-48 and are 1,760 grams for the pair. They’re not a heavy by any stretch, but they’re substantial enough to give you confidence they’ll keep your bones aligned as they should be.

The Canyon boot retails for $199. In my opinion, that’s a great deal. Looking at some of the other major brands of boots available, they don’t offer as much protection for the price.

Impressions

TPU ankle supports keep your joints protected in a crash.
Polyurethane ankle supports keep your joints protected in a crash.

I’ll come right out and say that I really love these boots.

These boots have been all over the world with me this year. They’ve been on tracks and the sinuous roads in Italy, in the States and more. With all the abuse they’ve gone through, surprisingly, they aren’t too scuffed up. Even around the toes, where I shift or brake, they haven’t worn out prematurely.

I love them because they’re comfortable for track days, or when I’m touring or for hours on end on a motorcycle. I’ve ridden in rainstorms with them on – even though they’re not waterproof – and had minimal, if no water intrusion at all.

Yet, I can also walk in them. Yes, they’re structurally reinforced in a few different places but it’s not like walking around in ski or snowboard boots – something I’m familiar with during the winter months.

The drawback of all the rigidity? Well, you make noise when you walk around!

I won’t be robbing any banks wearing these. I also sound like the Tin Man. But I really don’t mind. Besides, if a bike were to accidentally fall on my foot, I know I’d have some pretty serious protection.

Noise aside, I have a few pairs of boots to chose from when I get on a bike, but I like these the best because of the protection they offer. I cringe when I see riders with shorts and flip flops on because I know that if they were to go down, they would be in a lot of pain for a long time.Even at slow or idle speeds, a motorcycle can do a lot of damage.

Example: A dealership staffer was telling me about moving bikes around at the end of the day. He had his Exustars on because he was about to ride home; he managed to drop the bike on his leg with enough force to break the side structure of the boot, yet his leg remained unscathed. Lesson learned: Wear your boots.

On the negative side, I did find that even after washing the lining inside the boots, they tended to trap odor and not release them*. A few spritzes of Febreze handles that problem.

Also, if you have thicker riding leathers that tend to gather at the ankle, you’ll need to rearrange the boot so you can do the zipper up properly. Depending on the size of your calves, it can be a tight fit. Over time, the material does yield a little but luckily, doesn’t lose its shape.

Overall, the Exustar Canyon boot is an excellent option for those wanting more protection for the feet and legs, without compromising comfort, or your pocketbook.

*Zac had a set of Exustars back in 2011 and found the same thing – Ed.


GALLERY

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