Review by Séan Hendley
What do I want from a riding boot?
Well first and foremost for me is they have to be comfortable otherwise I won’t wear them thus negating every other feature the boot offers. My problem is that I recently crushed my left foot and it is a bit of a wonky shape compared to my right, and even though it is still on the mend it is still a bit more… should we say – “inflated” than the right.
The first thing I noticed with the Navajo boot is that the aperture to slide your foot into the boot is quite narrow, not a problem for my right foot which slipped in quite easily, but my still rather sore and odd sized left foot does take a bit of teeth clenching and grimacing to get it in. However, once it is in my foot actually feels better than when I am wearing a takkies or a pair of flip flops, the pressure from the main body of the boot seems to force my foot into the correct shape, and as counterintuitive as it may seems does relieve 99% of the pain in my foot – so I do try to wear them as much as possible for that reason alone. In the same crash I also fractured my left ankle, using the adjustable straps on the Navajos and pulling them as tight as possible once again offers my ankle a huge amount of support and more importantly to me, significant pain relief, again making me want to spend more time in them.
Okay, that is all good and well, but adventure riders like to ride to a beautiful spot and then have a bit of a walk around and enjoy that particular area, so how are they to walk in. Well, my first trip with these boots was on our annual pilgrimage to the NAMPO show, about a 500 km round trip with approximately 10 km of walking around the massive show grounds. I was quite dubious about walking that much on a sore foot which had only a few hours before had been released from the protective custody of a moon boot so I packed in a pair of comfy takkies with the intention of changing into them for the walking part. Unnecessary baggage as it turns out, arriving at the showgrounds the usual chaos ensues trying to find a place to stow our riding gear, rushing off to the bogs for an urgent pee and then bumping into all our mates on their various stands. Three quarters of the way through the day one of my colleagues commented about me still wandering around in my Navajo boots and asked if I wasn’t taking strain. I had completely forgotten to change footwear and was happily trotting around in my boots which turned to surprisingly and exceptionally comfortable for walking in. I also believe I may have a much more torrid time of it in the less supportive takkies I had packed and was actually grateful for the support from the Navajo Evo’s.
Hitting the adventure trails in them only confirmed how good they really are. I’ve been on numerous bike reviews and launches since getting them and I can say with utmost certainty in one particular instance that saved my foot. I went through water then hit a jump on the other side, I had my footing a bit wrong and the foot pegs were ‘slippery when wet’ rubber type. My left foot slipped off the peg on the landing and instinctively I kicked at the ground to stop the inevitable crash and felt a sharp pain shoot through my ankle. I figured I had re-broken it and kept the boot on until I got home so I could finish the ride and even kept the boots on until bedtime. On closer inspection the following morning everything seemed hunky dory and little to no pain at all.
Now let’s be honest, my circumstances are quite unique, a pair of riding boots is never a proper substitute for proper hiking boots or walking shoes as much as those are absolutely no substitution for the protection to riders for proper riding boots but I would rather walk in riding boots and get the protection when I ride than ride in walking shoes/boots and risk the peril of hurting my foot even worse than what I did – fortunately I was in a decent pair of boots when I PK’d down or I might have lost my foot. But here is some great news, Stylmartin does offer a ride and hike boot which Kyle is reviewing – look out for that review on this site as well.
The ‘WP’ in the boots model designation means ‘waterproof’ and as mentioned earlier I have had the occasion to trudge around in water and mud in them and so far, have managed to keep my toes and socks perfectly dry. I also enjoy the tread pattern on the soles that offer me great traction on most decent foot pegs and even some not so decent pegs as well. They are also great for clambering up muddy river banks and over wet rocks and boulders. And they genuinely do have a really good quality feel to the material and construction, I am no Boot or shoe guru so here is some technical information off Stylmartin’s website:
Navajo Evo Low are easily recognizable for their distinctive design, a low version of the Navajo Evo for those riders who prefer low boots.
They have fine details like: full-grain oiled leather, (from real cows), breathable and waterproof liner, full-grain shift protector and a specific traction rubber sole complete the Navajo Evo Low.
The uppers are made from water-repellent full-grain leather. The lining is waterproof and breathable. The protections are PU moulded ankle protection on both sides with padded anti-shock lining, reinforced full-grain gear shift protection, full-grain leather heat protector with anti-slip diamond texture finish, Fastening is adjustable and replaceable quick release buckles. The insole is anatomic and replaceable, breathable thanks to micro-perforated holes. The outsole is “Traction” rubber compound outsole, anti-slip grip pattern with drainage channels to shed mud and water and the extra bit is rear reflex insert.
I really like them and enjoy the comfort as well as the protection they offer, they also aren’t ridiculously expensive for what you are getting, less than R4k if I am not mistaken. Importantly, I wear a UK size 11 and their sizing does seem to be spot on.
Want to know more or to find your nearest stockist, contact the local importer/distributor Steve of Sparx trading on stsparx@gmail.com or ask your favourite bike shop to get you a pair.
