If you’ve been around adventure motorcycles for any reasonable amount of time, you’ve probably heard the phrase “All The Gear, All The Time” a time or two. The thing is, “All The Gear” often creates a scenario where you’re forced to juggle general safety with comfort. But what if you didn’t have to choose between the lesser of evils?

At this point, almost everyone is familiar with the disclaimers that come with most Adventure Boots, namely that they are for ‘light’ off-road use only. However, you typically take a massive hit in the comfort and walkability department with anything in the motocross boot range. This is where Alpinestars steps in with their Tech 7 Enduro Drystars — a boot designed with the promise of motocross-level protection, waterproofing and enough comfort for longer journeys.

Founded in 1963, Alpinestars has been making boots for motocross and general off-road use longer than most gear brands have had their doors open. Over the years, their leadership in developing innovative boot tech has led them to craft some of the safest and most comfortable lower extremity protectors available. Developing a waterproof, walkable boot with serious off-road protection is a huge technical challenge for any company though. Few companies have even dared to develop a product for this new category.  Did the Tech 7 Enduro Drystar hit the mark? First let’s take a deeper dive into the boot’s design.

What You Get

The standard Tech 7, which the Enduro Drystar is based on, is a mid-range motocross boot designed to deliver excellent protection and comfort, while maintaining more flexibility than the top-tier Tech 10s. It incorporates key safety features like reinforced heel and toe boxes, a robust upper, and advanced flexion protection to shield against hyperextension. The boots also utilize a sturdy shank for added support during stand up riding and meet CE safety certification standards. 

The Tech 7 ‘Enduro’ model builds upon this foundation with an enduro-specific sole. Unlike slick motocross soles, the Enduro’s tread provides superior grip on slippery rocks, mud, and uneven terrain—useful for technical off-road riding and those moments when you’re forced to dab a foot or wrestle your bike upright in challenging conditions. Additionally, the calf of the boot is injected with a high modulus polymer for extra rigidity and strength, while ankles and side panels get TPU protection that helps absorb shock and also allows some give to aid in all-day comfort.

To keep the environment at bay, the Tech 7 Enduro ‘Drystar’ model takes things further along the versatility scale with its waterproof and breathable Drystar membrane. This layer promises to keep your feet dry and comfortable, even when riding through relentless rain or crossing waterlogged trails. Plus, the extended gaiter provides additional coverage against mud, debris, and moisture.

To round things out, the Tech 7 Enduro series boots also prioritize comfort and convenience. Soft polyfoam padding around the ankle and collar enhances fit, while the lightweight design minimizes fatigue during long rides. Replaceable soles and buckles ensure that the boots can withstand the rigors of off-road adventures for a longer time as well.

First Impressions

While not as stiff as some pro-level MX boots, the Enduro Drystar offers a lot of the same protection while granting the rider some light flex in the ankle and sole for the typical needs of enduro riding. The resulting product is a boot with a toe box large enough to fit my abnormally wide trotters and just enough ankle movement that you can wear them from 8am till sundown in comfort.

How They Performed

Having ridden with a pair of Tech 7 Enduro Drystars lashed to my legs throughout the last 7,000 or so miles of riding, I can’t help but speak positively about them. They’ve seen everything from sticky, clay-enriched mud that glues itself to anything that dares approach, rocks and boulders soaked in the rains of torrential winter downpours, and even great deals of snow and ice, both on and off-road. 

When not saddled on the bike, I’ve even hiked in them through staggering redwood forests, over ancient lava flows, and through bottomless pits of desert sand. As far as waterproofing, we’ve seen some posts online of owners mentioning problems with these boots. However, the two pairs of Tech 7 Enduro Drystars that we tested, with two different riders, never had any issues. In fact, we performed a submersion test in about 6 inches of water and there was no seepage detected until around 10 minutes. Any moisture that did soak through was limited too.

For comparison, this was on par with previous tests we performed with the Gore-Tex lined Sidi Adventure and Alpinestars Toucan adventure boots. It’s important to keep in mind that no waterproof boots, bags or jackets are going to keep water out indefinitely when fully submerged. At some point they do seep. Boot care can also be a factor (e.g. do you keep your toenails trimmed?). We encourage anyone having excessive water seepage issues with their Drystar boots to contact Alpinestars support though. 

From my experience with the boots, I’m confident enough in their waterproofing that I’ll even trod through a creek without hesitation knowing good and well that I won’t have swamp foot by the time I reach the other side. 

Fit is another thing that is of critical importance to me. I have unfortunately shaped feet with high arches, ones that plant themselves abnormally wide when supporting my weight. Pair that with plantar fasciitis, and you end up with someone who accepts that their feet will just hurt and are generally uncomfortable most of the time. But that’s where the Tech 7’s have proven themselves the most valuable.

Anyone can make a boot that will keep your ankles and shins safe, but how many can make them comfortable enough that on short hikes, a rider can’t be bothered to switch out to different footwear? They are no match for a pair of hiking shoes, but a mile or two in them is doable without feeling like the ground is trying to swallow you whole for the duration. Weighing in at 4 pounds, 6 ounces per boot in a size 47, the Drystars are about a pound heavier than most adventure boots but at the lighter end of the spectrum for motocross boots.

The grippy soles have been more than capable of digging into my pegs, even when my childish two-wheeled antics work against gravity, all while maintaining enough sole stiffness that my calves and ankles don’t end up sore from wear and tear.

And when I find myself scrambling up slabs of granite on the edge of a track to get photos of surrounding scenery, the enduro soles always grabbed onto the terrain without falter.The grippy sole has proved beneficial in situations where a bit of lower leg force is needed to pick through large rock gardens as well. Whether riding in the rocks up above Death Valley, trudging through ice and snow near Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument, or slinging red clay in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, they always seemed to find traction. The only time I’ve found them incapable of predicting the terrain’s movement is in thick layers of slimy, wet clay—a substrate that few things are capable of grasping tightly. 

This brings me to the one thing in my experience that does deserve some critiquing—their noise. I’ve got way too many boots in my garage, and none are even remotely as noisy. It’s almost comical, and at times, due to my goofball personality, I take advantage of it to see just how far I can go before my riding buddies kindly ask me and my boots to shut up—but seriously, these things do squeak! Even if you clean them after each use and blast them with some lube, expect them to make noise if you hike in them. It’s a small price for a pair of boots that top my list of go-to’s for any riding.

Who Are They For?

For the rider who wishes not to compromise on safety, the Tech 7 Enduro Drystars offer top safety features while maintaining comfort typically not found without stepping into an objectively more dangerous pair of boots. Their list of safety features matches or exceeds the other top contenders in the enduro boot segment while giving the rider a platform to stand that promises you won’t be worn ragged by the end of a long day or multi-day trip.

As is usually the case, such tech and performance comes at a price, and this means the Tech 7 Enduros are not an inexpensive boot at around $480. Still, compared to other big names in the industry, they can be had for the same and, in some cases, less than even some undoubtedly less safe Adventure boots. 

Our Verdict

I was a skeptic when I first got a set of these boots. I’ve worn Enduro and MX boots in the past and hated the inability to feel anything with my toes or feet. Not being able to consistently modulate the rear brake or detect where your boot is located on the peg is not a great feeling and keeps many riders away from more aggressive riding boots, despite the additional protection they offer. The Tech 7 Enduro Drystars absolutely changed that for me. They’re comfortable, offer a slew of safety and durability features, and even waterproofing. If you don’t mind spending more than $400, they are a damn good pair of boots. For the time being, the Tech 7 Enduro Drystar is my personal boot of choice.

What We Liked

• The boots give a quality feel and appearance.
• Class leading safety features allow you to ride in technical terrain with confidence.
• Comfortable enough to wear all day without excessive fatigue.
• Drystars membrane remains reliably waterproof after many thousands of miles of riding.

What Could Be Improved

• The price tag is steep, though not the most expensive boot in the segment.
• Expect a chorus of crickets to follow everywhere you walk in them.

Photos by Ken Morse, Miguel Santana, Rob Dabney

Author: Ken Morse

While Ken’s two-wheeled exploits began only a few years ago, he’s no stranger to adventure. Since 2006, he’s been wandering all over the U.S. in various four-wheel drive toys, exploring as much hidden terrain in the backcountry as possible. Having straddled his first motorcycle in 2019, he quickly became obsessed and made the switch to two wheels. Now he spends most of his free time riding, wrenching and traveling on adventure motorcycles from his base in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.