ClarkWGriswold
ClarkWGriswold's stats
- Review count2
- Helpfulness votes2
- First reviewNovember 10, 2011
- Last reviewNovember 10, 2011
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4
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- Answer count1
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- First answerNovember 10, 2011
- Last answerNovember 10, 2011
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ClarkWGriswold's Reviews
Alpinestars Ridge Waterproof Boot Fall 2010 Model Full grain leather upper with lightweight fabric inserts. Dual density lateral and medial ankle cups. Internal toe and heel counter are layered under the full grain leather. Midsole contours to the foot and features a structured high modulus shank reinforcement. Waterproof and breathable Drystar lining.a Removable anatomic foot bed and multi-density EVA padding Alpinestars exclusive vulcanized rubber compound sole with unique side wrapping design. Double width adjustable Velcro straps for secure closure and fit. Velcro adjuster strap on the instep and Achilles flex zones provide superior comfort. CE certified.
Overall rating
A comfy, waterproof boot.
PostedNovember 10, 2011
ClarkWGriswold
From Kirkland
State:WA
Rider Type:Commuter
Age:35-44
Gender:male
Bang for the Buck
4
/
5
Style
3
/
5
Comfort
5
/
5
Protection & Durability
4
/
5
Air Flow
1
/
5
Features
3
/
5
I've owned my Alpinestars Ridge boots for about a year now, using them throughout an entire winter and a full summer/spring riding season. Overall, these boots are very comfortable and easily the best boots I've ever owned. However, they are not without their faults.
First, the good stuff. These boots are very, very comfortable. I've tried several others in the past including Sidi Way Rains. These are more comfortable than anything else I've tried. And they are just as comfy off the bike as on. I wouldn't recommend a day long hike in them, but they're not as clunky as most motorcycle boots, even though they have a pretty protective heel cup. Better yet, they are totally and completely waterproof. I've ridden in Seattle rain for a whole winter and never had wet feet. I've got pretty narrow feet and these boots fit well. Even so, they seem like they'd work just fine for people with wider feet as well, thanks to a good bit of adjustability. Just keep in mind that these are more of a cold weather, all-season boot. They don't have any vents and are not breathable at all. On hot days your feet will sweat. That's the price you pay for a fully waterproof and windproof boot! I'll admit that these are not the best looking boots I've ever seen, but they're not bad either. They don't scream "boy racer" and look fine paired with jeans and a polo, which makes them great for commuters.
There are a few things I dislike about these boots. Firstly, I wish they were taller. This is just a personal preference, but these are just short enough that my pant legs ride above them when riding (though I'm tall with long legs. Shorter guys won't have this issue). Alpinestars now makes a taller version called the Roam, but they were unavailable when I purchased. Secondly, the shorter ankle velcro strap doesn't really adjust all that much if you've got narrow feet. They could stand to adjust a centimeter or so tighter. I find the inside velcro adjuster superfluous. I've got fairly large calves and I don't even use the inside calf adjuster at all. The outside one is more than enough (I believe this has been changed on the 2011 model). Which brings me to my biggest gripe about these boots: The outside velcro calf strap. It's badly designed. The velcro portion that attaches to the boot and the outside "leather" portion are only sewn around the outside edge. This oversight allows the two pieces to separate as you ride. In my case, bending my ankle slowly pulls the velcro closure away from the inside of the boot. Several times I've had to stop riding to re-attach the strap since it has pulled away. It's hard to describe, but it happens quite often, especially on bikes with higher pegs that put a more severe bend in my ankle. This would be an easy fix if the factory would simply put two or three stitches across this "pocket" to keep the inside and outside materials together. That would prevent the issue completely.
In any case, I will reiterate that these are the best boots I've ever owned. They are supremely comfortable, completely waterproof, and relatively inexpensive. I tried many different boots - some costing over twice as much - before deciding on these. If Alpinestars can just fix the issue with the velcro closure (this may be fixed in the 2011 model or the taller Roam) and make the ankle a bit more adjustable, I think they'd have a real killer boot.
As they stand, I would recommend these boots overall, but would also warn people with narrow feet that they might feel loose in the ankle, and anyone riding a high-peg bike might want to MacGuyver a fix for the velcro closure.
Yes, I recommend this product.
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2of 2voted this as helpful.
Firstgear TPG Glacier Glove
Full articulation for maximum dexterity and unrestricted blood flow resulting in warmer fingers Cold weather, waterproof / breathable all weather use Thermolite insulation on back of hand Hipora insert keeps rain out and hands dry No palm insulation increases effectiveness of heated grips Palm side heel skid/impact pad Reflective piping for night time visibility Ribbed panel across the knuckles for impact protection Hook and loop easy wrist cuff adjustment Padded outside hand panels for side impact protection Fingers have closed cell foam padded panels Made of drum dyed goat leather, lighter and stronger than cow leather
Overall rating
A solid glove with a few small gripes.
PostedNovember 10, 2011
ClarkWGriswold
From Kirkland
State:WA
Rider Type:Commuter
Age:35-44
Gender:male
Bang for the Buck
4
/
5
Style
4
/
5
Comfort
3
/
5
Protection & Durability
4
/
5
Air Flow
5
/
5
Features
4
/
5
Fit
Small
Large
I've owned the FirstGear Glacier gloves for two seasons now and enjoy them, with a few caveats.
First, the good. I ride year 'round and find these gloves to be warm enough down to the low 50's. Once it gets colder than that I have to keep my rides short or my fingers will get cold. Paired with heated grips, they'd be great down to freezing temps or perhaps colder. Also, I've found them to be completely waterproof. I live in Seattle and ride during the fall and winter, so that's saying a lot. They also aren't as bulky feeling as many of the other gloves I tried on before buying them. The liners are sewn into the fingers, so you don't have to deal with the liners pulling out when your hands sweat like cheaper gloves. I find the gauntlet to be perfect when paired with my FirstGear Kilimanjaro jacket, but slightly small when using my leather jacket with a zip and velcro cuff. I gave these gloves a high rating for airflow, but they flow basically no air. That's a good thing, since they're meant to be waterproof, cold weather gloves.
Now, the bad. The most aggravating thing about these gloves is that the thumb is slightly too short and is not boxed like the fingers. This design makes the stitching in the tip of the thumb poke me almost constantly, which is extremely annoying (my hands are not that large and my gloves are an XL, so it's not an issue with having too small a size). Also, there is a stiff pad on the outside of the palm. It's a great design for safety, but feels strange until you get accustomed to it. One more big negative for me is that these gloves do not have a visor swipe. This is an issue for someone who rides in the cold and rain, and many other gloves at this price point have such a feature. Also, these gloves do not have a hard knuckle guard, which could be a big negative in case of a crash (though the fingers and backside of the palm do have some padding).
I think that if FirstGear would get rid of the palm slider and just use a double leather palm instead, use box construction on the thumb (or at least make it longer and move the stitch points), and add a visor swipe to the left index finger, these would be nearly perfect mild weather gloves. Overall, I would recommend them, but if I were buying again I would look for gloves that address my concerns above.
Yes, I recommend this product.
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ClarkWGriswold's Answers
Full articulation for maximum dexterity and unrestricted blood flow resulting in warmer fingers Cold weather, waterproof / breathable all weather use Thermolite insulation on back of hand Full goat leather palm and textile back No palm insulation increases effectiveness of heated grips Reflective piping for night time visibility One hand pull wrist closure Hipora insert keeps rain out and hands dry Carbon-like hardened plastic knuckle plate for impact protection on Mens glove Palm side heel skid/impact pad
How's the liner in this gloves?
I find the liner to be quite nice. It feels like microfiber fleece or something similar, and is quite warm. Best of all, it does NOT pull out of the glove when you take your hand out like most cheap gloves. Also, the glove is waterproof (completely waterproof, in my experience) and the liner stays soft and dry, even in the cold rain. The liner does not extend to the gauntlet, which is a good thing since it prevents it from wicking up moisture that gets into the cuff.
1 year, 6 months ago
by
ClarkWGriswold
Age: 35-44
Gender: male
Kirkland