Motorcycle Gear

If you are looking for a motorcycle road boot that is low cut but ultra-efficient, you need look no further than Alpinestars' Octane Shoe. I own a pair of A-Star Street Sneakers from a few years back, so I was interested to see where they had taken the whole low-cut street boot technology.

The sneaks were great, but the Octanes well, that's a different story--they are amazing. Protecting your feet are tough leather and rubber defenses that retain a certain futuristic style.

The Octane Shoes feature a hidden, water-repellent zipped interior on the bike-facing side and three Velcro exterior tabs to seal the shoe firmly but comfortably to your foot.

Gone are the laces of the older style shoe, and the increased ease of use is much appreciated. While the fit matches function with flexibility, there is also a high ankle design, which is crucial for optimal protection. But if the words "high ankle" make you think, "constraining," the Octane has a low back to help with flexibility in the Achilles area.

I will admit that as with most quality footwear, there is a break-in period that you have to go through, and although I got one small blister on my right little toe, the break-in stint was actually quite brief. But well worth it. Once the Octanes are stretched and ready to rock, they are an ideal exoskeleton, seemingly custom-fit to my feet. The more I wear them, the better they feel and form to me.

Since having the Octane Shoes, they have weathered light rain with aplomb and they've even become a fine footwear choice when I am not planning to ride; that has something to do with their soft, PU-coated leather wrapped uppers and subtle, PU-coated suede collar.

Octanes also have injection-molded heels and ankle support plus an effective and abrasion-resistant TPR toe shifter. I've been hammering that thing and it still looks nearly new. The Octane Shoes feel light on your feet but can do the job of guarding your feet and ankles on a whole range of levels.

Alan Tecchio is a freelance writer based in the NY metro area who has interviewed hundreds of celebrities. He is an avid motorcyclist and active Motorcycle Safety Foundation RiderCoach. Alan has also written a weekly motorcycle column for nine years in Steppin' Out Magazine, a NY metro area entertainment publication. He is also the lead singer of the rock band Autumn Hour (autumnhour.com) and sings for the heavy metal band Hades (myspace.com/hadesusa) and the prog-metal project Minds Mirrors (myspace.com/mindsmirrorsproject).

RidersDiscount.com provided the shoes for this review.