Daytona Lady Star Pro boots | Practical waterproof boots for the shorter lady rider

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As a shorter female rider who had bought myself the tallest bike I had ever owned, these motorcycle boots really appealed to me for their hidden riser heel, giving me an extra 6cm reach in the leg.

These are the first pair of Daytona boots I’ve tested and was wondering if they would live up to their reputation (and steep price tag) in comparison to other touring boots. However upon removing them from the box I was very pleasantly surprised.

How comfortable are the Daytona Lady Star Pro boots?

I found that these boots were comfortable for me from the first wear without any need to break them in. The lining is slightly padded and very smooth meaning that there were no areas that rubbed or left me with sore feet. The hook and loop gusset at the back of the boot allowed me to adjust the width of the calf so that I was able to choose what was comfortable for me – loosened with my riding jeans tucked in or tightened when wearing sporty leathers.

Although the leather outer feels very sturdy and quality the flex panels ensure that the boot moves with you so you don’t end up with that well known stiff biker boot walk. They have been comfortable to walk in off the bike as well as while riding thanks to the comfortable supportive insole, I would usually add an insole to increase comfort but this wasn’t needed with the Lady Star boots.

Do they look good?

It’s quite obvious that these are motorcycle boots when you look at them, but touring boots aren’t designed to be a fashion statement. The Daytona boots are simple and unfussy in the way that they look with understated practical design features. I like that the logo is embroidered into the boot at the ankle giving them a luxury feel and that there isn’t a large brightly contrasting logo at the front.

Are the Daytona Lady Star Pro boots good quality?

The quality of these boots was immediately evident with the plush lining and chunky sturdy zippers either side making putting them on really easy. The sole is solid and shows no sign of wear yet and the leather outer still looks like new. Daytona claim that they are waterproof boots, and I can attest to this having worn them while riding in what can only be described as biblical weather, in the most torrential rainstorm, thunder and lightning that I have ever experienced, and still I arrived at the office with dry feet.

Having worn these for a few months now including bike test days, they have held up incredibly well and with a good clean they look as good as new, I feel confident that they have thousands more miles of life left in them.

Do they offer a good level of protection?

Protection definitely hasn’t been an afterthought with these boots scoring CE level 2 across the board, giving them the highest level of protection. The Armoured areas are soft and unintrusive allowing you to know that you are as safe as you can be, without any nagging rigid armour distracting you. After having an accident last year in a similar style of boots, and coming away far less injured than I could have, safety ratings are always something I ensure I look out for.

Are the Daytona Lady Star Pro boots good value?

While these boots definitely can’t be described as cheap at over £400, I think that they are worth every penny of that. It is difficult to compare these boots to others as they are quite niche with the hidden heel riser, but there are few boots out there that are fully waterproof and offer a maximum protection score across the board.

Alpinestars SMX-6 V2 Gore-Tex boots have an RRP of £310 and don’t have a level 2 abrasion resistance score, I also own a pair of these boots and while they are comfortable they do not feel nearly as sturdy and well made as the Daytona Lady Star boots and can be tricky to zip up over wider calves or trouser bottoms.

So what’s the overall verdict?

If you are a vertically challenged rider like myself looking for a comfortable pair of everyday riding boots then these are definitely worth consideration. Their exceptional waterproofness is hard to come by and worth a lot in itself, paired with their comfort, longevity and confidence boosting height they have quickly become by go to boots.