Track Gear - Boots
 

Anyone have problems getting their leathers to fit into their boots?

I've got these and while they are great boots, I am having a helluva time getting my leathers to fit into them.

Anything I can do? Anyone ever had boots altered?

I do... My calves are big... and ripped... but I digress. Hard to get the zipper up, but doable.

That's part of my problem. Always had muscular calves from when I was a kid (riding, gymnastics, figure skating, and now running....).

Just wondering if maybe other boots had a bigger top outlet so the leathers fit in better. :shrug:

No to you question...but how do you like those otherwise?

I haven't had that issue with any boots I've owned but did have the issue with a pair of Puma boots I tried on.

If it is necessary, I'd think it would be easier and more cost effective to have your leathers altered rather than your boots.

Go for the Rossi look.

Love the boots. Quality construction and very comfortable. Friend has them too and he crashed hard in them and they held up amazingly well. Very solid ankle protection.

How do they run for sizing? Similar to shoes or other boots? Or to A*'s specifically...?

I had that issue when I had Dainese leathers, but that's because they design their leathers to be worn on the outside of the boots. However, every manufacturer of boots intends for the leather to be inside, so there's basically no way to get protection. You're not wearing Dainese are you?

Sidi boots have adjustable calves. My Teknic leathers have very short legs and arms, which I like because it makes glove and boot fitment easier. Two ideas for ya.

What size do you wear?

I wear a 39 or 40 in street shoes and I'm a 41 in these boots. I probably could've gone for a 40 but they didn't have it and the 41 isn't too loose. I'd say they run a bit small in that respect. In A stars I'm a 42 if that gives you any perspective. :shrug:

Thanks. I have Teknic women's leathers. I have short legs and a long torso so I don't find the legs too short but they are skin tight in the calf area.

40-42 depending on manufacturer.

I got A* SMX pluses for specifically this reason. My old ones had the velcro wear out and wouldnt fit anymore, and the ratchet strap is perfect regardless of calf size or leathers. My best friend has to ducktape her A*'s to keep them velcroed and has had to since they were brand new.

I had to duct tape mine on Sunday and I ended up switching to other boots because I was so annoyed (although I think that was more to do with tight leathers than the boots :skep:). :lmao:

Thats why I need a new pair. My A* velcro has gone on the fritz.

This.

Only downside to SMX pluses is the poor quality control of A*. Of course I am 100 times harder on my gear than the average bear. I have yet to find a piece of A* equipment that hasn't fallen to shit under my riding within a season or two.

:lol: Um yeah. That would be the user.

I had a cheap (read under $100) that lasted me years. I wore holes in the soles, and wore away pieces of toe guards and in general broke them in good and they were great until the velcro wore out. The only reason I opted for such a damn expensive pair was the ratchet straps, since the A*s are no where near the comfort level of my old pair.

Some of it is me, some of it isn't. A* quality is pretty shitty now. I have had similar ICON equipment last longer. I had seems bust on my SMX +'s that have nothing to do with where I wear them out. They aren't Sidi's, that's for sure. They charge a little too much for the quality you get, the only positive is A* customer service will usually help you out when you call them and complain.

The highest tier A* stuff is considerably better. I would bet the supertech boots are very sturdy to wear. The GP Tech gloves I bought are fucking amazing.

I noticed you wear your boots oddly and unzipped alot, they seemed to form strangely, perhaps from walking around in them unzipped? That could have alot to do with the seams busting.

Uh, no I don't wear them oddly or unzipped. I barely wear them at all, I wear normal hiking boots most of the time. The seem busted just above the toe.

But with the A* you get the standar "squeak" sound effect at no extra charge

Better but still not great (longevity wise).

I have a pair of the new GP Tech's too. I have no illusions of wearing them 4 years from now.

I agree, their stuff is nice and offers good protection but doesn't stand up to constant abuse for very long.

Yeah, my tech's are lasting longer than my boots and suit, but they aren't worn as much. Oddly my suit is having more issues where it wasn't damaged in crashes than where it took the brunt of the rash.

I hate that squeak. :lol: I just got a pair of TCX boots as well...no squeak.

A*'s I wear a 45 but with the TCX I wear a 44.

Good to know. Thanks. I also wear a 45 in A*.

Teknic Violator boots have the widest calf space available in boots. I have ginormous calves (I'm NOT ripped - just calf blessed) and these are the only boots I can get my calves+leathers into comfortably. Wearing ANY gear that you have to mess with while you're on the track and distracted is bad, m'kay? ;)

Thanks for the info Lauralynne. I'll have to look into those.

Being distracted is exactly why I switched. I rode the pits and then decided I hated the distraction and rode back to switch!

hey, if you need female track gear advice, you should get up with Azoom. I'm sure that she has tons of knowledge in that area!!!:rockwoot:

Erik likes his SMX 4 as they allow for larger calves. I have them too and they are awesone! The problem I had were the leathers were too large in the ankle/calf area so I had the cobbler/leather guy trim them down so I don't have to stuff as much down in my boot.

I'd be dead before Turn 1. :lmao:

You too? I went through THREE PAIRS of A*'s gloves in 4 & 1/2 seasons before I finally got the picture and went to Held.... first the GP Plus, then the GP Pro, then the GP Tech. That's like 600 dollars worth of gloves. I wasn't happy. Even my boots (SMX+, now Supertech R) haven't lasted as long as they should, but they're not too bad. Great protection but poor longevity.

I had a budget GPU suit that held up great though. Ended up giving it to a fellow racer after I used it for a few years and he raced in it for a while.



OH yeah... Kell's question :P You could very likely bring them to a shoe shop and have them sew in a small expansion strip on the zipper for dirt cheap.

I would just make sure to stress to them that it's a safety product and do whatever they can to make sure the seams are sold & won't blow out in a crash.

when i had my suit made, i had it made to go over the boots, cuz my boots wouldn't zip up w/ leathers inside........like rossi lol

I have this issue as well. I dont zip my leathers all the way down the calf so I can hike them up a little. I also have the Sidi Verdigo Lei boots with adjustable calves. Helps a LOT.