Stylmartin Continental boots in red

The Stylmartin Continental is one of the brand’s signature pieces. It’s a beauty, but perhaps not quite what it purports to be.

 

The Continental looks just like a classic, trials boot, but it’s actually in every way a road boot designed for those riding a modern scrambler-style machine.

 

It is one of the most comfortable boots in the entire, Stylmartin collection. It’s made from a super-soft, waterproof-treated, nappa leather that, for even more comfort, is calfskin lined. There’s a padded ring at the top of the shaft. You get padding in the forefoot. There’s padding also behind the hardened, shin plate. Oh, and a bit in the heel. The Continental might look like an off-road boot, but it’s just about as comfortable as a full-height, motorcycle boot gets.

 

There’s no gearchange pad on the toe, but you do get a large and very strong counter in the toe box. Ditto in the heel. Both ankles are also protected by foam-backed, hard pucks.

 

The leather is waterproof treated but there is no waterproof membrane.

 

There are four adjustable straps to help getting in and out of the bed, although you’d probably only ever need to use the top three. The straps are super-easy to use; much easier than traditional buckles. 

 

The sole is a proper Vibram affair in a Commando-type tread. There is contrast stitching through what looks like a welt. And there may be a welt sewn into the boot’s upper, but this is not what is generally known as a welted boot; and that’s because the stitching does not go through the welt to secure the midsole and outsole. Not that this means you can’t replace the sole. Any cobbler should be able to bond on a new sole.

 

Inside the boot you get a replaceable, anatomic insole.