LS2 Acrux Short Boots Review | KTM styled urban boots that are just as polarising

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Helmet manufacturer LS2 branched out into the rider clothing market five years ago, and now has an impressive range of affordable and cool-looking kit. These Acrux motorcycle boots are just one of four pairs that the brand offers, and being short-styled and non-waterproof makes them ideal for occasional sunny day, short-distance leisure riders or commutes.

How comfortable are the LS2 Acrux short boots?

One of the main reasons for opting for a pair of short sneaker-style riding boots is for the potential of all-day comfort they offer over traditional-length bike boots. I’ve mainly worn the Acrux for my 20-min town and countryside commute into the office, and once there I’ll then usually wear the boots for my entire working day before riding 20-mins home again. Whilst they’re perfectly comfortable for riding (with the exception of being a bit hot, which I’ll get to later) they do feel a bit clumpy and inflexible for walking around in. A lot of this has to do with the sole, which although allows enough movement for gear changes and feel for the rear brake, isn’t quite flexible enough for walking. I had thought the sole would give a little after I spent more time wearing them, but 1300 miles in that hasn’t happened yet, meaning that walking around feels and sounds like walking in flippers!

The rest of the boot feels comfortable, with the sizing being true to size in terms of length although I would say the fit is ever so slightly narrow.

The Cordura upper is tough and hardwearing, however it doesn’t feature any ventilation at all (other than a slight bit of air flow through the laces’ gusset) and as such the Acrux feel warm on summer days. The specs claim the insole is ‘sweat absorbing and breathable’ which to my mind sounds like a contradiction in terms. In reality, I wouldn’t say the insole has any breathable qualities as my feet end up pretty sweaty while wearing them. Conversely, they do keep feet cosy on cold days, plus the chunky midsole also helps insulate from cold ground temps, and on-bike vibration through the pegs too.

How do the LS2 Acrux short boots look?

As a pair of riding boots, I don’t mind the styling. However, for off-bike wear, these boots are still too motorsport-looking for my tastes, and I do feel a bit self-conscious whilst wearing them in the office, which I don’t while wearing other short boots. I think it’s the white sole and the rather tapered toebox that particularly irks. Apart from bright orange flashes here and there, and the white midsole, the graphical styling is fairly muted. No other colourways are currently available – it’s black with orange or nowt.

Are the LS2 Acrux short boots good quality?

They appear to be well made. After six months of use, they’re still looking good, with only light fraying just under the Velcro ankle strap. I’m particularly impressed with the laces – not only are they just the right length (usually on boots of this type they’re much too long), they’re also decent quality too. The outer sole hasn’t worn at all, meanwhile as mentioned the mid sole remains inflexible. The fabric outer is tough and the lack of stitched panels means that, although they don’t claim to be waterproof or feature a waterproof membrane, they do have a degree of water resistance, meaning they’ll shrug off a shower; I’ve worn them in several rush-hour deluges this year and my feet have remained impressively dry, although granted these have only been short sharp showers not prolonged journeys in rain.

Protection and CE ratings on the LS2 Acrux short boots

They’re rated as short motorcycle boots (EN13634:2017 1) and provide the upper level (2) for both abrasion resistance and impact cut resistance, with the lower level 1 for crushing protection. In terms of armour, there’s protection around the toebox, heel and also padding around the ankle, and they do feel reassuringly structured in this area. There also feels like there’s a shank in the sole, although I couldn’t find any confirmation of this in the specs. All in all, as short casual-style boots go, they do feel fairly protective and reassuring.

Are the LS2 Acrux short boots good value?

On the face of it, £114 for these boots seems reasonable value. However, the short urban boot market is rammed especially at the cheaper end, and it is possible to pick up a similarly-specced pair of Alpinestars or TCX boots for the same money. If waterproofing is important to you (which it should be if you ride here in Britain where it’s always raining…) you can get waterproof trainer-style biking boots from just £80, in which case these LS2 boots look a little expensive.

LS2 Acrux short boots – the verdict

The LS2 Acrux are a good pair of short, casual-style boots suited for urban riding or short-distance leisure rides. They’re comfortable and well made, and although they don’t feature a waterproof membrane or coating they do offer a limited amount of shower resistance courtesy of their tough, unvented fabric upper. The only downside is that they’re not especially comfortable to walk around in, feeling almost flipper-like due to their inflexible sole. At this price point, they’re also up against big-name competition from the likes of Alpinestars and TCX – two very well-established boot brands – meaning the Acrux would really have to appeal to you in order to choose them over those big-name rivals. They’re also only available in black and orange – so maybe something that’ll appeal to KTM riders. LS2 offer a waterproof/breathable casual boot for the same price, which is also available in both black with red, and black with fluo yellow so if you’re looking for something a little more practical they could be an alternative.

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