Enduro is an iconic boot. It’ s loved by enduro riders and adventure riders alike for its mix of comfort and bombproof protection. I’ ve had this pair on test and ridden everything including long road sections, hard adventure and tricky trails. You’ ve got two choices with this boot. There’ s the OG non-waterproof boot and the Drystar waterproof version. There are two trains of thought for boots. Firstly, there’ s the idea that if your feet are going to get wet you don’ t want waterproof boots, so the boot dries out quicker. The second is that you want to stop the water going in to start with and it won’ t if the water isn’ t above your boot. I went with the non-waterproof version of the Tech 7 for an upcoming trip up the Hopkins and Godley Valleys- both with a lot of water crossings. One of my riding buddies had the waterproof version. This is an incredibly comfortable set of boots. Probably the most comfortable dirt boot I’ ve ever worn, they make my old TCX MX boots feel like torture devices. The sole is very grippy with the deep lugs and I really like the midsole insert that can be replaced- so if you’ re a rider who wears out your boot soles before the boots are knackered, you’ ll love this. Sole inserts are $ 59.90. The complete sole can be replaced. It doesn’ t take much for water to get into these. My Drystar-equipped riding buddy kept his feet drier for longer in shallow river riding. Spray from the front wheel gets my feet wet quite quickly, where his feet stay dry pretty much until the water goes over the top.

Over the course of four days up the rivers I wouldn’ t say my boots dried out much quicker than his, but they did get wetter quicker when we were back in the rivers again. On the protection front, these have a shank in the sole, plenty of plastic protection around the ankle, shin and calf, as well as the ankle being articulated.

KIWI RIDER 63