XPD Moto Way H2OUT boots in black

If you have not heard of XPD as a shoe brand that's not all that surprising. They have actually been around for a while, but the brand is better known in Italy than it is over here. In fact, XPD is owned by Spidi, who hopefully you have heard of. Basically, because there was a possibility that Spidi could become confused with Sidi, it was agreed that Spidi would come up with another name for its footwear. And XPD is that name. Say it fast, and it sounds a little like Spidi. Not a lot; just a little!

 

A few year ago Spidi poached the designer from another Italian shoe brand, Forma. He was given the brief to transform XPD in to a world-class, motorcycle boot producer. Well in 2025 we are starting to see the fruits of that new relationship. We like what we are seeing, but later in the year we will see some boots that really are very special. Watch this space.

 

Anyway, the boot we are going to be talking about today is called the XPD Moto Way. It's obviously a sneaker-style bike boot, of which there are a few in the XPD range. The point of difference here, and this is intended to separate it from the Moto Fast and Moto Pro, is that it's not meant to even look like a motorycle boot. To which end you don't even get a gearchange pad. This is just a very cool-looking sneaker that also happens to be a fully protective, biking boot.

 

The outer chassis of the boot is leather, interspersed with some area of suede detailing. Because there's no gearchange pad you get an extra large, and extra strong counter in the toe, meaning that you're not ever going to get sore toes from the gear pedal. Well not unless you're really bad at changing gear! You also get what XPD calls a 'Heel Support System', which basically means a counter in the heel.

 

The ankles are protected with foam-backed TPU pucks. The entire shaft of the boot is padded with memory foam in the interests of comfort. As is the tongue. But what is going to make the Moto Way particularly cosseting to wear for long periods at a time is the fact that there's concertina banding at the top of the shaft. This really should be a seriously nice boot both to ride and walk about in.

 

The Moto Way is equipped with a waterproof membrane. And it's Spidi's well known and reliable H2Out membrane. And that means, obviously, that this should be a totally waterproof boot. But let's not get too carried away. And that's because a shorter, ankle boot will always be more vulnerable to water ingress than a taller one. Rain hits the ground. It bounces off the road, and can jump over the shaft of a shower boot. This is less likely to happen when you wear a taller, touring-style boot. And so whilst one can be confident that this will be a waterproof boot, that doesn't mean that you won't ever get wet feet.

 

Unlike the other XPD trainer-style boots you get a side zip with the Moto Ways. Now the aperture here is more generous than it is with some boots; and that will make them easier to get on and off. Whether this means you can get away without using the laces is less certain. That will vary from person to person.

 

The outsole is an XPD branded one, as opposed to the Michelin sole used on some of their other boots. Don't know the significance of this. The boot comes with a removable, Ortholite insole, but beneath this there's a strong Nylon liner that acts as a kind of shank or lasting board to increase the sole's rigidity. And yes, it is very rigid.

 

So, bottom line. A good-looking, stylish, comfortable sneaker that you could wear as easily as a Nike basketball boot or Hi-top trainer. But this is still a proper, biking boot that wants for little when it comes to protection.