Posts
18
Joined
3/30/2020
Location
Meridian, ID, USA
Edited Date/Time
6/23/2022 5:31pm
Hello!
I'm back with another write up! Sorry they are long but I'm trying to be quite thorough and I hope this helps a few dudes who're currently on the fence like I was when it was time for another pair of boots.
Alpinestars Tech 7's vs Tech 10’s
My Specs:
27 Years old
5’ 9”
155 Lbs.
Junior Level MX Rider with 4 years of experience.
Shoe Size: 9 in Vans, 9.5 in Nike, 8.5 in Danner work boots, and 9 in most dress shoes.
30 size pants and M sized Jersey
Size Small Mobius knee braces
I wear size 8’s in the Tech 7’s and Size 9 in the Tech 10’s.
Alpinestars Tech 7’s - Overall Value: 9/10
Initial Impressions: Tech 7
I first purchased these in spring 2017 and used these until summer of 2020. They have about 300 hours on them and I still would be using them today, but I had a small ankle injury in them last fall that made me start to consider getting another pair of boots. Overall, I really like these boots and feel that for a lot of people, they are a great option to get into the sport with the overall great durability, highly functioning metal buckles, and great out of the box comfort. I will admit that I feel for more junior to pro level riders (that are in adult sizes) should spend the extra $240 for the Tech 10’s as I feel the extra support and protection is worth the investment.
Disclosure about the injury: The ankle injury wasn’t anything crazy as I just got home after a Wednesday night track session (They are fairly short and you only get about 1-1.5 hours of ride time) and when I got the boots off and took a shower my ankle was burning hot and felt as if I had sprained it. From there it became a nagging issue, but this tends to be the case with my joints and after about a year my ankle is just about good to go. Most individuals feel that the boot provides plenty of support and this does not occur, but I have pretty weak and skinny joints that get upset easily.
Those who are younger and beginners I would recommend the Tech 7’s because:
-Great value for the money
-Lots of color options
-Great buckles
-Comfortable and still offer solid support
-The largest con is the lack of Achilles heel protecting which made me no longer consider another pair.
Alpinestars Tech 10’s - Overall Value: 10/10
Initial Impressions: Tech 10
Quick tip! Put the inner booty all the way into the boot and then put your foot into the boot! My first time at the moto shop I was slamming my foot into the boot like a ski boot and it was not fun at all. 8) It’s actually why I initially decided to hold off on the Tech 10’s and asked the store to order some Fox Instincts because I was not a fan of the booty. I hit up a buddy who owned a pair and he gave me this tip! Changed my life! Lol.
On the bike I noticed how much more plush the boots felt like in the boot bed but while being a stiffer boot, it gave me a more supported feel while riding around. We have some rollers on my local track and my first lap out, I could feel the difference on my bad ankle bouncing into them. I felt like with the Tech 7’s I almost had to hold back as the snap on the ankle when hitting into the face of the roller would hurt but the Tech 10’s I didn’t get that initial sting. Much more support overall. That being said, they are larger boots than the 7’s. It almost was a deal breaker for me at the shop as I’m a skinny dude and didn’t like the thought of having larger boots hanging onto me but they weight about the same with the recent revision and while riding I got used to them after about 1.5-2 hours of ride time.
Overall, I’ve been really stoked on the Tech 10’s and feel if you are a junior , intermediate to expert level rider, you should spend the additional $240 for the upgrade.
The largest reasons:
-More comfortable foot bed
-More ankle support
-Much more protection for the Achilles heel (The tech 7’s don’t have plastic to protect from catching a peg if dabbing and your foot gets brought back to the peg).
-Longevity/Durability (I’m expecting to get 5-6 years out of my pair)
Durability:
Alpinestars Tech 7:
This is where I hear either good or bad things about Alpinestar boots. I am very light on my feet which I think makes me easy on the soles of my boots. I had over 300 hours on my soles and if I did not have my ankle injury, I would have ran these for another 1-2 seasons before getting a new pair. I literally have not done anything or replaced anything with this pair of Tech 7’s. Half of the time I didn’t even wash them (I’m really lazy on washing my bike and boots lol) or the buckles and they have never needed W4-40 on the buckles to help them close when they’re full of dried mud packed in. I can just smack the dirt off of the buckle and they always work!
I also feel like the boots still have great and solid support after 4 years of riding and when I was trying on new boots I tried on a new pair back to back with my 4-year-old pair. I was surprised on how similar they felt which is great news for the durability and continued support that these boots offer from not only day 1 but for years to come.
Alpinestars Tech 10:
I don’t have nearly the time of these Tech 10’s as I do on the 7’s but they are still made from Alpinestars and I’m expecting similar durability out of these boots. I feel that soles are rider dependent and some dudes are hard on soles while others don’t go through them. I’m expecting to get at least 5-6 years out of my Tech 10’s as they offer more support over the Tech 7’s and being a stiffer boot, they will continue to offer more protection as the boot continues to break in and theoretically get softer. As I mentioned with the Tech 7’s however, this isn’t the case as they felt similar at the 4-year mark compared to the new pair I tried on. This shows how durable they are as they did not get soft and worn out after hours of use! This is great news for us consumers!
The buckles are a tad bit beefier on these Tech 10’s compared to the Tech 7’s but both are metal, and I think the 10’s went to this new design for more seamlessness over durability. Time will tell but I’m expecting no change in durability.
Comfortability:
Alpinestars Tech 7: 9/10
These boots are extremely comfortable, and I feel like they are a tad bit less comfortable than the Tech 10’s due to the Tech 10’s inner booty. This gives the boot more cushion which I find to be nice while riding. The Tech 7’s has hinges on both sides of the boot which allows you to walk around easily in them and you can leave them on all day while at the track. This also allows for great range of motion that is not interrupted while your flexing into the boot forward getting into the “Attack” position on the bike.
With the four-buckle system you do not get any of the buckle straps squeezing on the top of your foot which I experienced on the Fox Instincts that has a similar buckle layout. On those, while flexing forward into them like I would getting into the attack position, the Instincts plastic strap would cut into the bridge of my foot. These Tech 7’s have never done that! This is even having my buckles pretty damn tight as I really like my boots overly tight.
Overall, I feel like you can put these boots on right out of the box and get used to them in a ride or two and they are comfortable straight out of the box.
Alpinestars Tech 10: 9/10
This is where the Tech 10’s offer comfortability in a different way than the 7’s. The boot bed feels really comfy due to that inner booty which is much more comfortable, but they are larger and stiffer boots so walking around in them isn’t as easy as the 7’s. The 7’s feel like a good pair of work boots, they are easy to move around in and are flexible. These Tech 10’s being stiffer don’t walk around as well but it’s not terrible by any means and I feel like if you went straight to this pair you wouldn’t even notice it.
The footbed is one of my favorite things about the Tech 10’s. It is hard to describe but they just feel really plush and comfortable with the inner booty. You know the feeling when you put your foot into a hard dress shoe that is really stiff and pokes at your toes all uncomfortable? This is the opposite of that. It’s an incredible system and Alpinestars made a great soft and comfortable inner system and stiff and burly outer system that complements one another nicely.
Like the Tech 7’s I don’t get any buckle strap pinch points or hot spots on the Tech 10’s It seems like they really do a great job on the placement on these buckles (It could be the shape of my foot but others have similar findings to me). As I mentioned about the Fox Instincts, I felt like those had a harder inner sole that felt more like that harder dress shoe I was mentioning which felt like I would have more hot spots. Alpinestars really have their materials and the placements of their buckles figured out!
Flexibility, Peg feel, & Lever feel: 9/10
Alpinestars Tech 7:
I just mentioned that they have great flex right out of the box so leaning back off the bike and shifting up is super easy the first day you ride in these Tech 7’s. This leads to a great feeling lever feel and always was able to reach the shifter lever and rear brake pedal with no issues. Even hopping on my friends bikes where the levers are set up slightly different, I still was able to hit the levers easily.
The peg feel on this pair of boots is really balanced because I feel that they offer good feeling of the pegs to the point where you know if you are too much on your toes on the pegs or are right on the balls of your feet. If you have ever ridden some super stiffed soled boots from the 90’s as a kid you may know what I mean but those were harder to tell where your foot was on the peg. These being molded offer great foot peg feel. That being said, it’s not too the point where I feel like I get too much feedback from the pegs. It is a good balance between feeling the pegs and still getting a comfortable and supported feel.
Alpinestars Tech 10: 8.5/10
The Tech 10’s feel very similar to the Tech 7’s but with a tad bit more peg comfort (due to that inner booty) but don’t get that twisted with a lack of feel. I can still feel the peg and levers about the same, but it’s just a tad more comfortable and less energy coming off the pegs into my feet, in a good way. I give the peg feeling the nod to the Tech 10’s.
I would give the lever feeling the nod to the Tech 7’s however, as they are smaller boots which gave me a little bit more feeling but between the two, this is very subtle.
The biggest difference is that the Tech 10’s have these cut outs in the sole that are supposed to help give you peg grip and this is where I thought they took the most adjustments to make. When coming out of a right-handed corner and going straight from 2nd to 3rd I was initially having issues with that cut out not allowing me to slide my foot forward to make the shift. After about 2 hours of ride time I have it figured out and don’t even think about it anymore. I think I’m now slightly lifting my foot off the peg that is allowing me to slide past that notch and into the next notch which gives me room to make the shift. It was weird at first, but I figured it out and still appreciate the added peg grip! Especially in the mud!
Protection:
Alpinestars Tech 7: 7/10
This section is my largest let down for the tech 7’s. I feel like them not having any achilleas heel protection is such a letdown. I personally never had any issues but there still are plenty of people who put their foot out in a rut, dab, get their foot stuck in the dirt which drags their foot back, and the peg smashes into their achilleas heel. It’s not a fun day! They need to add some plastic here like the tech 10’s which is just a plastic twin blade system that I believe is in place for adjusting the flexibility of the boot, but it still offers some solid protection from an event like this from occurring.
The boot also not being too stiff allows the ankle to move too much with no lock out system in place also can lead to large injuries if casing or over jumping a jump. Again, if you are a newer rider, I feel that this won’t be too much of an issue as they provide enough protection and support for trail riding and smaller beginner jumps.
Lastly, I did get a lot of heel float (About ¼” in) in these which I felt is why I injured my ankle. My ankle wasn’t locked into the bottom of the boot and supported like it needed to. I couldn’t go down in size either as the shoe box was tight and felt great when broken in and packed out.
If Alpinestars would fix a few of these easy features with protection these boots would be so much more capable for about 60-65% of the industry!
Alpinestars Tech 10: 10/10
As we all know, this is where the Tech 10’s shine and is what really led me to making my purchase. I wanted to purchase the most protective boot on the market, and this is it!
It basically takes all of the protection from the Tech 7’s and adds to it.
-More support
-Inner booty has ankle support independently
-Almost 0 heel float (About 1mm)
-Crush zone in the heel
-Plastic blade to protect the Achilles heel
I also want to mention in this protection section that both boots fit my Mobius knee braces (Size small) great with no issues! The velcro can reach over and snap on for both pairs of boots with no issues!
Overall Thoughts
Overall, both are great options, but it comes down to the rider.
I would recommend if you’re just starting out and getting into the sport, to help with the financial burden of purchasing all of your gear at once I would purchase last year’s model Tech 7’s for about $270 (normally $370 if you cannot find your size or color). Run them like I did for 4-5 years and then by then you should be good enough to step up to the Tech 10’s if you enjoyed the brand.
If you are at a junior level and have been riding for at least 2-3 years, I would recommend getting right into the Tech 10’s if you’re looking to get into the Alpinestars brand. The additional protection and support is worth the price and by then, you will already have your bike and gear so the $600 won’t hurt as much (As much lolol).
I also would recommend trying all boots on at your local shop and purchase from them! Get to know your local shops and let’s start shopping more locally. You get to try on boots back to back and they don’t mind helping getting you into what boot works best for you. I was trying on the Tech 7’s, Tech 10’s, and Fox Instincts back to back at the store to get a sense of what I was looking for. Tech 10’s won for me!
Thanks for the read!
-Jake
I'm back with another write up! Sorry they are long but I'm trying to be quite thorough and I hope this helps a few dudes who're currently on the fence like I was when it was time for another pair of boots.
Alpinestars Tech 7's vs Tech 10’s
My Specs:
27 Years old
5’ 9”
155 Lbs.
Junior Level MX Rider with 4 years of experience.
Shoe Size: 9 in Vans, 9.5 in Nike, 8.5 in Danner work boots, and 9 in most dress shoes.
30 size pants and M sized Jersey
Size Small Mobius knee braces
I wear size 8’s in the Tech 7’s and Size 9 in the Tech 10’s.
Alpinestars Tech 7’s - Overall Value: 9/10
Initial Impressions: Tech 7
I first purchased these in spring 2017 and used these until summer of 2020. They have about 300 hours on them and I still would be using them today, but I had a small ankle injury in them last fall that made me start to consider getting another pair of boots. Overall, I really like these boots and feel that for a lot of people, they are a great option to get into the sport with the overall great durability, highly functioning metal buckles, and great out of the box comfort. I will admit that I feel for more junior to pro level riders (that are in adult sizes) should spend the extra $240 for the Tech 10’s as I feel the extra support and protection is worth the investment.
Disclosure about the injury: The ankle injury wasn’t anything crazy as I just got home after a Wednesday night track session (They are fairly short and you only get about 1-1.5 hours of ride time) and when I got the boots off and took a shower my ankle was burning hot and felt as if I had sprained it. From there it became a nagging issue, but this tends to be the case with my joints and after about a year my ankle is just about good to go. Most individuals feel that the boot provides plenty of support and this does not occur, but I have pretty weak and skinny joints that get upset easily.
Those who are younger and beginners I would recommend the Tech 7’s because:
-Great value for the money
-Lots of color options
-Great buckles
-Comfortable and still offer solid support
-The largest con is the lack of Achilles heel protecting which made me no longer consider another pair.
Alpinestars Tech 10’s - Overall Value: 10/10
Initial Impressions: Tech 10
Quick tip! Put the inner booty all the way into the boot and then put your foot into the boot! My first time at the moto shop I was slamming my foot into the boot like a ski boot and it was not fun at all. 8) It’s actually why I initially decided to hold off on the Tech 10’s and asked the store to order some Fox Instincts because I was not a fan of the booty. I hit up a buddy who owned a pair and he gave me this tip! Changed my life! Lol.
On the bike I noticed how much more plush the boots felt like in the boot bed but while being a stiffer boot, it gave me a more supported feel while riding around. We have some rollers on my local track and my first lap out, I could feel the difference on my bad ankle bouncing into them. I felt like with the Tech 7’s I almost had to hold back as the snap on the ankle when hitting into the face of the roller would hurt but the Tech 10’s I didn’t get that initial sting. Much more support overall. That being said, they are larger boots than the 7’s. It almost was a deal breaker for me at the shop as I’m a skinny dude and didn’t like the thought of having larger boots hanging onto me but they weight about the same with the recent revision and while riding I got used to them after about 1.5-2 hours of ride time.
Overall, I’ve been really stoked on the Tech 10’s and feel if you are a junior , intermediate to expert level rider, you should spend the additional $240 for the upgrade.
The largest reasons:
-More comfortable foot bed
-More ankle support
-Much more protection for the Achilles heel (The tech 7’s don’t have plastic to protect from catching a peg if dabbing and your foot gets brought back to the peg).
-Longevity/Durability (I’m expecting to get 5-6 years out of my pair)
Durability:
Alpinestars Tech 7:
This is where I hear either good or bad things about Alpinestar boots. I am very light on my feet which I think makes me easy on the soles of my boots. I had over 300 hours on my soles and if I did not have my ankle injury, I would have ran these for another 1-2 seasons before getting a new pair. I literally have not done anything or replaced anything with this pair of Tech 7’s. Half of the time I didn’t even wash them (I’m really lazy on washing my bike and boots lol) or the buckles and they have never needed W4-40 on the buckles to help them close when they’re full of dried mud packed in. I can just smack the dirt off of the buckle and they always work!
I also feel like the boots still have great and solid support after 4 years of riding and when I was trying on new boots I tried on a new pair back to back with my 4-year-old pair. I was surprised on how similar they felt which is great news for the durability and continued support that these boots offer from not only day 1 but for years to come.
Alpinestars Tech 10:
I don’t have nearly the time of these Tech 10’s as I do on the 7’s but they are still made from Alpinestars and I’m expecting similar durability out of these boots. I feel that soles are rider dependent and some dudes are hard on soles while others don’t go through them. I’m expecting to get at least 5-6 years out of my Tech 10’s as they offer more support over the Tech 7’s and being a stiffer boot, they will continue to offer more protection as the boot continues to break in and theoretically get softer. As I mentioned with the Tech 7’s however, this isn’t the case as they felt similar at the 4-year mark compared to the new pair I tried on. This shows how durable they are as they did not get soft and worn out after hours of use! This is great news for us consumers!
The buckles are a tad bit beefier on these Tech 10’s compared to the Tech 7’s but both are metal, and I think the 10’s went to this new design for more seamlessness over durability. Time will tell but I’m expecting no change in durability.
Comfortability:
Alpinestars Tech 7: 9/10
These boots are extremely comfortable, and I feel like they are a tad bit less comfortable than the Tech 10’s due to the Tech 10’s inner booty. This gives the boot more cushion which I find to be nice while riding. The Tech 7’s has hinges on both sides of the boot which allows you to walk around easily in them and you can leave them on all day while at the track. This also allows for great range of motion that is not interrupted while your flexing into the boot forward getting into the “Attack” position on the bike.
With the four-buckle system you do not get any of the buckle straps squeezing on the top of your foot which I experienced on the Fox Instincts that has a similar buckle layout. On those, while flexing forward into them like I would getting into the attack position, the Instincts plastic strap would cut into the bridge of my foot. These Tech 7’s have never done that! This is even having my buckles pretty damn tight as I really like my boots overly tight.
Overall, I feel like you can put these boots on right out of the box and get used to them in a ride or two and they are comfortable straight out of the box.
Alpinestars Tech 10: 9/10
This is where the Tech 10’s offer comfortability in a different way than the 7’s. The boot bed feels really comfy due to that inner booty which is much more comfortable, but they are larger and stiffer boots so walking around in them isn’t as easy as the 7’s. The 7’s feel like a good pair of work boots, they are easy to move around in and are flexible. These Tech 10’s being stiffer don’t walk around as well but it’s not terrible by any means and I feel like if you went straight to this pair you wouldn’t even notice it.
The footbed is one of my favorite things about the Tech 10’s. It is hard to describe but they just feel really plush and comfortable with the inner booty. You know the feeling when you put your foot into a hard dress shoe that is really stiff and pokes at your toes all uncomfortable? This is the opposite of that. It’s an incredible system and Alpinestars made a great soft and comfortable inner system and stiff and burly outer system that complements one another nicely.
Like the Tech 7’s I don’t get any buckle strap pinch points or hot spots on the Tech 10’s It seems like they really do a great job on the placement on these buckles (It could be the shape of my foot but others have similar findings to me). As I mentioned about the Fox Instincts, I felt like those had a harder inner sole that felt more like that harder dress shoe I was mentioning which felt like I would have more hot spots. Alpinestars really have their materials and the placements of their buckles figured out!
Flexibility, Peg feel, & Lever feel: 9/10
Alpinestars Tech 7:
I just mentioned that they have great flex right out of the box so leaning back off the bike and shifting up is super easy the first day you ride in these Tech 7’s. This leads to a great feeling lever feel and always was able to reach the shifter lever and rear brake pedal with no issues. Even hopping on my friends bikes where the levers are set up slightly different, I still was able to hit the levers easily.
The peg feel on this pair of boots is really balanced because I feel that they offer good feeling of the pegs to the point where you know if you are too much on your toes on the pegs or are right on the balls of your feet. If you have ever ridden some super stiffed soled boots from the 90’s as a kid you may know what I mean but those were harder to tell where your foot was on the peg. These being molded offer great foot peg feel. That being said, it’s not too the point where I feel like I get too much feedback from the pegs. It is a good balance between feeling the pegs and still getting a comfortable and supported feel.
Alpinestars Tech 10: 8.5/10
The Tech 10’s feel very similar to the Tech 7’s but with a tad bit more peg comfort (due to that inner booty) but don’t get that twisted with a lack of feel. I can still feel the peg and levers about the same, but it’s just a tad more comfortable and less energy coming off the pegs into my feet, in a good way. I give the peg feeling the nod to the Tech 10’s.
I would give the lever feeling the nod to the Tech 7’s however, as they are smaller boots which gave me a little bit more feeling but between the two, this is very subtle.
The biggest difference is that the Tech 10’s have these cut outs in the sole that are supposed to help give you peg grip and this is where I thought they took the most adjustments to make. When coming out of a right-handed corner and going straight from 2nd to 3rd I was initially having issues with that cut out not allowing me to slide my foot forward to make the shift. After about 2 hours of ride time I have it figured out and don’t even think about it anymore. I think I’m now slightly lifting my foot off the peg that is allowing me to slide past that notch and into the next notch which gives me room to make the shift. It was weird at first, but I figured it out and still appreciate the added peg grip! Especially in the mud!
Protection:
Alpinestars Tech 7: 7/10
This section is my largest let down for the tech 7’s. I feel like them not having any achilleas heel protection is such a letdown. I personally never had any issues but there still are plenty of people who put their foot out in a rut, dab, get their foot stuck in the dirt which drags their foot back, and the peg smashes into their achilleas heel. It’s not a fun day! They need to add some plastic here like the tech 10’s which is just a plastic twin blade system that I believe is in place for adjusting the flexibility of the boot, but it still offers some solid protection from an event like this from occurring.
The boot also not being too stiff allows the ankle to move too much with no lock out system in place also can lead to large injuries if casing or over jumping a jump. Again, if you are a newer rider, I feel that this won’t be too much of an issue as they provide enough protection and support for trail riding and smaller beginner jumps.
Lastly, I did get a lot of heel float (About ¼” in) in these which I felt is why I injured my ankle. My ankle wasn’t locked into the bottom of the boot and supported like it needed to. I couldn’t go down in size either as the shoe box was tight and felt great when broken in and packed out.
If Alpinestars would fix a few of these easy features with protection these boots would be so much more capable for about 60-65% of the industry!
Alpinestars Tech 10: 10/10
As we all know, this is where the Tech 10’s shine and is what really led me to making my purchase. I wanted to purchase the most protective boot on the market, and this is it!
It basically takes all of the protection from the Tech 7’s and adds to it.
-More support
-Inner booty has ankle support independently
-Almost 0 heel float (About 1mm)
-Crush zone in the heel
-Plastic blade to protect the Achilles heel
I also want to mention in this protection section that both boots fit my Mobius knee braces (Size small) great with no issues! The velcro can reach over and snap on for both pairs of boots with no issues!
Overall Thoughts
Overall, both are great options, but it comes down to the rider.
I would recommend if you’re just starting out and getting into the sport, to help with the financial burden of purchasing all of your gear at once I would purchase last year’s model Tech 7’s for about $270 (normally $370 if you cannot find your size or color). Run them like I did for 4-5 years and then by then you should be good enough to step up to the Tech 10’s if you enjoyed the brand.
If you are at a junior level and have been riding for at least 2-3 years, I would recommend getting right into the Tech 10’s if you’re looking to get into the Alpinestars brand. The additional protection and support is worth the price and by then, you will already have your bike and gear so the $600 won’t hurt as much (As much lolol).
I also would recommend trying all boots on at your local shop and purchase from them! Get to know your local shops and let’s start shopping more locally. You get to try on boots back to back and they don’t mind helping getting you into what boot works best for you. I was trying on the Tech 7’s, Tech 10’s, and Fox Instincts back to back at the store to get a sense of what I was looking for. Tech 10’s won for me!
Thanks for the read!
-Jake
Poll
How are the Instincts for protection and packing out? We have a Fox outlet store relatively close and they sell for 25% off so around $350.
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
I have the Atojo. It's a nice compromise between protection, low weight and quality. Tech 10 is a stiffer and more protective boot. I haven't owned the SG12 but i have tried them at a dealer, they seem to be a great option too.
I picked up some Fox boots this spring to match the rest of my full Fox kit and overall they have been solid as well. Really soft though so I think that's the largest issue with them unless you can get them each year but if you like lots of bike feeling they are unmatched honestly.
The only con I found with the Tech 10's is those ribs they have on the sole make it harder to move around on the pegs which is annoying but like everything else you get used to it.
Overall and all things considered, I believe the tech 10's are the best boots on the market and looking around on the track, it shows.
Cleaned them up but these are after 50 hours of moto to give you an idea of how much durability they have at least for me. Really solid.
Buy 14 us size for my next tech10 next week! Thanks!!
Post a reply to: Alpinestars Tech 7's vs Tech 10's