I have always had a passion for footwear. Back in the late ’90s, I ran a small ‘specialised’ sneaker store in the heart of Sheffield, UK, called SNEAX, where we sourced rare and collectable sneakers from Europe, the USA and Japan.
Even though I am no longer involved in the sneaker business, decades on, I still have an appreciation for fine footwear, and I am certain that my closet will testify to this fact.
Over the past several years, I have owned several pairs of riding sneakers from brands such as Forma and TCX. To be honest, I haven’t gelled with either as daily wearing boots, due to them not being that comfortable and with the Forma’s, they take ages to put on due to their lengthy impractical lace-up system (you literally have to loosen all the laces to get the boot on).
So, what I have found myself doing more often than not, is reach for my ‘good old faithful’ Salomon Hiking Boots, the reason being, is that they are super comfy, easy to put on, waterproof, breathable and when out on an adventure, they are excellent for walking in any type of terrain—perfect for the South African adventurer.
Admittedly, when it comes to a safety perspective, I do understand that I have been taking serious safety risks by wearing my Salomons as riding boots. I’ll go one further and state that as a biker who attends a lot of biking events, I do see many other bikers out there, who wear similar ‘hiking-style’ boots as riding footwear, and I am guessing that they do this based on similar reasons to me.
I was chatting with Steve Theron from Sparx Distributors recently on this exact topic, who had noticed my non-safety hiking boots at a meeting. After a quick reality check, Steve suggested that I try a pair of Stylmartin’s latest crossover riding boots.
Enter Stylmartin’s Vertigo WP Black…
Inspired by the Outdoor world, the new and innovative Vertigo WP boot represents the new concept by Stylmartin: Ride n’ Hike. These look very similar to traditional hiking boots, but, with the protection needed to protect your feet and ankles when riding your motorcycle.
Specs-wise, you’re talking full-grain leather which is both waterproof and breathable, designed in Italy and made in Europe—these are seriously high-quality boots.
The fastening system is very sleek and works extremely well, making them very easy to put on and off, which for me is an important factor when purchasing any boot.
Laces are reflective and there’s even a slow-away compartment at the front of the tongue to store those unwanted laces (when tied), which from a safety perspective is very clever.
Talking safety, the Vertigos comes standard with D30® Technology, which is a high-performance impact protection technology that is fitted around the ankles.
The toe has a very strong feel to it, it’s rock-solid actually, and your feet certainly feel protected when wearing these Stylmartin boots. Also on the toe, is an additional leather fitted piece, designed to protect the boot when changing gears.
Comfort-wise, the insoles have a perforated anti-shock cushioning technology, making the Vertigos seriously comfortable boots. The outsole has an anti-slip grip pattern with drainage channels to shed mud and water, I’ve done some mild hiking in them and can report that they are as practical and comfortable as my good old faithful “Salomons”.
Now, the price of a high-end hiking boot from Salomon you’d be looking to spend around R4000 (these are typically manufactured in the Eastern part of the world). For that, you get a comfortable practical hiking boot, but, with no motorcycle safety features whatsoever.
In comparison, a pair of Stymartin Vertigo WPs will set you back R4895. For that, you get a Premium Italian Designed manufactured in Europe boot, that has all the same functions as the Salomons, but with the added safety features of a CE Certified motorcycle riding boot. To me, this is an absolute no-brainer when comparing the two options, when you consider all the extras that you get for not that much extra spend, it really is a good value proposition indeed.
Overall, I am stoked that I have discovered these Crossover riding boots from Stylmartin, It has only been a few months now since ownership, but it seems that these Stylmartin Vertigos are becoming my new “good old faithful” boots. I now have all the comfort and practicality as before, but now with the added protection needed for riding my motorcycle. Which in return, gives me peace of mind.
I look forward to many adventures ahead with my new Stylmartin boots…
Stylmartin Vertigo WP
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