Dri Rider Nordic Boots

[sarakoth]

Just a quicky so to speak!

Anyone got any feedback on the Dri Rider Nordic boots. I am chasing some winter boots that are 100% waterproof and while many boots seem to claim this I have heard many commets around the place about boots that fail to be completely waterproof. Of course I don't want to fork out big $ if I can avoid it. (These should be around $180). Have heard great things about the Oxtar Matrix boots but they are another $200 on top of the Dri Riders....

As for requirements I have to ride to work in almost all weather conditions so needs to be able to handle say 30 mins of driving rain in the worse case, so not riduculous like 8 hours touring or anything but not a sprinkle either.

Cheers.

[mick_dundee]

Want waterPROOF boots get yourself some steel capped gum boots is my recommendation, not much out there that actually IS waterproof, plenty out there claim it and indeed may well be so for the first 3 months or so...

Just my opinion

[sarakoth]

Want waterPROOF boots get yourself some steel capped gum boots is my recommendation

hahahaha... yeah I will look real snazzy in those nice white jobbies they wear down at the butchers!

However I have heard other people suggest that... I think I have checked some out on the web from some army surplus store... might check them out again.

[Cossie]

I thought steel caps were supposed to cut your toes off if have an accident?

Anyway, I wear AGV touring boots that are supposed to be waterproof. They are fine in normal rain, but if its pissing down and there is heaps of spray around, my socks get soaked. Some of the water must get sprayed up and come in between my boots and pants because the bottom of my pants get wet first.

I ride 40 mins each way 5 days a week regardless of weather. I just keep a spare pair of socks at work for the few days a year I might need them.

[sarakoth]

So Cossie... you think the boots themselves are ok but if it is too wet then stuff just gets wet anyway?

I have wet weather pants obvioulsy but I find they do flap around and are a bit short when in the sitting position on the bike. I only have Rjays speed boots so they are not waterproof at all and are also short. I think some touring boots and then possibly get the misses to make a small balck elastic band that I can use over the top of my pants to keep them from flapping will probably do the trick. As with you I have spare socks n jocks at work after being caught out one day!!!

As for steel caps... that is another whole argument on that subject... mashed or nicely sliced off.. which do you prefer???

[6maniac]

G'day sarakoth - I have Gaerne's with a waterproof ? liner - they are OK for "rain" but if it's pissing down water will get in. I have used a product called " Sno-seal" on my leather gloves with some success - its a beeswax leather waterproofing & comes in a 100g tube for $12.00. Haven't tried it on the boots yet - winter approaches !

[Cossie]

Yeah, I'm pretty happy with the boots, for the price anyway.

I've worn them at least 5 days a week for 2 years and they are holding up great. I've never even treated them with waterproofing stuff either. I was gonna find some sort of elastic band type thing to hold my waterproofs tight against them as I think thats where some of the water gets in (my waterproofs tend to ride up a bit too as I'm a tall bastard).
Short of going for some expensive goretex ones I'd recommend them.

Gloves on the other hand are a different story! I had to buy A* goretex in the end as my AGV waterproof ones are useless at keeping the rain out.

[Jonno]

All I can say is the Oxtar Matrix definatly do what they are claimed to do, they fill up to the brim and dont let the water out!

Just kidding, they only do that in torrential rain without being covered and never let in any water other than that, damn exy' to buy I agree but they are worth the money IMO, I have done over 80'000 km's in them and only got soaked once. The sole/tread is almost worn out, mind you I am a heavy guy and most of the wear is possibly due to kickin' Hondas and scooters of the road as I pass by ( j/k ).

More of a sports touring boot I reckon, very comfortable with good safety features also quick'n'easy to pull on after a hard days work. Anyhow no boot will be totally weatherproof without wet weather overpants or gators with the elastic around the base, I had to use them when it pissed down so hard you could barely see, you had to get them on before hand or as mentioned above ya' boots no matter what they are will fill very quickly.

I wonder if it is worthwhile to re-tread them?

[Black Magic]

G'day sarakoth - I have Gaerne's with a waterproof liner !

I have Gaerne boots with a waterproof liner as well. Mine only ever fill up from the top, and have never let water in otherwise. They are very comfortable, I can wear them all day.

I wonder if it is worthwhile to re-tread them?

I got a quote on resoling my last pair of boots because they were so comfortable that I didn't want to throw them out. The quote was about half what the boots were worth and the sole that they were going to use was far from acceptable for a bike boot. Maybe if you went to the right place it may be worth looking into?

[Neka79]

i have a 1 piece waterproof suit thing (r jays or similar) and it works a treat...

as it covers my boots to my ankle, i found my sidi boots not too bad (cos no water gets in the top)

[sarakoth]

Thanks for all the comments peoples... in the end I went with the Dririder Nordic.. I wanted some Oxtar Matrix that I saw on eBay for only $200 but I could not source a local pair for fitting and was not willing to just go off the sizing charts.. so tried a pair of Nordic boots on in the shops and then purchased those online.

I think some other brans might have better longevity but I only plan on wearing them on rainy days so shoudl hopefully not be that often!

So fingers crossed that they do the job.

[mick_dundee]

I thought steel caps were supposed to cut your toes off if have an accident?

Urban legend, the weight needed to actually crush your steel caps to the point where they might damage your toes is massive, and if somethig like that DOES land on your toes, ya think they'll be better off WITHOUT steel caps? I reckon not myself..

[Six Addict]

hey sara,

i have dririder nordic boots. they are comfy, are ok for summer riding, a little sweaty, but in winter my feet wouldnt know it was winter outside.....they are so warm... as for waterproof, i too like you have to c=ommute no matter what the weather, and only after say 40 minutes of driving, pelting, hard rain have i ever got a small wet patch on my left big toe......

so for value for money and just simple good design i say they are an excellent boot.....

cheers
Owen

[6maniac]

i have a 1 piece waterproof suit thing (r jays or similar) and it works a treat...

as it covers my boots to my ankle, i found my sidi boots not too bad (cos no water gets in the top)

Didn't know they made condoms that BIG !