Dainese Torque In Boots
Dainese Torque In Boots
CW EVALUATIONS
Foot and ankle protection meet Italian styling
MODERN ROADRACING BOOTS ARE highly specialized, but some models with their many fancy bells and whistles take longer getting into than the rest of your riding gear combined.
Not so Dainese's Torque In boots. These sleekly styled, Romanian-made numbers go on (and off) in seconds yet have the Italian company's torsion-reducing, full-wrap D-Axial system, which offers comparable an kle protection to that of oth er high-end boots. A single, full-length, rear-entry zipper provides closure. There are no buckles, straps, tabs or other types of fasteners to adjust or slow the process.
About that funny name: "In" refers to the patented design that lets the boots be worn inside the legs of the Italian company's "professional" leather suits. Hook-and-loop swatches stitched to the shins of the boots and inside the legs bond boots to leathers securely. Despite drawing criti cism from appearance-driven tradition alists, this is a good system that works flawlessly.
Sturdy D-Stone fab ric is used near the tops of the boots, and the synthetic-leather Lo rica construction holds up well and cleans easily. On the downside, the lowprofile rubber soles are not replaceable, and the small Allen-head screws that secure the stainless-steel toe sliders are not deeply set. Hey, if they are good enough for Valentino Rossi...
DETAILS
Dainese USA, Inc. 1645 Superior Ave. Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949/645-9500 www.dainese.com Price:.. .$299
Ups
Sleek and slim
Fit like a glove, er...
Three colors, eight sizes
Downs
Wide feet need not apply
Not as tall as some boots, slightly less coverage when worn with anything other than shin guard-equipped leathers
Not ideal for long walks
