“ Once on they feel very comfortable , snug and supportive ”
found this to be invaluable on a number of occasions .
Gear changing , regardless of side , isn ' t an issues as the area is protected by a plastic ' patch ' that is applied to protect the boot . This not only offers protection but also a level of grip on the gear lever , we found this helps when changing gears in a standing position .
The Forma boots offer a similar looking sole to that of the RST and it ' s here that the similarities end . The sole is constructed from a double density rubber and immediately feels stiffer than the RST equivalent , this however , does not make walking an issue , the sole has enough flex to allow ease of movement . This is surprising considering the Forma boots sole has a rigid nylon mid-sole ( essentially a hard plastic piece that sits within the sole , similar to what high quality running shoes have ). This is supposed to offer a stiffer contact patch across a greater area , useful when all of your weight it being transferred to the pegs ( when standing ). This does offer some comfort however , we have found none of us could last much longer than an hour when stood , this isn ' t too bad as it offers a great excuse to get off and explore the surroundings .
Getting the boots on requires a little more effort than the RSTs , not surprising considering that they are stiffer and go much higher up the leg , great protection . Once on , they feel very comfortable , snug and supportive without feeling tight and restrictive . They are waterproof , rain is not a problem and we ' ve been in quite deep water with them without our feet getting wet . This comes from a Drytex lining , supposedly similar to Goretex , offering both waterproofing and breathability . Like the RST boots we ' re a little sceptical of the breathability claim , on hot days we all experienced our feet coming out of the boots quite wet . On a recent Australian outback ride one of us couldn ' t leave the boots anywhere near where we were sleeping , the smell was that bad ... we do have a way of combating this , that ' s for another time ...
The boots are fastened with three plastic ratchet buckles , said to be unbreakable , we ' re not sure about this claim as they don ' t feel as sturdy as those on the RST although do feel that they hold the boot more securely . The cuff of the boot is secured by a Velcro panel .
The construction and fastening of the boots make them extremely comfortable although , it must be pointed out that some of us have had to wear the boots in while others haven ' t had this problem . One of our testers has also had an issue where the left leg , while standing , it feels like there something slightly sharp sticking into the inner calve . None of us have been able to find what causes this and have just learnt to put up with it .
In the life of the Forma boots tested they have done around 50,000 kilometres , in some of the most extreme environments and if they were cleaned they would look almost brand new . Unlike the RST boots you can ' t tell what sort of treatment the soles have been subjected to , they stand up to the job so well . The boots have also been worn during two major off ' s , the second we ' re sure should ' ve broken an ankle yet there was no significant injury to the leg aside from a few cuts and bruises . The Forma Adventure boots are certainly up to the job . The last to be compared are by BMW and marketed as their Gravel boot . Retailing at AU $ 550.00 they are by far the most expensive , no doubt some of that cost is for the privilege of having BMW emblazoned on them .
BMW do make some pretty high claims about their
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