The Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystar boots are premium off-road boots designed for serious adventure and trail use. Finishing just below the knee, they're built for riders tackling rough terrain — where rocks, tree roots and sudden dabs of the ground can easily twist an ankle.
Inclusion of a waterproof membrane (Alpinestars’ own Drystar version) brings all-weather capability to a category that often sacrifices weatherproofing. The uppers use a tough man-made material that’s still highly abrasion-resistant.
Alpinestars class these as enduro boots, and that’s exactly where they shine — on green lanes and mixed-surface adventure rides. Yet I've also found them to be capable on long tarmac runs, as my 1400-mile tour of Ireland proved.
Fit & comfort
Fit is generous and comfortable once bedded in. Like many Italian-made boots, I needed to go up one size — normally I’m a 7, but an 8 gave the perfect fit. Straight from the box, they feel stiff, but that’s expected from a boot designed to protect against twisting and impact injuries. After around 2300 miles, they’d softened enough that walking short distances was no problem.
On the bike, the Tech 7s are impressively comfortable. Much of that comfort comes from confidence — they feel solid, secure, and extremely well supported around the ankle and shin. Despite their height and stiffness, they never caused discomfort on long days of riding.
Cold weather protection
While I haven’t yet ridden in very cold conditions, the construction and heavy-duty materials leave no room for draughts. The Drystar liner and thick uppers should offer solid insulation for winter riding, likely outperforming most unlined adventure boots when temperatures drop.
Warm weather performance
For tall, waterproof boots, I found they handled heat surprisingly well. I’ve worn them in temperatures into the high 20s Celsius and always found them to be bearable. They are substantial boots, so if you’re prone to hot feet you’ll notice the warmth, but the trade-off for the protection and waterproofing feels worthwhile to me.
Grip & stability
Grip is excellent across a range of bikes and peg types. I’ve used them on a BMW R1300GS with rubber-topped pegs, a classic R100GS PD, and a Honda CRF450 with metal serrated pegs. The Tech 7s held firm in all situations, though on the GS’s rubber pegs, grip in the wet was slightly reduced because the rubber didn’t compress enough to let the sole bite the metal beneath. On traditional enduro pegs, traction was rock solid while both seated and standing.
Protection
The Tech 7 Enduro Drystar boots are top-tier in the protection stakes. They’re CE approved to the higher Level 2 across all categories — height, abrasion, impact cut, and transverse rigidity — and carry WR and WAD markings for water resistance and preventing water absorption.
Photography: Jose Mas
The high, rigid structure shields the lower leg from impacts, while the ankle bracing limits torsion without completely locking out movement. Alpinestars’ buckle system provides a secure, adjustable fit and the replaceable sole adds longevity. Simply put, these boots inspire great confidence on rough ground.
Durability
After a full summer and autumn of use — including green-lane riding, deep-water crossings and that 1400-mile Irish road trip through Storm Amy — the Tech 7s still look remarkably fresh. No damage, no scuffs worth mentioning, and crucially, no water ingress even under biblical rain.
The materials are robust and easy to clean — a quick rinse after an off-road day brings them back to life. The replaceable buckles, straps and soles mean they’re built for the long haul, capable of taking years of hard use if they're given basic care.
Conclusion
The Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystars are seriously capable boots for riders tackling unpaved roads, green lanes or long-distance adventure touring. Their waterproofing sets them apart from most enduro boots, while the level of protection and quality of construction justify the price.
They’re not the most natural choice for road-only riders — their stiffness means less feel through the controls and a clunkier gait off the bike — but if your riding takes you beyond the tarmac, these boots are hard to beat.
For adventures like the Trans-European Trial, or any trip that mixes terrain and weather conditions, I feel they’re a worthy investment: rugged, waterproof and confidence-inspiring.
After 2300 miles of testing they’ve proved themselves to be among the toughest and most dependable waterproof adventure boots I've ever worn.
