Klim Ridgeline boots in black castlerock

This is the second iteration of the Klim Ridgeline boot. It's a bit less fussy in design terms. Some thought the old model looked a bit weird. That's a bit harsh, perhaps; but definitely the new boot's  a bit traditional in its styling.

 

The concept, though, is exactly the same. The Ridgeline is non-waterproof boot that has been designed to work both as both a motorcycle boot and a walking boot. It's got all the protective features you'd expect on for biking, and indeed it is CE approved as an item of protective wear under EN13634. Yet this is a boot that you'd be happy to wear if you were doing the Fan Dance.

 

Now historically British motorcyclists would only ever buy 'waterproof' boots. But that is changing. Perhaps because motorcyclists are travelling a little further afield than they used to, but also perhaps because we better understand the negative impacts of a membrane; and how important breathability is when it comes to staying cool and comfortable. 

 

But there's another thing here. It just doesn't rain as much as we imagine it does, even here in the UK; and I would even go as far as to suggest that because of the way a lot of motorcyclists ride these days many will almost never come across the wet stuff. Indeed, this March (2025) there were only two 'rain days' in the UK. In April, there were just three. And  so if you had been caught out it might be suggested that you were just unlucky. And there's therefore a case for suggesting that it doesn't make a lot of sense to wear a sweaty, waterproof boot all the time if you're rarely going to find yourself riding in the rain.

 

We'll talk about the boot in detail, but there are two main differences between the old and the new. 

The first is that the new boot has a slightly higher shaft. This potentially makes the boot a little more protective. But more comfortable too, we might suggest.

 

The other upgrade is that  the new boot is more breathable; and in our opinion quite significantly so. The outer shell is made from an almost mesh-like material. Inside the boot you get a moisture-wicking lining. In hot conditions this is going to be a very easy boot to wear.

 

In terms of protection you get XRD pucks in the ankles and XRD padding in the tongue. XRD is nothing like D3O, but it does the same kind of job. You get a massively stiff, TPU-reinforced counter at the end of the toe. There's another one in the heel.

 

The toe design is asymmetric in that you get a built-in, gearchange pad on the left toe but not on the right. Of course, this is going to let you down a bit if you ride an older classic, but I don't see many Vincent owners running around in a pair of Klim boots!

 

The HyperGrip sole is pretty rugged, and should provide lots of grip in the mud and the dirt. Embedded into the outsole is what our American cousins call a lasting board; basically a shank that adds rigidity to the sole.

 

Of course what sets the Ridgeline apart from most boots is that it fastens by means of a BOA lacing system. And as you might expect of Klim, we're talking full-fat BOA here; not a lookalike mechanism.

The way the lacing works is much improved on the new boot too. Guides down the edge of the tongue ensure that the load will be evenly spread as you tighten the mechanism.

 

There's a neat pull to help get the boot on. The last noteworthy detail is that in the box you get a second insole called a 'half-size'. I have never seen this from anybody other than Klim, but all we can say is that here in the shop we have found that it almost always works. If the boot is a tad too large, but the size down is just too small, try the 'half-sizer'. We don't quite understand how it works, but it does.

 

We really like this boot. We liked the previous version. But we like this one more. Nobody needs to be embarrassed the ways the Ridgeline looks. If you're a fairweather rider, if you like to tour to exotic climes, if you want a boot that you could spend an entire day walking around in, this may be the boot for you. 

 

The Ridgeline is very much a non-waterproof Outlander, and in recent years that has proven to be undeniably our most popular ankle boot. But for a lot of people we suspect that this boot will be a better option.