Xpd X-Beat H2OUT boots in black / red

When I first saw the pre-production sample of the Xpd X-Beat boot in Italy before it was released I was drawn to its good looks. I also liked the convenience  of the speed-lacing system. But after Mauro, the designer, had spent half an hour talking me through how the boot was put together I was sold. The X-Beat may look like a humble trainer, but it's most certainly a superior one.

 

The starting point is a high-tenacity microfibre upper. This is water-repellent, but the real waterproofing comes courtesy of a waterproof inner 'bootie'.

 

The upper is bonded to an ultra-light EVA midsole for cushioning and the absorption of vibrations. This in turn is bonded to a dual density outer rubber sole whose grip pattern is based on that of a trail-running shoe. Between the midsole and the Ortholite inner footbed you get a Nylon insole that acts as a kind of lasting board or shank. And what this does is add rigidity beneath the arch whilst allowing the front portion of the boot to flex for walking.

 

In terms of protection you get a super-strong counter at the front of the toe. There's its equivalent in the heel. And there's nothing namby-pamby about either of these; this is a boot that has been put together with protection very much to the fore. To the same end you get foam backed hard ankle protectors.

 

Nothing to do with protection, per se, but there's a moulded-in gearchange pad on the toe that even the clumsiest of riders should not be able to miss.

 

The gold standard when it comes to waterproofing is what is known a waterproof 'bootie'. It's a crucial part of the way all of Daytona's boots are constructed, but it's not the system that most mid-market brands use to waterproof their boots. The 'bootie' is like a separate breathable waterproof sock that totally isolates the foot from the boot. But even then not all 'booties' are born equal. Mauro reckons that there only a couple of factories in the world that can do the job properly. Which is why he has all Xpd's boots made by one of them.

 

There's another thing here. What Spidi has always told us is that the H2OUT membrane that they use in all their clothing is the only membrane made specifically for motorcycling. Now we have never considered that to be particularly significant, but what we have to admit is that we simply never get waterproofing issues with any of Spidi's gear, so maybe the membrane is a good one!

 

When it comes to how the boot wears what partly makes the X-Beat so comfortable is its heavily padded collar. The tongue too is nicely padded. At the rear of the shaft there's a Neoprene insert to make it easier to get in and out of the boot. It will also make the boot more comfortable both when on the bike and when you're walking around.

 

For exit and entry the boot uses a speed-lace system. You simply push the slider down the laces to tighten the boot up. You pull it to loosen them. It's really easy and really quick; a lot less faff than using traditional laces. When you've tightened the laces, you put the unused portion of lace into what's known as a lace 'garage'. Do that, and the laces are out of the way, so won't get caught on pegs and the like. But to put the matter beyond doubt there's also a Velcro flap across the front of the talus.

 

As we said at the top of the show, we like the way the X-Beat looks. But it's more than a pretty face. A lot of thought has gone into the boot's construction. It's then been put together by one of the very top boot factories using only the best quality components.

 

And of course this goes against what we see as the general direction of travel in the motorcycle market. Most manufacturers these days seem intent on chasing ever lower prices. And the only way they can do this is to cut the cost of production. We see this all the time. Even brands that were formerly known for quality appear to be in a race to see how fast they can get to the bottom.

 

In many instances we reckon this is a huge mistake, but many companies seem to find it easier to 'down' their game rather than 'up' it. But clearly nobody sent the memo to Mauro. Mauro wants to make great motorcycle boots. And if that means they end up being a few quid more expensive, then so be it.

 

And certainly we have no issue with that!