The Holy Grail of Adventure Riding Boots?

The Klim Adventure GTX boots sitting in my living room after unboxing them.

I’ve tried and failed to adequately answer one tough question we’ve received in emails to the wBW editor.

“Can you recommend riding boots that are comfortable to walk in but also provide a solid level of protection?”

I haven’t yet found any I would say satisfactorily meet that criterion, but I’m hoping these new Klim Adventure GTX kicks are the unicorn we’re all looking for. This question is the motorcycle gear equivalent of asking to have your cake and eat it too.

I’ve been wearing a pair of SIDI Adventure 2 Gore-Tex Boots for three years and appreciate them for all the reasons outlined in the review we did of them years ago. They set the footwear protection and comfort benchmark for me at this point, easily ranking among the best adventure boots available, but they’re not great for walking in. Tolerable is how I would describe the experience.

Everything is Relative

It’s winter here in Alberta, Canada and so getting out to road test these boots has been difficult, but I’ve managed to log about 300 miles wearing them so far. Thanks to COVID-19 restrictions I can’t even realistically travel somewhere warmer to try them out either.

Regardless, I’ll publish this piece as is of these Klim boots with a healthy injection of comparison to my Sidi AdvGT2 boots that I’m very familiar with. If you know much about these Sidis (and even if you don’t) this should provide plenty of value until I finish testing down the road.

A photo of my trusty old Sidi Adventure 2 Gore-Tex boots beside the box holding my brand new Klim Adventure GTX boots.

The Sidi Adventure 2 Gore-Tex and Klim Adventure GTX boots both have the same price tag ($449.99 US) so I think it’s a germane comparison.

The Klim Adventure GTX and Sidi Adventure 2 Gore-Tex side by side comparison

I Ordered Them Right Away

Once I became aware of this snazzy new pair of great-looking, Klim boots coming to market, I wasted no time in ordering them for this review.

As always I’ll endeavour to be honest and pull no punches with my critique of this product, but I’ll also be fair about it.

A pair of Klim Adventure GTX boots.

Out Of The Box Impressions

Immediately these boots grab my attention with their “in-your-face” styling, bold colors, and appealing adventure riding features. They look like motocross boots that were sent to prep school to take just enough of the wild side out of them.

The list of features found on the side of the box for the Klim Adventure GTX boots.

The BOA laces system and Michelin sole look trail-worthy. Maybe I’m just drunk on the exhilarating, fresh smell of leather and rubber, but one look at these boots makes me want to jump on the bike and hit the trails!

The Klim Adventure GTX boots boast several high quality features from reputable brands like Michelin, BOA, Gore-Tex, Thinsulate and Ortholite.

I like the giant letter “K” on the back of each heel combined with the larger ones found on the massive shin armor blocks.

The Klim Adventure GTX boots are very stylish.

No Reflective Patches?

The Hi-Viz yellow accents are effective at getting the attention of anyone possessing a sense of sight, but these boots are designed to be worn under riding pants; those bright colors will be mostly hidden while out on the road. I wonder why Klim opted to minimize the yellow sections down low and not to put any reflective striping or patches anywhere at all?

My Sidi Adventure 2 Gore-Tex boots aren’t equipped with any bright coloring whatsoever, but they do have one patch of reflective tape on the back of the heel areas.

A reflective patch on the heel of a Sidi Adventure 2 Gore-Tex boot.

Sizing and Fit

I used the “fit wizard” found on Klim’s website to determine I should order a size 8.

The fit wizard used my favorite pair of Asics running shoes as a reference point in determining this. The Wizard of Klim correctly predicted with an oddly specific 61% probability that I would be happy with the fit.

Not a 60% chance… 61%. That gave me a slight chuckle.

Klim's fit wizard screen from their website.

These Adventure GTX boots slipped on my feet with little resistance even brand new out of the box, after releasing the lower latch, velcro calf flap, and BOA laces. It sounds like a lot to do, but quick on and quick off is an accurate description of the process.

Once fully installed on my lower limbs, I find the pressure is nearly equal across my feet and shins thanks mostly to the BOA lacing system. It’s better fitting in the shin and ankle areas than my Sidis are, much to my surprise.

My toes go right to the limit of usable space on each side and there is only a small pressure point on the top of my feet in front of the ankle area. I believe this will go away once they’re broken in.

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Walking

Initial fitment is awesome and I hope it’ll remain that way as time wears on. It can’t help think these boots might become too loose after breaking them in since they fit perfectly now. Having said that, I thought the same thing when I first tried on Klim’s Krios Pro helmet, but even after thousands of miles ridden the fit remains as it was when new.

As advertised these boots are significantly more tolerable to walk around in than my Sidis are. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I don’t feel like I’m wearing 6lb riding boots, but I feel relatively fleet of foot while wearing them… you know, by big boot standards. Best of all, there are no squawking or creaking noises coming from them anywhere which is a big gripe I have about my noisy Sidi Adventure 2 Gore-Tex boots.

I roam around the house in them for about an hour alternating between sitting and walking. During it all, I find myself resisting an odd compulsion to kick things encountered at random. The boots feel solid and strong. I feel well protected and confident wearing the Adventure GTX boots so far… indoors.

The Latches

The lower latch on the boots is made of aluminum while the strap is TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) with a steel pin centered in it.

The lower latch on the Klim Adventure GTX boots.

The lower latch on the Klim Adventure GTX boots.

It’s interesting to see Klim used black-colored aluminum for the latch and TPU for the strap, while Sidi went with black TPU for the latch and bare aluminum for the strap hooks on my old boots.

The latches on my Sidi Adventure 2 Gore-Tex boots.

I wonder if the TPU holding the steel pin in the Klim boots will be strong enough to stand up over time since that’s the main point of stress when the latch is cammed over to lock in place? I suspect it will hold together, but I’ll be watching it carefully for signs of distress once I get riding with these.

A Deflector

I like the way Klim designed a protruding wedge in front of the latch to help deflect incoming rocks, twigs, etc which might otherwise strike the latch and open it.

A deflector is built into the TPU armor to protect the latch.

The BOA Laces System

BOA Fit Systems can be found holding together many different footwear products on the market nowadays and from what I can tell it’s strong and reliable.

Rear view of Klim GTX boots

The BOA laces appear to be made of kevlar or something similar with fine fibers twisting around a central core. This is similar to what you would find in wire rope used for lifting or winching.

A closeup of the cable or laces found on the Klim GTX Adventure boots used in the BOA system.

Very strong indeed, but I’ll be watching these closely during testing to gauge whether the laces start sawing through the plastic guides they pass through on each side of the boots.

The laces of the BOA system tensioned up on the Klim Adventure GTX boots.

I looked on BOA’s website but couldn’t find much information about how it’s made. I was impressed with the fact they offer a guaranteed lifetime warranty on any product their system is featured on. Nice!

Operating the BOA is simple. Pull out the round knob until it pops to relieve all tension on the laces. Then you’re free to rip open the velcro flap for donning or doffing the boots. Pushing the knob in until it clicks then spinning it clockwise is how you tighten the laces.

A Klim GTX Adventure boot with the BOA system tension released and the velcro flap opened.

Because Klim designed these boots to be worn underneath riding pants it should adequately limit the amount of dirt, mud, and dust getting into the BOA rotary dial potentially gumming it up and ruining it.

The Insoles

These boots came with two different sets of insoles and two more thin white inserts used to fine-tune the fit to a half size if desired.

The two kinds of insoles Klim includes with the GTX Adventure boots.

I’ve got one Gel Stable insole installed in the right boot and one of the Ortholite insoles in the left to compare them while I sit here writing this.

It only takes about 30 minutes to decide that I prefer the flatter fit of the Ortholite one at this juncture. The gel one has too much of an incline or rise on the heel area, causing my right heel to rub slightly on the back of the boot.

There are two types of insoles that come included with the Klim Adventure GTX boots.

My left foot also feels cooler than my right which is logical considering gel doesn’t breathe while Klim says the Ortholite insole material does. My feet tell me that is true from what I can ascertain sitting here inside my comfortably warm 21 degree Celsius home (70 Fahrenheit).

Wide Footed People Will Rejoice

These boots have a wide carcass (across the toe box area) on them compared to some other boots I’ve worn. That roominess bodes well for my E width feet.

The Klim Adventure GTX have a wide toe box on them.

When I first put on my Sidis years ago I had to endure at least a week of painful riding before they relaxed and stopped pinching the sides of my feet. If they didn’t fit me so well now I would have to seriously question who the narrow-footed people are that Sidi designed them for.

Style

There are two versions of the GTX Adventure boot. The Hi-Viz Asphalt ones I ordered along with a Stealth Black version pictured below for all the “high-speed-low-drag-ninja” riders out there.

The Stealth Black model of Klim GTX Adventure boots.

Photo from Klim

These motorcycle boots resemble Klim’s snowmobile line in many ways from looking at their Havoc GTX BOA ones.

I think the styling is sharp and rugged-looking with just the right amount of bright yellow to accent the grey and black. Full marks here from me although I’m sure some people might say it’s too over the top and “Power Ranger” for their taste.

That’s One Big Toe

The toe box on these Klim boots is almost an inch taller than the Sidis I usually wear. That excess bulk seems destined to interfere to some degree with my ability to shift gears on the bikes.

As my logical friend, John Wyss, pointed out to me upon seeing this: “We’re just gonna have to ask you to go ahead and adjust your bike for these boots…yeaaaah, that’d be great.”

This photo shows the significant height difference between the toe boxes on the Klim Adventure GTX and Sidi Adventure 2 Gore-Tex boots.

John is correct. You’re going to need to raise the shifter arm on any bike to get that big toe box underneath without dislocating your ankle. Perhaps a little too much snowmobile styling transferred over to these motorcycling boots in that regard?

Rider wearing Klim GTX boots on motorcycle

I still haven’t ridden enough while wearing these boots, but to my surprise, shifting my bike was easy, and felt normal! As you can see in the photo above everything lines up perfectly on my KTM for these boots. Something’s fishy here…

Then it dawned on me that I have equipped my 790 with a Rottweiler Performance Trans Saver that when installed raises the shifter arm position upwards about an inch. That’s why now it’s easier to shift in these Klim boots than while wearing my Sidis.

By the way, I fully recommend the Trans Saver for your 790 Adventure. It works well to protect the bike from harsh shifts and obviously it sets up well with Klim’s new Adventure GTX boots too!

Lightweight?

I tossed the boots on my scale to see how much of an effect gravity has on them.

My new Klim Adventure GTX boots on a scale.

They rang up just under 6lbs. Not the heaviest I’ve ever worn, but not the lightest either.

Here’s how the Sidi AdvGT2 boots did comparatively. About 0.5 lbs lighter.

My Sidi Adventure 2 Goretex boots on a scale.

The Interior

The uppermost portion of the Klim inner liner is black nylon with honeycomb-shaped indentations covering it. This pattern is one I’m familiar with for channeling perspiration outwards so your feet can breathe.

The velcro shin flap open on the Klim Adventure GTX boots.

There’s a similarly-textured, silky, white liner below that which visually reminds me of a puffy pirate shirt from the “Yaaaar matey” days of yore or maybe a wedding dress. It feels reasonably tough and thick, but I’m not thrilled about how it’s free to bunch up any which way it likes around where my shin and ankle live while I’m wearing the boot.

This translates to a slightly different fit each time I put the boots on. I would prefer consistency.

The interior liner of the Klim Adventure GTX boots.

I suspect those peaks and ridges are more likely to wear and fray over time due to the stress riser it might become with feet/shins working against them. I wonder how many miles and years I’ll get out of these before that material wears through in spots?

I’m only hypothesizing this might happen, and I’m willing to give Klim the benefit of the doubt that they’ve done their homework on this liner not becoming a problem or wearing prematurely.

If I compare it to the Sidi boots (and I will) they’ve gone completely opposed to Klim’s design. Their liner is all pulled tight (like a carpet that is kicked out to the corners of a room) and stuck uniformly to the inside of the boot. Only the liner found in the expanding portion of the velcro flap creases and bulges slightly when folded over to close the boot.

The inside liner of the Sidi Adventure 2 GoreTex boots.

I’ve logged around 15,000 miles wearing these Sidi boots spread over 3 years without the liner showing the slightest sign of wear so far.

Protective Padding and Armor

When it comes to armor and protection it’s interesting to note once again how Klim and Sidi have divergent strategies in place.

A side view of a left, Klim Adventure GTX boot.

I notice surprisingly thick padding in the Klim Adventure GTX on both sides of the ankle areas instead of hard inserts made of TPU as is found on the Sidis.

The Sidi Adventure 2 Goretex boots have an abundance of TPU armor around the ankle areas.

This is the “5MM XRD® IMPACT PROTECTION FOAM ANKLE PUCKS and 5MM XRD® IMPACT PROTECTION FOAM MID-FOOT TOP PADDING” mentioned in the Klim brochure. Klim is banking on thick, soft padding to protect the wearer from ankle injuries, which I’m not sure will work in some crash scenarios while in others I think it will.

One of my friends recently went down and had his F850GS land on top of his leg in such a way that it hyper-extended his ankle outwards. His injury was serious and required surgery to repair. The Alpinestars Toucan boots he was wearing probably helped minimize the damage based on what I see for armor on them. I’m glad it was good enough to allow him to recover and continue riding.

Closeup of Klim GTX boots

The truth is, there’s no way to fully protect moving joints without sacrificing SOME measure of mobility and comfort. Klim designed these boots with finding the right balance of protection, comfort, and mobility. It’s a tall order to meet.

Around The Soles And Toes

I appreciate what Klim did with the lower portion of the boots when it comes to protection.

I recently reviewed some Joe Rocket Canada Whistler Adventure boots and criticized them for failing to adequately unify/support my foot with the sides and soles using armor and padding. To me, that’s the area most often in harm’s way, especially the way I ride. I often bounce my feet off all kinds of things while off-road and a couple of times I’ve felt stinging pain while wearing my Sidis because of a gap in the armor on the sides of those boots.

This “crack” in the wall of armor I speak of resides between the toe area and where the abundant ankle supports lay on the Adventure 2 Gore-Tex.

Side view of the Sidi Adventure 2 Gore-Tex boots

That’s not an issue with the Klim Adventure GTX boots thus far. There’s an overly thick sole on the bottom, combined with plenty of hidden protection on all the sides, and surrounding my toes. It’s difficult to show in a photograph but once you have them in your hands you can feel it.

The net result is a stiff enclosure for your foot to reside in safely and comfortably with a smaller gap (than is found on the Sidis) to allow your arch to flex while walking.

An inner side view of a left Klim Adventure GTX boot.

The lower half of these boots convey a strong feeling of assuredness you won’t be hurt should your foot inadvertently come off a footpeg and smack an unforgiving chunk of our natural world.

My friend Greg rightly pointed out the lack of stitching holding the sole to the upper frame on these Klims which may or may not be missed. I have seen glued on soles separate on other boots at the most inopportune times before. I think that’s why some people bring Gorilla Glue on adventure rides, right Mark Estabillo?

The outside view of a left Klim Adventure GTX boot.

So it’s a trade-off I suppose between these two boots. Do you fear an ankle injury more than a foot injury? If so, I would say the Sidis are better equipped to repel that, but for protection everywhere else I think the Klim boots might have a slight edge.

Testing Out On The Road

As mentioned, I found a 3-day window of decent temperatures to ride in with these boots totaling about 300 miles primarily on asphalt.

Me on my KTM 790 Adventure riding off-road.

Cold Weather Riding

The temperature has been consistent during these precious few December rides I’ve had. The coldest has been 5 Celsius or 41 Fahrenheit and the highest was 16 Celsius or 61 Fahrenheit.

These boots don’t have a Thinsulate liner, but keep me comfortable down to the 6 degree Celsius mark (42F) when the cold air hitting the Flex Zone starts to make me wish I was wearing heated socks. So I know what the lower limit is, but I haven’t come near determining what the high-temperature threshold is yet. They’ve kept my feet at an agreeable temperature at all the other temperatures above 5 Celsius so far.

Shifter Plate Reinforcement

The shifter plate on top of the toe box is made of soft rubber much like on the soles. I was hoping because of that it wouldn’t transfer cold through to my toes inside when riding in cold weather. The soft rubber still does allow some warmth to escape from my little piggies as it turns out, but it’s not unbearable.

My Sidis have a patch of hard TPU for their shifter plate and it freezes my big toe regularly when it gets cold out.

That’s all I can comment on vis-à-vis the boots’ performance in the wild. I like wearing them on the bike, because I don’t take much notice of them, meaning they’re doing a good job of not distracting me from the ride with pinching, rubbing, or getting in the way of controlling my steel horse.

I can’t ask for a lot more than that.

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Waterproof?

When I’m out adventure riding, I enjoy confidently striding around in lakes, streams, and puddles knowing my riding boots won’t leak. Thus far my Sidis have been up to the challenge because the waterproof lining extends almost to the top of the boots (see the photo below). I know I can walk in water roughly as deep as my boots are tall.

Velcro strap on Sidi boots

These Klim Adventure GTX boots are more or less the same height as the Sidis, but to my disappointment, I find the waterproof lining in them stops 5.5 inches below the top!

The waterproof liner stops 5.5" below the top of the Klim Adventure GTX boots.

If I wear waterproof riding pants over them there shouldn’t be any problem with water getting inside while I’m riding, but if I decide to venture into a puddle or stream deeper than about 8 inches my feet are going to get wet.

Dear Klim, I’m not happy with this shortcoming and would strongly encourage extending the liner to the top of the boots.

Simulating Riding In The Rain

Since I can’t find any rain to ride in this time of year I took the boots to the local car wash and had my son blast them with pressurized water. I’m just doing my part to help cheer everyone up in these trying Covid-19 times with some entertaining behavior out in public.

Using a pressure washer to simulate riding in the rain on my Klim Adventure GTX boots.

That should simulate riding conditions at highway speed, right?

I found no leaks after dousing them for about 10 minutes at the car wash, but I felt a cold sensation on top of my foot while walking around outside in the -2 Celsius (28 Fahrenheit) temperatures afterward.

Using a pressure washer to simulate riding in the rain on my Klim Adventure GTX boots.

The source of this was the soft, accordion-looking material that appears on top of the boots just behind the toe box. This is what Klim labels a “flex zone” to help provide walking comfort to the wearer.

Using a pressure washer to simulate riding in the rain on my Klim Adventure GTX boots.

It also holds water for about 20 minutes after getting “rained on” at the car wash. If you press down on this Flex Zone while it’s wet you’ll see water squish out and run down the sides of the boot.

Happily, I verified nothing had leaked through to reach my feet inside, so I can confidently say the Gore-Tex liner in these boots work as they should.

Traction

After visiting the car wash, I went to the dog park to do some walking and simultaneously give my best friend Boomer some exercise. It would also provide an opportunity to test the degree of traction these Michelin rubber soles provide while walking on less than accommodating terrain. I’m talking about ice and snow.

The soles on the Klim Adventure GTX boots are made by Michelin.

I was impressed by the fact the rubber stayed perfectly flexible even in temperatures below freezing! Much like the X-Ice snow tires I have on my car, these Michelin rubber soles find grip on snow and ice just about as well as they do on dry ground.

That soft rubber might wear out more quickly in high heat environments, though. Again, I’ll be better positioned to judge the longevity at the end of next year’s riding season.

Here’s a photo of the sole on my Sidis after many, many miles just for comparison. The Sidis may or may not win on longevity, but the Klim soles grip significantly better.

The sole on my Sidi Adventure 2 Gore-Tex boots is still in great shape after many, many miles of riding and walking.

The “Funk” Factor

The lining in the Klim Adventure GTX boots is antimicrobial so even when I get around to doing my “funk-factor” testing I’m confident these won’t turn into putrid cesspools that will need to be given a wide berth. Typically my olfactory based testing involves wearing the same socks for 3 or 4 days while out on a long ride. That’s plenty enough time to note whether things get too… ripe.

The Joe Rocket Canada boots I mentioned earlier failed this test, but no others I’ve reviewed have.

The Final Verdict?

I apologize for not being able to complete this review before publishing it. I didn’t choose to be born in a land where the motorcycle season only lasts 4 months per year. If I could I would move somewhere warmer. Would anyone like to sponsor a “weather refugee” like me during the winter months?

At this point, I can only see two areas of concern worthy of mentioning, but more may appear later. The short waterproof liner and the overly large toe box (unless you adjust your bike to compensate) are notable examples of how these boots missed the adventure rider target application, in my opinion.

Still, it’s looking like Klim has managed to successfully capture lightning in a bottle when it comes to balancing a fairly significant amount of protection encased within a frame that’s flexible enough to walk in.

Honestly, for myself, the Sidis are sufficiently flexible to walk in. I prioritize having a full-length waterproof liner and more substantial ankle protection above the ability to go hiking in my riding boots. Let’s face it, these are for riding motorcycles, not jogging.

But, the Adventure GTX boots are growing on me the more I ride in them and I’m going to give them a solid chance to win me over next riding season. No question, these are well-made boots with plenty to like about them.

What Others Are Saying

Kyle Bradshaw posted a video not long ago about these new Klim boots. He was chosen to help test out the prototype before the production boots were released to the public. His 5000 miles seem to say they are what Klim says they are.

I hope the insight and observations I’ve made in this half-baked review will help you better decide which boots should be on your feet.

  • Jim

Pros

  • BOA system for getting a snug, uniform fit
  • Two different insoles and insert to provide half sizes
  • Flexible enough to comfortably walk long distances
  • Armor within is discreet yet present
  • Reasonably Lightweight
  • Michelin rubber sole provides exceptional traction
  • Waterproof Gore-Tex layer
  • Competitively priced
  • Warm layering that breathes well

Cons

  • The toe box is too thick/tall for easy shifting
  • The waterproof liner stops 5.5” from the top of the boot
  • Loose interior lining bunches up
  • Is there enough ankle protection for adventure riding?
  • Too warm for summer riding?
  • The glued-on sole (will it hold over time?)

Specs

  • Manufacturer: Klim
  • Price (When Tested): $449.99
  • Made In: Korea
  • Sizing: Men’s sizes 7 to 14 and no Women’s sizes
  • Colors: Stealth Black or Hi-Viz Asphalt
  • Review Date: November 2020

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Klim GTX Adventure Boots Image Gallery

14 Comments

  1. Toby
    December 13, 2020
    Reply

    FWIW the Sidi boots also have a glued-on sole with no sewn reinforcement. There appears to be stitching but if you look closely you’ll see it’s part of the rubber sole and not actual stitching. Imitation, in other words. My old Sidi Canyons had the same sole. It took a decade for them to fall off though!

    • December 13, 2020
      Reply

      Ah that’s good to know, Toby. 3 years in the soles on my Sidis show no signs of falling off.

  2. Christopher E Johnson
    December 18, 2020
    Reply

    Thanks for the review and comparison. I would like to know about the size of the boot shaft. I’ve recently seen praise for the Sidi boots for fitting people with large calves. I have a >19″ calf, and the Gaerne Adventure boots I wear just barely cover the circumference with mid-weight socks.

    • December 18, 2020
      Reply

      Hi again Christopher!

      Wow, thank you for bringing this to my attention it’s something I’m going to include in my boot reviews from now on as I sympathize.

      The largest circumference on my calves comes in at 15″ so I’m well short of yours. I set a measuring tape to 19″ and tried fitting the loop inside the top portion of the Klim boots and it’s not going to work. You won’t be able to close the velcro flap on these boots if you take a size 8 as I do. I can only assume that if you take a larger size that there might be a wider opening on the boot further up, but I’m just guessing.

      For the Sidi boots, there’s hope for you, my friend. The reason being that Sidi had the wisdom to design in a big patch of elastic right at the top of the boots where your calf would sit. It only reaches down about 3 or 4 inches though, and I have some doubts about the upper latch being able to close if your calf is thick further down your leg as well. It’s going to be close even with these Adventure Goretex 2 boots.
      This is another sign showing the wisdom Sidi has gained through building boots much longer than Klim has.

      I hope this helps.

  3. December 28, 2020
    Reply

    Great great run-down on these boots, thanks for being thorough with pics and all. Boy I wish they ran that water flap all the way up the thing and slimmed down the toe JUST A LITTLE BIT. I bet they will come out with these improvements and a slightly more streamlined design with a Thinsulate comparable liner – Then they would be unbeatable. I am hesitating on these for now as I predict an improved model soon. Oh, I totally assumed that the honeycomb grey patterns were reflective to begin with! Come on KLIM! Get it together =]

    • December 29, 2020
      Reply

      Smitherz, I agree at this point I’m not sure I would have bought these boots had I known about the waterproof liner being so short beforehand. What a bummer. The tall toe doesn’t bother me on my 790 as mentioned, but what a hassle for people who aren’t running the aftermarket Transaver to have to modify the shift lever height.

      They’re nicely-made boots overall, but for the same price, I think at this early point in testing I would still buy the Sidi Adv2GT. Lucas read my review and I’m sure will take the feedback provided back to Klim HQ designers, so it’s possible they’ll make some changes in the future. I think that’s very expensive to do for manufacturers, so I’m not sure how soon it will come to pass.

  4. jorge oliva bermudez
    February 22, 2021
    Reply

    Hi Jim!
    Hope you are well ?
    I read your hole review, and read the comments.
    I am a newbie.
    I went 300 km away to try the sidi and the klim.
    I have never known a boot that’s not meant to be for work, hiking or mountaineering.
    I liked your review a lot, and even laughed when you spoke about kicking things around the house with them (been there)… and have enjoyed ?
    I live in Mexico; which means, klim go to almost $700 US and sidi, go for the same as in the US.
    I didn’t like the fit of Amy of them, but I am sold with the stretch area of the klim’s and the padding.
    I just got my Africa Twin Adventure Sports, and crashed at low speed.
    My Beatard Mountain boots did the job at their hight, but the rest got bruises. I also had a klim jacket on and BMW gloves (I know those gloves are not the best, but that’s what was available to measure with my hand).

    I am afraid of having a second accident, and not having the proper equipment.
    I have jacket, pants, new gloves and new helmet (unfortunately).

    As I said, I did not like any of those boots, as they are to stiff. I came to understand, that’s for a reason.
    That being said, I guess that for touring, klim could be better (I am also scratching my nerves?).

    If I were to choose, at the same price I would go for Kim. But here, it is not the same price.
    I read from klim site, the Adventure gtx are made for using over the pants.. that being said, are they to warm (have you experienced anything yet?)
    What are your opinions so far?
    Thank you for your time, and great review!

    • February 22, 2021
      Reply

      Hi Jorge!

      I’m sorry to hear of your crash and hope you’re not injured too badly from that.
      Riding in Mexico is going to be very different than riding here in Canada where I’m from. I haven’t had the opportunity to wear the Klim boots in hot weather yet so I can’t comment too much on how they’ll perform for you there. I know a reviewer in California did say he thought they would be ok to wear in hot weather though.

      Most good riding boots you buy will feel very stiff when they are brand new, but as time goes by they will get softer and more comfortable. The Sidi boots are very, very stiff in the beginning. There are many, many motorcycle boots on the market, but I haven’t tried very many of them yet. Forma and TCX are two examples of adventure boots that I hear many riders enjoy wearing. Perhaps you should look at those ones and see if they work for you? Alpinestars also makes a very nice boot called the Tech 7 Drystar that could be a good choice.

      I wish I could help more, but it takes a long time to test riding boots properly. I hope this helps you. Take care!

      • jorge oliva bermudez
        February 24, 2021
        Reply

        Hey Jim!
        The fact that you answered, is nearly enough yo help.
        As for your answer; it was helpful enough.
        I do recon side’s are very stiff,and I believe the can be very, very good boots.
        Although I find klim (to me) a better constructed boot.
        I guess I will go for the klim.
        By the way. I do believe Canada and Canadian people are really nice.

        • February 24, 2021
          Reply

          Gracias Jorge! Feel free to share your experience with the Klim boots here so we can help others know more.
          It’s the middle of winter here in Canada. It’s been very cold and there’s too much snow for riding motorcycles until about the month of April or May. Even then it’s still cold and the snow comes again unpredictably until about June. I will imagine how much fun you’re having on your motorcycle until I can ride again.

  5. Jesper
    April 28, 2021
    Reply

    Hi Jim!

    Thanks for the great write-up. After an eternity, these boots finally shipped in Europe and I got my hands (or feet) on a pair today. I felt the same pressure point that you did (top of my feet in front of the ankle area), but only on the left side. I guess that could be due to uneven feet. I found that if I squeeze the sides of the boot, the pressure goes away and it really feels like a perfect fit apart from that.

    So I guess my question is: did that pressure point ever go away by itself or did you have to “pressure” the boot into being more loose around that part?

    All the best!

    • April 28, 2021
      Reply

      Hi Jesper!

      I’m afraid I have bad news about these boots. I haven’t yet updated the review with my findings but I’ll share now.
      After riding for 3 days off-road the boots relaxed so much around the ankle area that the TPU armour that lives around the ankles has started rubbing on the bottom of my protruding ankle bones on both sides. It’s painful but hasn’t caused blisters at least. I believe installing the gel insoles that are thicker would boost my foot higher and stop the rubbing, but honestly, at this point, I’m not sure I want to carry on with the review when my perfectly good Sidi boots are standing by faithfully.

      This Klim boot is good but inconsistent with the fit. The pressure point you mention at the top of my foot has stopped bothering me, but the loose white liner inside always presents me with a different fit when I put the boots on and I don’t like that. The Sidis are steady as a clock in comparison and are hands down the boot I recommend instead of these Klim ones. That’s painful to admit for me because I’m a fan of Klim and their innovative ways, but the truth is Sidi has been building boots for so long and it shows, while the opposite appears to be true for Klim.

      • Jesper
        April 28, 2021
        Reply

        Oh, that’s definitely a disappointment to hear, Jim!

        I’m sorry that your pair has degraded that fast. For such a short lifetime I would probably demand Klim to either refund them or offer a replacement, hopefully from a newer batch of improved quality. I’m very impressed otherwise with their gear in general and I think they would want to keep that image by setting things right if their newest boot fails to deliver under pressure. We may buy them partly because they’re good looking, but most of all I bought them because I expect the best from them!

        I’ve asked my dealer for advice and she did say there’s a break-in period, after which I will hope the pressure point will not bother me any more. She even recommended to ask a cobbler for advice too. But my plan for these boots are possibly two-week adventures, I will not be able to live with a sore foot for that long. Until then, I will be wearing my gore-tex boots indoors for a while, just to speed up the process.

        I want to believe in these boots because they’re simply the most promising boots without any real leather on the market right now. I strongly believe that leather is (or soon will be) a deprecated technology and the manufacturing process is awful. But I’ll give them a proper chance before I abandon all hope!

        Thanks for your valuable insights!

        • April 28, 2021
          Reply

          I hadn’t considered the real leather vs synthetic angle/appeal. Good point! I wish I could send them back to Klim or ask for something to be done, but I think this is just how it is with the design. I hope your experience is different and it easily could be because we’re all built so differently.
          On the surface, I like the boots for many reasons and I see great potential going forward. Klim never rests on their laurels long.

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