Violione
Sir Loin of Beef
The Vega Touring Boot:
I was looking for motorcycle boots this summer for my NAFO trip. Previously, I had been wearing a Wolverine waterproof work boot with a steel toe and shank that I purchased from Wally-World. Very good boot but it was lacking in the shin and ankle protection.
Doing sone internet research I came across the Vega Touring boots. Most all reviews were complementary, a few grips about finish (Alpinestars & Sidi's they are not). I purchased this pair from Motorcycle-Superstore for $69.99. Now for the review:
These boots are marked Made In China.
The size 13 boot is 11 1/4 inches high from floor to the top of the boot, measured from the back of the heal.
The boots uppers are 100% waterproof leather with a plastic shifter/Vega Logo fux stitched/glued to the upper side where a shift lever would fall.
Each boot has two zippers for entry/exit. There is a short zipper on the inner side of the boot and a longer one to the outside of the boot. Unzipping both is not necessary but the advantage is that once the boot is off, unzipping both zippers allows the boot to "air out" nicely! Few boots have that advantage. Each zipper is sewn under the outer leather and above the inner liner of the boot. There is a very closely tailored flap of outer leather that helps seal up the zipper for water proofness, but the zippers them selves are not of a water proof design. At the top of each zipper is a Velcro flap the holds both the zipper and the "joint" firmly together as well as providing another water resistant closure for the zipper area.
At the top rear of each boot is an additional dual Velcro fold that is intended to allow for further customized fit of the calf area. Another feature I didn't see in the upper crust boots.
The soles is a rubber/vinyl compound with circular tread pattern. This pattern is actually a good idea; it allows for lateral traction that boots with lugs or straight sipe treads patterns don't have and would tend to slip to the outside in wet and sandy conditions. The sole is soft which allows for further grippieness in cold and wet conditions. Thought I don't think these soles are made for walking/hiking, but rather for motorcycling, so brings your Keds or hiking shoe/boots for those activities. The sole is bonded to the bottom of the upper boot leather very well and looks like it will last.
The inside of the boot is made of a soft velveteen like material that helps wick moisture up and out of the boot well. The foot bed seams hard to the touch but once your foot is in it, the comfort is a 8.5 out of ten IMHO.
Protection - the is a very substantial shin guard built into the tung of the boot. There is not a ankle disk incorporated into the boot, however; there is three layers of leather and then the waterproof barrier and the soft liner that covers your whole ankle "bone" area.
Sizing - spot on. I wear a size 13 and the boot was a "perfect" 13!
Comfort - very nice. They are a little warm in temps above 90 F. and in cold weather work well with good wool socks on, down into the upper 30's. I do not know what they are like below 35 degrees F.
Water Proofness - so far excellent! But I have not ridden them in any frog stranglers, but have ridden in some good down pores and light rains for a couple of hours, no leaks!
In conclusion; the Vega Touring Boot at $70, are probably one of the best boot buys out there! However; should prices start to exceed $90, there are some better boots by big name companies out there that are nicer looking and maybe build quality.
Overall personal score is a 8.5 out of 10 FOR VALUE
7.5 FOR BUILD QUALITY
9.0 FOR FEATURES AND VERSATILITY
8.5 FOR COMFORT.
Overall I have logged just under 10k miles in these boots and they look almost new and I have had no issues thus far.
HOPE THIS HELPS!
I was looking for motorcycle boots this summer for my NAFO trip. Previously, I had been wearing a Wolverine waterproof work boot with a steel toe and shank that I purchased from Wally-World. Very good boot but it was lacking in the shin and ankle protection.
Doing sone internet research I came across the Vega Touring boots. Most all reviews were complementary, a few grips about finish (Alpinestars & Sidi's they are not). I purchased this pair from Motorcycle-Superstore for $69.99. Now for the review:
These boots are marked Made In China.
The size 13 boot is 11 1/4 inches high from floor to the top of the boot, measured from the back of the heal.
The boots uppers are 100% waterproof leather with a plastic shifter/Vega Logo fux stitched/glued to the upper side where a shift lever would fall.
Each boot has two zippers for entry/exit. There is a short zipper on the inner side of the boot and a longer one to the outside of the boot. Unzipping both is not necessary but the advantage is that once the boot is off, unzipping both zippers allows the boot to "air out" nicely! Few boots have that advantage. Each zipper is sewn under the outer leather and above the inner liner of the boot. There is a very closely tailored flap of outer leather that helps seal up the zipper for water proofness, but the zippers them selves are not of a water proof design. At the top of each zipper is a Velcro flap the holds both the zipper and the "joint" firmly together as well as providing another water resistant closure for the zipper area.
At the top rear of each boot is an additional dual Velcro fold that is intended to allow for further customized fit of the calf area. Another feature I didn't see in the upper crust boots.
The soles is a rubber/vinyl compound with circular tread pattern. This pattern is actually a good idea; it allows for lateral traction that boots with lugs or straight sipe treads patterns don't have and would tend to slip to the outside in wet and sandy conditions. The sole is soft which allows for further grippieness in cold and wet conditions. Thought I don't think these soles are made for walking/hiking, but rather for motorcycling, so brings your Keds or hiking shoe/boots for those activities. The sole is bonded to the bottom of the upper boot leather very well and looks like it will last.
The inside of the boot is made of a soft velveteen like material that helps wick moisture up and out of the boot well. The foot bed seams hard to the touch but once your foot is in it, the comfort is a 8.5 out of ten IMHO.
Protection - the is a very substantial shin guard built into the tung of the boot. There is not a ankle disk incorporated into the boot, however; there is three layers of leather and then the waterproof barrier and the soft liner that covers your whole ankle "bone" area.
Sizing - spot on. I wear a size 13 and the boot was a "perfect" 13!
Comfort - very nice. They are a little warm in temps above 90 F. and in cold weather work well with good wool socks on, down into the upper 30's. I do not know what they are like below 35 degrees F.
Water Proofness - so far excellent! But I have not ridden them in any frog stranglers, but have ridden in some good down pores and light rains for a couple of hours, no leaks!
In conclusion; the Vega Touring Boot at $70, are probably one of the best boot buys out there! However; should prices start to exceed $90, there are some better boots by big name companies out there that are nicer looking and maybe build quality.
Overall personal score is a 8.5 out of 10 FOR VALUE
7.5 FOR BUILD QUALITY
9.0 FOR FEATURES AND VERSATILITY
8.5 FOR COMFORT.
Overall I have logged just under 10k miles in these boots and they look almost new and I have had no issues thus far.
HOPE THIS HELPS!
