Stylmartin Matrix boots in black

 

It’s made from what Stylmartin call their Writer leather. Writer leather is what Stylmartin considers to be its premium-quality, full-grain leather. The leather is treated to give it a vintage/antique feel. A glossy resin is then applied, and then removed by hand, allowing the background tones to come to the surface. The more the leather wears the more authentic the look becomes. You can see this on the boots out of the box, but they will look way better down the road.

 

For protection you get monstrously tough counters in the toe and heel. You also get foam-backed, hard protectors in the ankles. As you might expect of a trials boot you get a hard, plastic protector for the shin. Again this is foam backed for comfort, and to absorb the energy of an impact. You get similar protectors that run up the sides of the boot. No two ways about it; this is one protective boot. On both feet you get a large, sewn-in gearchange protector.

 

The boot is a waterproof one. The leather itself is water resistant, but the real waterproofing comes from a breathable, waterproof membrane.

 

The boot fasten by means of two, ski-buckle adjusters. At the top of the shaft there’s a large, Velcro flap that allows you to regulate the volume around the calf.

 

The Matrix comes with a Vibram sole in a Commando tread pattern. On the inside you get a replaceable, anatomic insole.

 

This may not be the kind of serious trials boot that you’d wear in competition, but for a road boot it’s going to offer lots of protection. It’s going to work well for a bit of green laning. And, of course, it still has those classic looks.