Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystar Review | "The best bit of off-roading kit I own"

5 out of 5

Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystar

from Alpinestars
Updated: 06 November 2024

A well-known brand for off-road bike gear and these Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystar motorbike boots are the latest in a long line of popular, high-quality dirt bike kit.

Tested by Ben Clarke for 3 months/1000 miles

Expert rating:

5.0
Price: £422.99 (was £469.99)

Pros

  • Sturdy
  • Waterproof
  • Comfortable
  • Easy to put on

Cons

  • Heavy
  • Expensive
  • Comfort
    4.0
  • Looks
    5.0
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Protection
    5.0
  • Value
    4.0
  • Overall
    5.0
Construction Lightweight micro-fibre with TPU protection and metal shank reinforcement. Lateral ankle protection.
Type Off-road, enduro, rally
CE rating Level 2
Armour TPU sliders at the shin, calf and toe
  • Drystar waterproofing
  • Hook and clasp buckles
  • Removeable footbed

When I ride on the road, I tend to go for the lightest and most comfortable kit I can get my hands on. I’m all up for riding jeans, urban boots and mesh or leather jackets (when the weather allows). But if I’m heading onto the dirty stuff, I always prioritise safety… because I’m excellent at falling off.

The Tech 7s make you feel like you could head off to conquer a hard enduro at a moment’s notice, but unlike some pure MX boots I’ve worn, you can still just about feel the foot controls and they’re comfortable enough to walk around in, too.

Practical touches like the rubberised knobbly patches in contact areas (inside ankle, gear shift patch, central portion of the soul) to help you stay on the pegs are a great feature, as is the replaceable section in the arch of your foot where off road pegs are most likely to cause damage.

Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystar

Best of all, they’re properly waterproof, whether you’re zipping along a motorway in a downpour or submerging the pegs on a river crossing, your feet will stay dry and that means a lot on a long ride.

In fact, I wore these boots on the recent Suzuki V-Strom 800DE launch and there were a few squelchy boots for other road testers but not me.

Are the Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro boots comfortable?

I think if a proper, sturdy pair of off road boots achieve five stars for comfort, there’s something wrong. I was once told that your MX boots were right if your shins hurt and you couldn’t feel the foot pegs.

Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystar

While that’s not the case with the Tech 7s, there is a reassuring weight and stiffness to them that knocks a star off for comfort – but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

They’re great for all-day riding and seemed pretty breathable in the Sardinian sunshine but they do feel heavy off the bike and gearshifts are a bit cumbersome while you break them in.

The clasp mechanism on the buckles is really easy to operate, too, even when all your blood is rushing to your head, bent double in the rest of your off road kit.

Do the Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro look good?

Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystar

I think the Tech 7s look fantastic in this trick black/grey/gold colour scheme, but they are a bit flash and won’t appeal to all. Luckily, there are some more subtle options available.

The overall design of the boot (disregarding the colour) is aggressive and cool and you can tell that Alpinestars have been at this a very long time.

There is branding almost everywhere you look, from the more obvious A-Stars logo in white on the shin to the subtle number 7 built into the rubberised grip material on the inside ankle. You feel like a factory rider, even if you can’t throw a bike around like one.

Are Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro boots good quality?

Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystar

As I expected from Alpinestars, the quality is second to none – my last pair of off road boots from the brand lasted me over 15 years. Not only would I expect these to stand the test of time, I would feel completely confident crashing in them, which is bound to happen sooner or later off road.

The first thousand miles on a mixture of roads, gravel, dirt and river crossings hasn’t even managed to take the showroom shine off them.

Do the Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro boots offer good protection?

Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystar

Unsurprisingly, the Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduros are CE level 2 rated and incorporate abrasion resistant materials, TPU shin and calf sliders, lateral ankle protection, a lower section reinforced with a metal shank and a reinforced toe.

Whether you’re cruising around the NC500 on tour, commuting to work on your GS, dabbling with some greenlaning, visiting your local MX track or tackling a hard enduro, they will have you covered.

Are Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro boots good value?

Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystar

Good value doesn’t always mean cheap and the Tech 7s are at the upper end of the motorbike boot market. But they will last for many years, they’re genuinely waterproof and they’ll do the business in an off.

Sidi’s Adventure 2 GoreTex boots are £350 or a pair of Stylmartin Impact Pro will set you back £250. But TCX offer their Comp Evo 2 model – a similar blend of adventure and competition style – for £440.

As I said before, I’m a big fan of sturdy, dependable off road boots and I wouldn’t baulk at paying the asking price for the Alpinestars.

The verdict

Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro logo

If I set off around the world on an adventure bike tomorrow, these would be the first boots I reached for. They look brilliant, feel comfortable and I trust them to keep me safe if/when I fall off.

Having waterproofing you can trust is convenient if you’re commuting or on a single day ride-out but it becomes far more important than that on multi-day trips off the beaten track and the Tech 7 Enduros are truly impervious to moisture. I would spend my own money on them any day of the week.

Steve Herbert-Mattick’s review after 3 years and 4,000 miles

Alpinestars off-road boots are renowned amongst dirt riders and numbered according to how hardcore they are (Tech 3 are softest, Tech 10 for ultimate performance and protection). Having a weak ankle from a old crash injury but wanting a bit of comfort, I choose the Tech 7. In particular, this was when they were first released with a waterproof Drystar membrane.

Price: £422.99 (was £469.99)

Pros

  • Vegan-friendly
  • Huge protection
  • Excellent construction
  • Supportive
  • Comfortable
  • Great adjustability
  • 100% waterproof

Cons

  • They do let ester in at the top and don't drain
  • Comfort
    5.0
  • Looks
    5.0
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Protection
    5.0
  • Value
    3.0
  • Verdict
    4.0
Construction Lightweight, PU-reinforced microfiber upper, dual-density compound sole
Type Of-road
CE Rating Level 2
Armour Ankle, shin, toe sliders and heel
  • Drystar waterproofing
  • Removable footbed
  • Hook and claps buckles

So how comfortable are the Enduro 7 boots?

From the box they felt incredibly secure, very rigid and like I’d never be able to articulate my feet or have any feel through the pegs. Compared to road boots – even adventure touring boots like I’d worn previously they felt like they were built for going to war more than riding the UK’s green lanes.

They very quickly softened – especially once they’ve absorbed some bodily warmth. I have narrow feet and the slim shape works well for me. The hook and loop closure is very strong, while the huge opening and individually adjustable aluminium buckles makes getting them on and off and achieving a perfect fit easy.

Alpinestars Drystar Enduro 7 boots on worn a Honda

They’re so comfortable in fact, that after attending an off-road school in Wales for two days, I kept them on for the four-hour ride home on a KTM 890 Duke with no complaints.

How do the Alpinestars Drystar Enduro boots look?

Do you really need your off road boots to look cool? I like understated kit and Tech 7 Drystar look tough and purposeful in black. The small accents of fluro yellow and bare metal are classy and they wear a heavy coating of dirt well.

Are the Enduro boots good quality?

Everything about them is quality. The vegan-friendly construction with its microfibre upper, TPU protection in the ankle and shin, metal shank reinforced lower shell and grippy enduro sole is so well built they’ve withstood all the ups and downs of my off road riding and feel like they’ll never need replacing.

What protection do the Alpinestars Enduro boots offer?

The Tech 7 Drystar come with a CE level 2 rating and incorporate a lightweight microfibre upper, TPU shin plate and calf slider, ankle protection and the lower shell is reinforced with a metal shank. The toe section is reinforced, the enduro sole is developed for increased drip and durability and the replaceable buckles with their aluminium frames are cleverly built to open in opposite directions, increasing security. They’re tough as boots… what more could you possibly need?

Alpinestars Drystar Enduro 7 boots

Are these boots good value for money?

I also have a pair of Sidi Atojo which RRP at £449.99. Those aren’t waterproof or anywhere near as comfortable, which makes the Tech 7 Drystar seem good value despite the high price tag. But if waterproofing isn’t important, the excellent TCX Comp Evo 2 at £300 makes these seem very steeply priced.

Price: £337.49 (was 449.99)
The Sidi Atojo SRS boots have been designed for the off-road rider, created in Technomicro composite these boots are lightweight but also durable and protective. They feature an SRS replaceable sole, PU protectors, metatarsus protector and an adjustable micro-buckle system.

Cons

  • Not waterproof
Construction Microfibre
Armour Shin and heel
Type Off-road
  • Anatomically shaped PU shin plate
  • 3 hyperextension systems
  • Micro adjustable and replaceable buckle system
  • PU bootleg on the back
  • Inner PU bootleg
  • Elastic gaiter
  • Replaceable metatarsus protection
  • Anatomically shaped PU heel
Price: £299.99 (was 399.99)
The TCX Comp Evo 2 boots are an off-road boot with a Michelin Hybrid MX sole. They benefit from breathable lining and four adjustable aluminium buckles to help keep your feet comfortable and secure. The various reinforced areas across the boots, shin plate, toe guard, ankle and malleolus zones, give added protection where you need it.

Pros

  • Cheaper than some other options

Cons

  • Only available in vibrant colours
Construction Microfibre and PU frame
Type Off-Road
Armour Ankle, shin and heel
  • Breathable liner with double compound PU soft padding around the ankle
  • Double flex control system
  • PU adjustable shin plate
  • Polyurethane toe guard
  • Internal high grip zone heat guard
  • Rear polyurethane heel reinforcement
  • Ankle and malleolus reinforcements
  • Four adjustable aluminium buckles

So what’s the verdict?

They’re the best bit of off-roading kit I own and are beyond fault by almost any measure of performance. But value-wise, as awesome as they are they are undeniably eye-wateringly expensive. £470 is big money but they’ll likely last so long they’ll earn their keep. Having wet feet is miserable so the membrane is a great addition, but when wearing ‘inny’ trousers and doing water crossings the fact they hold on to any water that gets in defeats the point a bit. Aside from that, they’re truly excellent.

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Ben Clarke

By Ben Clarke