The best pair of boots are the ones that you don’t have to think about. They play an integral role in how you maneuver yourself on your bike, but are something you shouldn’t be focusing your attention on once you purchase them. You’ll have enough on your mind.
You’re likely looking for a pair that offer comfort, fit and and protection. Protection is important and appearance generally finds itself at the bottom of the list of essential criteria, but these are a damn fine looking bit of kit.
Key features of Dainese’s premium boot
Residing under the R Axial Pro, the Dainese Torque D1 Out Air is a premium lightweight race boot. The latest evolution in the Torque series, it brings about learnings from previous generations of models for added dynamic fit.
New Torque D1 lighter than outgoing Dainese RS boots
Dainese utilizes a vertical zipper at the rear of the boot for fast, easy entry and features internal nylon cups to support the heel and toe. Material around the ankle and shin was made thinner to reduce weight and bulk, but also manages to provide higher levels of shock absorption.
Along with the addition of thinner foam and magnesium sliders, the Torque D1 tip the scales at 40 grams lighter than the previous RS model. Despite the light weight, the aforementioned toe and heel sliders contribute to a CE Level 2 certification.
Comfort vs safety
The exterior features what Dainese calls D-Axial, which is a fancy way of describing torsional control preventing you from hyper flexing your ankle in the untimely event of an unplanned dismount.
You don’t need them to be comfortable enough to run a marathon in, but some motorcycle boots compromise flex and comfort for safety, making them difficult to walk in.
For me, these boots fit into the category of being technical enough for track days but comfortable enough for aggressive street riding should the need arise.
Designed to help increase lean angle at the track, an integrated flex zone offers mobility both on and off the bike.
Other features include high grip TPU inserts, a gear shifter guard, rubber sole and setscrew wrench for replacing the front magnesium sliders.
Boot dimensions and fit
The narrow toe box makes them sleek and sporty, but mean that those with a wider foot may need to look elsewhere. They managed to fit my feet perfectly, but the simple zipper system doesn’t allow for flexible fit options.
The height of the boots fit well under my Draggin Jeans or paired with my Laguna Seca 4 one-piece suit but are shorter than some other models, so bring along your motorcycle gear when trying them on to ensure protection coverage and fit.
The hard exterior shell and plastic mechanisms to prevent hyper flexion did squeak while walking, but I didn’t get them to go hiking in.
Takeaway: are the Dainese Torque D1 boots worth it?
For me, these boots fit into the category of being technical enough for track days but comfortable enough for aggressive street riding should the need arise. The best way to buy boots is to try them on and see which ones are best for you and their intended use. Finding the proper pair of boots is key to successful on-track performance and these may just fit the bill.
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