Forma Terra Evo Dry boots in black

Forma call this an ‘adventure, boot. There are, of course, many interpretations of what constitutes adventure riding, and by implication an adventure boot. For many it is a style thing; gear that looks as though it might be appropriate for an adventure. For some, adventure riding will involve a mix of on-road and off-road passages. Riding on the road to the turn-off, hitting the trails, and then riding home on the road once the fun is over. And then there is what one might term ‘real’ adventure riding, where the focus is very much on riding the rough stuff and working up a sweat.

Forma does a boot called the Adventure Dry, which is for those who seek to mix a little off-road riding with on-road riding. The Terra Evo Dry, by contrast, is all about the rough stuff. It is about the trails and the ruts, the mud and the rocks. It’s about as protective as a motorcycle boot gets this side of something injection moulded in plastic.

The chassis is a heavily-oiled, full-grain leather. You get heavy-duty protectors in the ankles and the heel. The boot also has an insanely strong toe box that can be supplemented with a steel toe cap that attaches to the outer sole. On the shin there’s a large plastic protector. There’s another one that articulates with the boot to protect the heel and the calf.

The sole is as stiff as a board. And the welt is sufficiently pronounced to allow it to be used to change gear. There are padded, stretch panels in the forefoot and the heel, and some soft padding at the top of the shaft, but this is still not a boot you would wear to walk up a mountain. For a short distance, the Terra Evo Dry would be comfortable enough, but this is a boot that is all about protection. It is not about comfort, although it will still be more comfortable than one of those plastic jobbies.

The boot is equipped with a Drytex waterproof membrane to keep you dry. Entry and exit come via three adjustable, aluminium buckles. Forma also wax lyrical about an anti-shock EVA midsole, and a replaceable footbed with what they term APS, which stands for Air Pump System. Not quite sure what this is, and why it’s important, but it suggests that Forma has done everything they can to make the Terra Evo Dry less uncomfortable than it might otherwise be.

This boot is the real deal deal. If you're looking for a boot for the GS to go with your adventure suit, helmet with a peak and metal panniers, this is not the boot for you. This is a properly protective, off-road boot. If you are going somewhere truly adventurous, somewhere where falling off could cause real damage, then this may be the boot you are looking for. It comes in both brown and black.