My Tec7 Drystars are now (Oct. 2022) 2 month old, used them for 2,500km with at least 800km in heavy autum Europe rain. Had some 4+ hours heavy rain section's and my Tec7 Drystars are perfect. Would buy them again, 100%. Cheers guy's.
In alignment with the comment below, yes, great video as usual, but I’ve got a few things to add regarding the realities of “waterproof” gear, most specifically boots and gloves. I’ve been using Gortex, and other waterproof membrane laminated garments since the technology was introduced. I’ve been a climber and participant in many backcountry travel activities since the 70’s, and I’ve seen the development of many generations of these membranes in every imaginable application. For the most part these membranes have come a long way and most of them perform very well in most garment applications - except in footwear and gloves. Over the decades, I have owned countless pairs of Goretex lined boots and gloves - Gortex, not the brands that don’t have to pass the same stringent manufacturing requirements - and to this day, I have had very few experiences in which these products were not leaking within a season or two. Of course, they were all perfectly waterproof when new, so they would all pass your “bucket test” fresh out of the box. However, based on my experience, one should not be surprised if these boots or gloves are leaking after a year or so. And if they’re not, consider yourselves lucky. The problem here isn’t the membrane itself or even the manufacturing methods. I just don’t think the membrane or the seams that join pieces of membrane together hold up will in areas of extreme abrasion or frequent, sharp angled bending. In a jacket or pant application, these membranes are never very highly stressed. The bending of knees, shoulders, and elbows is never that extreme or frequent, and there is usually a soft layer of fleece or down between the waterproof layer and the bony bits of your body. Boots and gloves, however, have a much harsher life. The angle of bend behind the toes, in the ancles, and in the knuckles of your fingers is extreme, and the hard parts of ancle bones, toenails, the instep, and knuckle bones are grinding directly against the membrane. And the stiffness of boot material only exasperates the pressures against this material. I think, in these areas it will always be a simple matter of time before the membrane fails. I have never seen any studies on this topic, nor have I torn a leaky boot apart to inspect it, but based on my extensive experience with Gortex products, I can confidently say, boots and gloves will most likely begin leaking within a year or two. I have had Gortex jackets that have remained leak-free for over 30 years; I haven’t had a single pair of boots or gloves that weren’t leaking within three. But this is just my anecdotal personal experience and rationalization to explain it. I’m sure there are others out there who have had different experiences. Regarding my personal riding gear and its use, I too am a fan or Alpinestars products, but my experience with Alpinstars boots has been no different than any other “waterproof” footwear I have ever owned. My first pair was the Alpinstars “Web”, a Gortex lined touring boot. They wore really well and lasted me almost 10 years. However, they were leaking within one year of use. I’m currently wearing the Alpinstars Campeche Drystar Boot, and after one full winter of daily all-weather commuting in the Pacific Northwest of the US, they are still doing OK, no leaks yet. A bike is my only transportation, so I’m wearing these boots every day, many of which are in pouring rain. These Campeche’s are still slightly less than a year old, and they’re doing great, but if I begin feeling the chill of cold water seeping in around my toes within the next season or two, I won’t be surprised.
Alex - you definitely have a point. If it was easy to make good footwear and gloves at least on of the major manufacturers would have done it ;-) With that said - the Alpinestars Toucan (Goretex) withheld some really heavy rain over many seasons - put more than 70.000 km on them - still kept them as a back-up. I am still looking for good Goretex Gloves - not sure if they make them in laminted goretex - the liners do not really work that well.
I wear a pair of Forma HDRY Tribe Urban boots for touring and commuting. They are still waterproof in their 4th year. As per the manufacturer, the (OutDry) membrane is laminated directly in the upper so won't soak in as much water in the rain as those with inner membrane.
One more thing. When cleaning the boots I treat them with Nikwax waterproofing wax. Obviously waxing would not suffice for making the boots waterproof for a motorcycle ride type of use yet might prolong the lifespan (of waterproofness) by making the leather elastic and repelling the water.
@@robertgyetvai5926 If your Goretex boots are already leaking, yeah, do what you can, but if they are not, you definitely do not want to wax them. Part of the function of Gortex, or any of these membranes is breathability. The membrane requires the pressure gradient between the warm air inside the garment and the outside colder air to push water vapor through the membrane. If you seal the outer boot with wax, silicone, or any other form of rub-on waterproofing, the water vapor will have nowhere to go, and you will have sweat-soaked feet in no time.
Thank you my German friend Living in the UK I am used to getting wet I have taken my friends advice and treated my self to the SIDI adventure 2 No complaints Stay safe my friend and remember your awesome
@@MotoVibes Gore-Tex doesn't allow for their membrane to be used on the Tech 7s due to too little area that can breathe. It's said the Sidi Adventure and Alpinestars Toucan are about what is allowed, a boot with more plastic protection than those can't have Gore-Tex due to them having extensive guarantees.
Usually I never complain. But from what I see I believe that many riders are in the same shoes - non-waterproof waterproof Tech 7's. I have them for about 8 months, I ride once or twice per month. Single track. Once I had to step into a creek, for a good 5-10 seconds. Surprise! I felt cold coming in. I said, may be the water was very cold and cooled my boots super fast. Long story short: the water comes in from the latches and near my ankle. I rode in rain and snow roads, the result is everything that tires catch comes to see my socks. I ride Honda CRF450L. Looking for new boots now. I can't wait any longer Alpinestars here in EU to step in.
I guess you might as go for the non-waterproof version as they may dry a bit faster. I was just hoping that the dry star membrane would keep the water out during normal rain rides just like the Alpinestars Toucan’s do. They have a Goretex membrane 😉
@@MotoVibes I have Toucan's, but I don't use them very often, because when I ride in the woods I hit many branches and some rocks. When I had the Toucan's I never had a chance to step into a water. From now on I will use only them even the protection is not that good compared to Tech 7s.
I just returned a pair of new gaerne sg12, the store sold it to me as waterproof, they are not waterproof at all, not even water repelent, more like water absorbing, but the costumer service was great, they returned the money without question. so I was looking for a waterproof eduro boot and find out the only one that match that description is the tech7 ds, but... after this video and the user comments, I rather go with the sidi crossfire 3 and a plastic bag. thank you guys
Saw your video just after I ordered the boosts. After they arrived kept them in the water for 10 minutes and luckily everything is ok no sign of water ingress. :)
That is good to hear - I hope they will stay dry for your - after using them my second pair started leaking - both sides unfortunately. It is a shame as they are great boots otherwise.
My winter equipment includes: Clover Laminator 2 (jacket and pants AA), wich are really good, it is not gorotex, but the way they are made it, is the similar principle. Lots of pockets, and very good airflow for hot weather, and also include a winter jacked inside. All protections are lev2. As boots I wear the Gaerne G Dakar gorotex. very confortable. I was going to buy the Tech7 Drystar, but the whole boots are too stiff. I consider that much more for an 80% offroad use or enduro. As gloves I use the Clover Sierra! (consider that I live in Sicily so weater is fine for this equipment, and i wear tshirt lol)
Ive been using regular Tech 7 for the last 5yrs and the sole and plastic bits have dislodged from the body, they served me well though, apart from the crappiest watet resistence. After a year or two of flex while using the seams and joints of plastic bit started showing small gaps, especially above the toe area and im assuming that even with the Drystar version the same thing would happen, and the waterproofing would quickly die out in a year or two
Thanks for sharing your experience. I still wear my Tech 7 for the majority of my rides despite the fact that they were not water resistant after the first two weeks of wearing them. I really like the Tech 7 but I wished they had done a better job of the water proofness - I don't really understand why they did not go with Goretex like they did on the Toucans. I would have been happy to pay the premimium. It is not so much the Goretex membrane that make Goretex products better but the quality testing through Goretex which would have likely found the issue before the boot went to market.
I would suggest that static water pressure is somewhat less aggressive that what may be experienced when riding at 120kph when water can be directed with some force, particularly when there is standing water. Excellent content, thoroughly enjoy the channel from a fellow 1290 owner in the UK.
I have had Daytona Gore Tex touring boots for decades and they actually always worked very well. I also have the Alpinestars Tech 7 Drystar Boots and had the luck of never experiencing serous rain with them. Curious how that will work out. I have never had waterproof gloves that worked really well.
Great vid as usual, btw I got my 17/19 wheel setup to work on my R model thanks to you. I can now use really good tires and still have the great suspension of the R, will try the 50 teath sensorrings on my 18/21 wheels too to see how that works.
Great to hear! I am switching to my street wheel setup soon too! Cannot decide on the tires quite yet. The larger wheels definitly have their place for off-road riding - just had some play time in the enduro park and the larger wheels did make a (small) difference.
Unfortunately I have had the same issue. I bought the boots 12 months ago and haven’t used them because I still love my old boots. However I wore them on a 15 day Pyrenees trip and they leak in the same place as you have described. I will contact the supplier tomorrow and see what they say. Great video, thanks for sharing it.
@@David_Drills returned to supplier who sent on to Alpine star and I received a full refund. Sports Bike Shop- fantastic customer service. im still using my old sidi crossfires until I get to try on some new designs. my friends have the daystars and they are all very happy and have dry feet.
@@JPs_ADVLOG it is very confusing that sveral people haven't experienced any leak and several people, like me, experienced leaks from day 1. This won't let me trust the drystar membrane. I decided to go with the standard tech7 and use sealskinz (100% waterproof socks already tested and stress tested for safety). The standard tech7 will provide less hot temperature at the feet during hot days and they will dry up faster when wet. I don't want to give up the safety the tech7 provide, that's very important to me.
@@David_Drills have a look at the Sidi crossfire, they are very comfortable and extremely well made with some of the best protection available. in conjunction with seal skinzs ive had a pair since 2010 and I still use them even thought he leather section has failed. they dry super quick also. I might just buy another pair.
My Tech 7 Drystars started leaking heavily after about 3 years. Now they get completely soaked/flooded in about 2 hours of riding in the rain/single track puddles. Curious if there are any solutions to this. I just applied Nikwax, will see if that helps at all.
I don't think there is much you can do - I think it is very likely due to leaky seams / seals of parts of the drystar membrane. This is the weak spot when water gets through - the membrane itself is usually not the issue.
I know this post is old so please all, forgive me for asking this question again if it has been answered. I did scroll throught the comments but could see anything similar. If the boots start leaking can you not apply something like the nikwax spray on waterproofing for clothing. Surely the clothing in itself is designed to breath to a certain extent but the waterproofing just helps the water to beed. Is that not the case?? Thanks all
@@Andys_Motorbike_Journeys any water repellent does very little in my experience. Even the original DWR layer on a Klim Badlands won’t help the outer fabric from soaking up with water once you start riding. With said I did apply something like nikwax on the boots with very little effect The issue is very likely that the glued seams of the Drystar membrane are the weak point. That is why my 2nd pair of boots passed the water bucket test and then started leaking once in use - with leaky seams water gets in minutes Any waterproof membrane is pretty tough and will not leak water even after years of heavy us but the quality of how the seams are glued is where the money is. Goretex products often come out on top not for the better membrane but for the better quality in workmanship as goretex requires independent testing of the final product before they give the waterproof for life guarantee
Ja genau, die Membrane sind meistens nicht das Problem, sondern die Verarbeitung zu den anderen Materialien. Hatte auch das Problem dass nach 6Stunden Dauerregenfahrt, die Schuhe "durchgeschlagen" haben. Konnte, da erst 1Monat alt, diese zurückgeben. War auch ein günstigeres Hersteller/Modell. Ich bin immer noch Fan meiner BMW Gravel-Stiefel. Halten seid ewigen Zeiten und Dicht. Will mir bald mal die Touratech Destino Touring zulegen und hoffe die sie auch so dicht.
Ich hoffe ja, dass Alpinestars oder einer der anderen großen echte Endurostiefel auch mal in Goretex bringt - die 30-50 Euro Aufpreis würde ich gerne zahlen. Mir kam der bessere Schutz der Tech 7 schon einige Male sehr gelegen - nicht unbedingt auf einer Tour, sonder beim Enduro Action Team aber ich hab mich jetzt richtig an die großen Stiefel gewöhnt und nachdem die eingelaufen sind kann ich den ganzen Tag in diesen Stiefeln verbringen.
Hi, can you advise differences between Toucan and T7 Drystar in terms of comfort and living with them etc. Why did you change? Thanks as about to buy and make my decision between these two different boots. 😊
I bought the T7 for the much better protection and I was hoping that the Drystar membrane would deliver similar waterproofness as the Toucan. If it was that waterproof it would be my only boot for touring and for off-road adventures. I did get another pair of the Toucan for the better waterproofness - I choose the Toucan when most of my riding stays on pavement. For the enduro park of any off-road adventure the T7 is my boot of choice. I like the comfort of both - I can wear both of them the whole day. The Toucan is a bit roomier and did not need any break-in time for me. After a short break-in time the T7 is great too - it does offer a bit more flex as compared to hard enduro boots - which provide even better protection but the usuability for adventure riding is limited due to the stiffness of the boots.
@@MotoVibes interesting thanks. So sounds like the T7’s are flexible enough for gear changing etc.? My use is U.K. green lane riding, where there’s a mix of off road trails (river crossings) with tarmac to get to the next trail. The days can be long typically 9 hours with stops for lunch etc., so some walking. Not strictly Enduro and definitely not racing! So I’m looking for a balance of protection for light Enduro long days but comfort and ability to change gears all day. Breathable important, so not sure about moving away from Gortex to Drystar! Your final thoughts would be welcome. TIA 😊
@@cotswoldmusings Wear the gear that you want to crash in😊 The T7 provide sports enduro style protection while still allowing easy walking and some movement of the boot. The Toucan - while waterproof - are not on the same protection level. For the riding you do I would definetly wear the T7 - (I bought cheap boot dryers on Amazon if the T7 get wet during the day) My good friend and riding buddy Jochen broke his leg during our last ACT Greece tour on day 4 (videos is not out yet) in May of this year. He was wearing typical "adventure boots" (less protective than the Toucans in this case). He still has plenty of metal in the leg but all he wears now is the T7 which he bought after the crash! I was wearing my Toucans during that trip but from that day on I will only use my T7 for trips like this. The gear shifting can be something to get used to but I have no problem at all shifting gears (you may need to adjust your shift lever for a bulkier boot) but that does not mean it would not annoy you. You could order a pair and wear them around the house to get a feel for them if you are unsure. Please know that they need a little bit of break-in time
@@MotoVibes yes, I hear you loud and clear. Thanks, I will order the T7’s tomorrow and wear them around the house for a few hours. Appreciate your time on this as there’s such a lot of rubbish out there, so your guidance is valuable 😊
Hey dave - sorry I missed you comment. I ende up buying a second pair of Toucan Goretex from Alpinestars - Sidi Adventure Goretex boots are also quite good - maybe even better with waterproofness. They are not as sturdy so I wear them for light off-road or road use only. For the more technical off-road parts I just deal with wet feet for now. I know Leatt introduced a similary well procted boot like the Tech 7 - also promising to be waterproof but I have not experiene with this one.
Same problem here 2023 boots. Used them on one trip recently and to be honest. My standard 8 year old tech 7 are almost more waterproof than the drystar. Obviously Alpinestars are having serious production problems. Sending them back to the dealer this week to await an answer from them and Alpinestars. I expect to get a new pair.. if not the “waterproof” tech 7 is a serious scam
I wish you luck - I know people that have boots that stayed dry but more people seems to experience issues at some point. A real shame. This should not be impossible to get right - I would be more than happy to pay more for a Goretex liner on these boots 😉
Ended up here for the same problem you had. I feel your pain. How the tech7 drystar usage is going on? I bought tech7 drystar because they are very protective, super good looking and, mostly, waterproof, which is something that every adventure rider is seeking for. Waterproofness is something that I really care about, I know goretex is the best but I rarely ride many hours under the rain, that’s why sometime I can deal with non goretex gear. SADLY, I experienced water leak into tech7 drystar (with goretex pants over the boots) after I rode over a few puddles off road, it was a sunny day. That was really sadly disappointing because, as you said, if tech7 were goretex they would have been the best boots on the market. I contacted the dealer and they are willing to refund me or change with a brand new tech7 drystar but after yours and other reviews I (SADLY) won’t get them again at least until they will make them goretex. That said, I am searching for a goretex boots with a good protection deal and so far the Alpinestar Toucans seems a good choice. In your experience, what other goretex boots you suggest? What boots are you using right now?
After the second set of Tech7 drystar also leaked (despite passing the bucket test) I ended up buying the Alpinestars Toucans again for my adventure tours and I keep the Tech 7 for the enduro park.
@@MotoVibes thanks for the feedback. I am struggling with this because I really like the tech7 and I don't want to give up the safety they prevent to the feet. I prefer to let go waterproofness to keep going with total safety. I will change my tech7 drystar with the standard tech7 so they will be less hot in summer time and dry up faster when wet, and use the sealskinz waterproof socks to keep my feet warm and dry. Cheers
@@David_Drills if I had to do this again the normal Tech 7 would be better as they would dry faster or the Tech 10 as they have the removal inner boot.
I am experiencing the same thing guys. Just bought the tech7 drystar, have a couple o off road ride and they leaked water in ever from puddles. I am very disappointed because I love them and I bought them because of their “waterproofness”. I now bought the SealSkinz socks that are waterproof too (for real) and at least my feet stay dry all day long even if the boot would leak some water. Have you guys find any solution?
Your car is water proof also. If it rains you do not get wet. Run it in the lake and see if it does not fill up with water. These water proof boot are not made to stand in a mud hole or creek.
The Goretex membrane is waterproof even under some pressure. So should any parts where the membrane is glued together- this is likely the weak point in these boots. When fabricated well boots or gloves will remain waterproof
Stop using blow dryers in boots. Its inneficient, wasteful and could damage the boot. Something MUCH MORE efficient is putting newspapers in the boot. The newspaper will absorb the humidity and you're done. Takes 2 minutes to setup. If my boots are really wet I will change newspapers before going to bed.
I peggiori stivali mai comperati....negli alpinestars tech 7 enduro dry entra acqua risultato? Piedi sempre bagnati in caso di guadi pozzanghere e pioggia!!! Disastrosi!! E li dichiarano dry!! Mai più.
My Tec7 Drystars are now (Oct. 2022) 2 month old, used them for 2,500km with at least 800km in heavy autum Europe rain. Had some 4+ hours heavy rain section's and my Tec7 Drystars are perfect. Would buy them again, 100%. Cheers guy's.
That’s good for you! 👍 I am on my second pair without any luck
Me to! 2 hours soking wet! Why not use Gore tex. Or is it the construction,
Otherwise is the best adventure boot
Lucky you. Mine leaked at the first ride under the rain.
In alignment with the comment below, yes, great video as usual, but I’ve got a few things to add regarding the realities of “waterproof” gear, most specifically boots and gloves.
I’ve been using Gortex, and other waterproof membrane laminated garments since the technology was introduced. I’ve been a climber and participant in many backcountry travel activities since the 70’s, and I’ve seen the development of many generations of these membranes in every imaginable application. For the most part these membranes have come a long way and most of them perform very well in most garment applications - except in footwear and gloves.
Over the decades, I have owned countless pairs of Goretex lined boots and gloves - Gortex, not the brands that don’t have to pass the same stringent manufacturing requirements - and to this day, I have had very few experiences in which these products were not leaking within a season or two. Of course, they were all perfectly waterproof when new, so they would all pass your “bucket test” fresh out of the box. However, based on my experience, one should not be surprised if these boots or gloves are leaking after a year or so. And if they’re not, consider yourselves lucky.
The problem here isn’t the membrane itself or even the manufacturing methods. I just don’t think the membrane or the seams that join pieces of membrane together hold up will in areas of extreme abrasion or frequent, sharp angled bending.
In a jacket or pant application, these membranes are never very highly stressed. The bending of knees, shoulders, and elbows is never that extreme or frequent, and there is usually a soft layer of fleece or down between the waterproof layer and the bony bits of your body. Boots and gloves, however, have a much harsher life.
The angle of bend behind the toes, in the ancles, and in the knuckles of your fingers is extreme, and the hard parts of ancle bones, toenails, the instep, and knuckle bones are grinding directly against the membrane. And the stiffness of boot material only exasperates the pressures against this material. I think, in these areas it will always be a simple matter of time before the membrane fails.
I have never seen any studies on this topic, nor have I torn a leaky boot apart to inspect it, but based on my extensive experience with Gortex products, I can confidently say, boots and gloves will most likely begin leaking within a year or two. I have had Gortex jackets that have remained leak-free for over 30 years; I haven’t had a single pair of boots or gloves that weren’t leaking within three.
But this is just my anecdotal personal experience and rationalization to explain it. I’m sure there are others out there who have had different experiences.
Regarding my personal riding gear and its use, I too am a fan or Alpinestars products, but my experience with Alpinstars boots has been no different than any other “waterproof” footwear I have ever owned.
My first pair was the Alpinstars “Web”, a Gortex lined touring boot. They wore really well and lasted me almost 10 years. However, they were leaking within one year of use. I’m currently wearing the Alpinstars Campeche Drystar Boot, and after one full winter of daily all-weather commuting in the Pacific Northwest of the US, they are still doing OK, no leaks yet. A bike is my only transportation, so I’m wearing these boots every day, many of which are in pouring rain.
These Campeche’s are still slightly less than a year old, and they’re doing great, but if I begin feeling the chill of cold water seeping in around my toes within the next season or two, I won’t be surprised.
Alex - you definitely have a point. If it was easy to make good footwear and gloves at least on of the major manufacturers would have done it ;-) With that said - the Alpinestars Toucan (Goretex) withheld some really heavy rain over many seasons - put more than 70.000 km on them - still kept them as a back-up. I am still looking for good Goretex Gloves - not sure if they make them in laminted goretex - the liners do not really work that well.
That's some good insight!
I wear a pair of Forma HDRY Tribe Urban boots for touring and commuting. They are still waterproof in their 4th year. As per the manufacturer, the (OutDry) membrane is laminated directly in the upper so won't soak in as much water in the rain as those with inner membrane.
One more thing. When cleaning the boots I treat them with Nikwax waterproofing wax. Obviously waxing would not suffice for making the boots waterproof for a motorcycle ride type of use yet might prolong the lifespan (of waterproofness) by making the leather elastic and repelling the water.
@@robertgyetvai5926 If your Goretex boots are already leaking, yeah, do what you can, but if they are not, you definitely do not want to wax them. Part of the function of Gortex, or any of these membranes is breathability. The membrane requires the pressure gradient between the warm air inside the garment and the outside colder air to push water vapor through the membrane. If you seal the outer boot with wax, silicone, or any other form of rub-on waterproofing, the water vapor will have nowhere to go, and you will have sweat-soaked feet in no time.
Thank you my German friend
Living in the UK I am used to getting wet
I have taken my friends advice and treated my self to the SIDI adventure 2
No complaints
Stay safe my friend and remember your awesome
Thanks for sharing! The Sidi are Goretex - cannot go wrong with that! I really wished they made the Tech 7 with a Goretex membrance (and their QA)
@@MotoVibes Gore-Tex doesn't allow for their membrane to be used on the Tech 7s due to too little area that can breathe. It's said the Sidi Adventure and Alpinestars Toucan are about what is allowed, a boot with more plastic protection than those can't have Gore-Tex due to them having extensive guarantees.
Usually I never complain. But from what I see I believe that many riders are in the same shoes - non-waterproof waterproof Tech 7's.
I have them for about 8 months, I ride once or twice per month. Single track. Once I had to step into a creek, for a good 5-10 seconds. Surprise! I felt cold coming in. I said, may be the water was very cold and cooled my boots super fast. Long story short: the water comes in from the latches and near my ankle. I rode in rain and snow roads, the result is everything that tires catch comes to see my socks. I ride Honda CRF450L.
Looking for new boots now. I can't wait any longer Alpinestars here in EU to step in.
I guess you might as go for the non-waterproof version as they may dry a bit faster. I was just hoping that the dry star membrane would keep the water out during normal rain rides just like the Alpinestars Toucan’s do. They have a Goretex membrane 😉
@@MotoVibes I have Toucan's, but I don't use them very often, because when I ride in the woods I hit many branches and some rocks. When I had the Toucan's I never had a chance to step into a water. From now on I will use only them even the protection is not that good compared to Tech 7s.
I just returned a pair of new gaerne sg12, the store sold it to me as waterproof, they are not waterproof at all, not even water repelent, more like water absorbing, but the costumer service was great, they returned the money without question.
so I was looking for a waterproof eduro boot and find out the only one that match that description is the tech7 ds, but... after this video and the user comments, I rather go with the sidi crossfire 3 and a plastic bag.
thank you guys
Instead of a plastic bag Sealskinz socks maybe an option- they should offer some level of breathability
Saw your video just after I ordered the boosts. After they arrived kept them in the water for 10 minutes and luckily everything is ok no sign of water ingress. :)
That is good to hear - I hope they will stay dry for your - after using them my second pair started leaking - both sides unfortunately. It is a shame as they are great boots otherwise.
My winter equipment includes: Clover Laminator 2 (jacket and pants AA), wich are really good, it is not gorotex, but the way they are made it, is the similar principle. Lots of pockets, and very good airflow for hot weather, and also include a winter jacked inside. All protections are lev2.
As boots I wear the Gaerne G Dakar gorotex. very confortable.
I was going to buy the Tech7 Drystar, but the whole boots are too stiff. I consider that much more for an 80% offroad use or enduro.
As gloves I use the Clover Sierra! (consider that I live in Sicily so weater is fine for this equipment, and i wear tshirt lol)
Thank you for sharing your setup 😉
Ive been using regular Tech 7 for the last 5yrs and the sole and plastic bits have dislodged from the body, they served me well though, apart from the crappiest watet resistence. After a year or two of flex while using the seams and joints of plastic bit started showing small gaps, especially above the toe area and im assuming that even with the Drystar version the same thing would happen, and the waterproofing would quickly die out in a year or two
Thanks for sharing your experience. I still wear my Tech 7 for the majority of my rides despite the fact that they were not water resistant after the first two weeks of wearing them. I really like the Tech 7 but I wished they had done a better job of the water proofness - I don't really understand why they did not go with Goretex like they did on the Toucans. I would have been happy to pay the premimium. It is not so much the Goretex membrane that make Goretex products better but the quality testing through Goretex which would have likely found the issue before the boot went to market.
I would suggest that static water pressure is somewhat less aggressive that what may be experienced when riding at 120kph when water can be directed with some force, particularly when there is standing water.
Excellent content, thoroughly enjoy the channel from a fellow 1290 owner in the UK.
Thank you very much Richard. The test is not bullet proof for sure but if it fails in the bucket it fail on the road 😂
An entirely valid point!
I have had Daytona Gore Tex touring boots for decades and they actually always worked very well. I also have the Alpinestars Tech 7 Drystar Boots and had the luck of never experiencing serous rain with them. Curious how that will work out.
I have never had waterproof gloves that worked really well.
Would be interesting to hear how your Tech 7 will hold up in the rain once you have had the chance to ride them in the rain 😉
A little bit but riding hard and I warmed up, I always buy 2 size larger seal skinz so they are not too tight.
Great vid as usual, btw I got my 17/19 wheel setup to work on my R model thanks to you. I can now use really good tires and still have the great suspension of the R, will try the 50 teath sensorrings on my 18/21 wheels too to see how that works.
Great to hear! I am switching to my street wheel setup soon too! Cannot decide on the tires quite yet. The larger wheels definitly have their place for off-road riding - just had some play time in the enduro park and the larger wheels did make a (small) difference.
@@MotoVibes I went with Pirelli Angel GT II both front and rear. 170/60 rear and 120/70 front.
Unfortunately I have had the same issue. I bought the boots 12 months ago and haven’t used them because I still love my old boots. However I wore them on a 15 day Pyrenees trip and they leak in the same place as you have described. I will contact the supplier tomorrow and see what they say. Great video, thanks for sharing it.
Thank you very much for sharing your experience- good luck with the customer support 😉
Did you solve this?
@@David_Drills returned to supplier who sent on to Alpine star and I received a full refund. Sports Bike Shop- fantastic customer service. im still using my old sidi crossfires until I get to try on some new designs. my friends have the daystars and they are all very happy and have dry feet.
@@JPs_ADVLOG it is very confusing that sveral people haven't experienced any leak and several people, like me, experienced leaks from day 1. This won't let me trust the drystar membrane. I decided to go with the standard tech7 and use sealskinz (100% waterproof socks already tested and stress tested for safety). The standard tech7 will provide less hot temperature at the feet during hot days and they will dry up faster when wet. I don't want to give up the safety the tech7 provide, that's very important to me.
@@David_Drills have a look at the Sidi crossfire, they are very comfortable and extremely well made with some of the best protection available. in conjunction with seal skinzs ive had a pair since 2010 and I still use them even thought he leather section has failed. they dry super quick also. I might just buy another pair.
My Tech 7 Drystars started leaking heavily after about 3 years. Now they get completely soaked/flooded in about 2 hours of riding in the rain/single track puddles. Curious if there are any solutions to this. I just applied Nikwax, will see if that helps at all.
I don't think there is much you can do - I think it is very likely due to leaky seams / seals of parts of the drystar membrane. This is the weak spot when water gets through - the membrane itself is usually not the issue.
Thanks that was ver informative, enjoy your videos 👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you very much Ian 😉
I know this post is old so please all, forgive me for asking this question again if it has been answered. I did scroll throught the comments but could see anything similar. If the boots start leaking can you not apply something like the nikwax spray on waterproofing for clothing. Surely the clothing in itself is designed to breath to a certain extent but the waterproofing just helps the water to beed. Is that not the case?? Thanks all
@@Andys_Motorbike_Journeys any water repellent does very little in my experience. Even the original DWR layer on a Klim Badlands won’t help the outer fabric from soaking up with water once you start riding. With said I did apply something like nikwax on the boots with very little effect
The issue is very likely that the glued seams of the Drystar membrane are the weak point. That is why my 2nd pair of boots passed the water bucket test and then started leaking once in use - with leaky seams water gets in minutes
Any waterproof membrane is pretty tough and will not leak water even after years of heavy us but the quality of how the seams are glued is where the money is. Goretex products often come out on top not for the better membrane but for the better quality in workmanship as goretex requires independent testing of the final product before they give the waterproof for life guarantee
so? what was manufacturer response about old pair of soaked boots? what is the reason why the new pair was dry inside after bucket test?
Got a new pair - it was dry at first but then leaked water again
Got a new pair - it was dry at first but then leaked water again
@@MotoVibes tnx. Good to know. I have just bought Toucan today
Ja genau, die Membrane sind meistens nicht das Problem, sondern die Verarbeitung zu den anderen Materialien. Hatte auch das Problem dass nach 6Stunden Dauerregenfahrt, die Schuhe "durchgeschlagen" haben. Konnte, da erst 1Monat alt, diese zurückgeben. War auch ein günstigeres Hersteller/Modell. Ich bin immer noch Fan meiner BMW Gravel-Stiefel. Halten seid ewigen Zeiten und Dicht. Will mir bald mal die Touratech Destino Touring zulegen und hoffe die sie auch so dicht.
Ich hoffe ja, dass Alpinestars oder einer der anderen großen echte Endurostiefel auch mal in Goretex bringt - die 30-50 Euro Aufpreis würde ich gerne zahlen. Mir kam der bessere Schutz der Tech 7 schon einige Male sehr gelegen - nicht unbedingt auf einer Tour, sonder beim Enduro Action Team aber ich hab mich jetzt richtig an die großen Stiefel gewöhnt und nachdem die eingelaufen sind kann ich den ganzen Tag in diesen Stiefeln verbringen.
Great video...
But I think if you know it is going to be a full day of riding in the rain, nothing will beat some lightweight raingear to put over.
That works of course and is also the most affordable way to protect against rain. Goretex is nice of it starts and stops to rain throughout the ride
Hi, can you advise differences between Toucan and T7 Drystar in terms of comfort and living with them etc. Why did you change? Thanks as about to buy and make my decision between these two different boots. 😊
I bought the T7 for the much better protection and I was hoping that the Drystar membrane would deliver similar waterproofness as the Toucan. If it was that waterproof it would be my only boot for touring and for off-road adventures. I did get another pair of the Toucan for the better waterproofness - I choose the Toucan when most of my riding stays on pavement. For the enduro park of any off-road adventure the T7 is my boot of choice. I like the comfort of both - I can wear both of them the whole day. The Toucan is a bit roomier and did not need any break-in time for me. After a short break-in time the T7 is great too - it does offer a bit more flex as compared to hard enduro boots - which provide even better protection but the usuability for adventure riding is limited due to the stiffness of the boots.
@@MotoVibes interesting thanks. So sounds like the T7’s are flexible enough for gear changing etc.? My use is U.K. green lane riding, where there’s a mix of off road trails (river crossings) with tarmac to get to the next trail. The days can be long typically 9 hours with stops for lunch etc., so some walking. Not strictly Enduro and definitely not racing! So I’m looking for a balance of protection for light Enduro long days but comfort and ability to change gears all day. Breathable important, so not sure about moving away from Gortex to Drystar! Your final thoughts would be welcome. TIA 😊
@@cotswoldmusings Wear the gear that you want to crash in😊 The T7 provide sports enduro style protection while still allowing easy walking and some movement of the boot. The Toucan - while waterproof - are not on the same protection level. For the riding you do I would definetly wear the T7 - (I bought cheap boot dryers on Amazon if the T7 get wet during the day)
My good friend and riding buddy Jochen broke his leg during our last ACT Greece tour on day 4 (videos is not out yet) in May of this year. He was wearing typical "adventure boots" (less protective than the Toucans in this case).
He still has plenty of metal in the leg but all he wears now is the T7 which he bought after the crash! I was wearing my Toucans during that trip but from that day on I will only use my T7 for trips like this.
The gear shifting can be something to get used to but I have no problem at all shifting gears (you may need to adjust your shift lever for a bulkier boot) but that does not mean it would not annoy you.
You could order a pair and wear them around the house to get a feel for them if you are unsure. Please know that they need a little bit of break-in time
@@MotoVibes yes, I hear you loud and clear. Thanks, I will order the T7’s tomorrow and wear them around the house for a few hours. Appreciate your time on this as there’s such a lot of rubbish out there, so your guidance is valuable 😊
What did you end up with?? Any other WP boot that passes the test ?
Hey dave - sorry I missed you comment. I ende up buying a second pair of Toucan Goretex from Alpinestars - Sidi Adventure Goretex boots are also quite good - maybe even better with waterproofness. They are not as sturdy so I wear them for light off-road or road use only. For the more technical off-road parts I just deal with wet feet for now. I know Leatt introduced a similary well procted boot like the Tech 7 - also promising to be waterproof but I have not experiene with this one.
what about replaced pair? how did it work in terms of waterproofness?
Please see the updates description of the video for that 😉
Wow ich wollte nur wissen ob ich mir die Stiefel zulegen soll und habe einen richtig geilen Kanal gefunden ❤ 😊
😂 vielen Dank- freut mich und herzlich willkommen 😉
Same problem here 2023 boots. Used them on one trip recently and to be honest. My standard 8 year old tech 7 are almost more waterproof than the drystar. Obviously Alpinestars are having serious production problems. Sending them back to the dealer this week to await an answer from them and Alpinestars. I expect to get a new pair.. if not the “waterproof” tech 7 is a serious scam
I wish you luck - I know people that have boots that stayed dry but more people seems to experience issues at some point. A real shame. This should not be impossible to get right - I would be more than happy to pay more for a Goretex liner on these boots 😉
Ended up here for the same problem you had. I feel your pain.
How the tech7 drystar usage is going on?
I bought tech7 drystar because they are very protective, super good looking and, mostly, waterproof, which is something that every adventure rider is seeking for.
Waterproofness is something that I really care about, I know goretex is the best but I rarely ride many hours under the rain, that’s why sometime I can deal with non goretex gear.
SADLY, I experienced water leak into tech7 drystar (with goretex pants over the boots) after I rode over a few puddles off road, it was a sunny day. That was really sadly disappointing because, as you said, if tech7 were goretex they would have been the best boots on the market.
I contacted the dealer and they are willing to refund me or change with a brand new tech7 drystar but after yours and other reviews I (SADLY) won’t get them again at least until they will make them goretex.
That said, I am searching for a goretex boots with a good protection deal and so far the Alpinestar Toucans seems a good choice. In your experience, what other goretex boots you suggest? What boots are you using right now?
After the second set of Tech7 drystar also leaked (despite passing the bucket test) I ended up buying the Alpinestars Toucans again for my adventure tours and I keep the Tech 7 for the enduro park.
@@MotoVibes thanks for the feedback. I am struggling with this because I really like the tech7 and I don't want to give up the safety they prevent to the feet. I prefer to let go waterproofness to keep going with total safety. I will change my tech7 drystar with the standard tech7 so they will be less hot in summer time and dry up faster when wet, and use the sealskinz waterproof socks to keep my feet warm and dry. Cheers
@@David_Drills if I had to do this again the normal Tech 7 would be better as they would dry faster or the Tech 10 as they have the removal inner boot.
I'll try tgr sg22 gtx. They're pretty steep in price though.
I agree, I have same boots and I regret I bought it. Even splash over the puddles made them leak and my feet were wet. Waste of money
Yeah. It’s a shame. Would have been the best adventure boot on the market for me if they were water proof.
I am experiencing the same thing guys. Just bought the tech7 drystar, have a couple o off road ride and they leaked water in ever from puddles. I am very disappointed because I love them and I bought them because of their “waterproofness”.
I now bought the SealSkinz socks that are waterproof too (for real) and at least my feet stay dry all day long even if the boot would leak some water.
Have you guys find any solution?
Your car is water proof also. If it rains you do not get wet. Run it in the lake and see if it does not fill up with water. These water proof boot are not made to stand in a mud hole or creek.
The Goretex membrane is waterproof even under some pressure. So should any parts where the membrane is glued together- this is likely the weak point in these boots. When fabricated well boots or gloves will remain waterproof
Stop using blow dryers in boots. Its inneficient, wasteful and could damage the boot. Something MUCH MORE efficient is putting newspapers in the boot. The newspaper will absorb the humidity and you're done. Takes 2 minutes to setup. If my boots are really wet I will change newspapers before going to bed.
I peggiori stivali mai comperati....negli alpinestars tech 7 enduro dry entra acqua risultato? Piedi sempre bagnati in caso di guadi pozzanghere e pioggia!!! Disastrosi!! E li dichiarano dry!! Mai più.
Yeah. Good protection but not really that waterproof 😢
do not wave your hand while u talk, stop bad habbit
That is the Italien in me 😂
@@MotoVibes 😀😀😀😀😀😀