Well first off, Atomic Moto rocks...had a little trouble selecting the perfect boot for me since I was looking for something that had reasonable protection but yet was comfortable for riding all day and for taking short hikes off of the bike plus I wanted "cool" since it is always hot in Florida :). Atomic Moto recommended the Forma Boulder and they hit the nail on the head. Had to try two different sizes but in the end the Forma sizing guide worked the best for me: https://www.formabootsusa.com/pages/sizing. I have worn several Alpinestars and several Gaerne in the past with the GX-1 being a great bang for your buck but the Forma Boulder is more comfortable, cooler (breathes better) than the others while only giving up a little bit in the protection department. They did take a couple hours to break in...were a little tight to start with but the Form sizing guide worked in the long run. Well worth the break in time and the price :). Thank YOU Atomic Moto.
I had my choices narrowed down to this and the Gaerne because of the flat welt sole construction and wider toe box. Picked this one for both the wife and I as it had many good reviews about the width, was less expensive than the Gaerne and was claimed to have a stiffer sole than the Gaerne. The main purpose is for dual sport riding.
Pros:
The boot is well made. Buckles work very well. Sizing was spot on based on our euro size. They look good too, very much like a work boot to the casual observation with regular pants.
Cons:
Not as wide as the reviews made them sound. They are good in the sense the heel is not ridiculous in order to get a wider forefoot but these could be wider up front for both of us. For reference we both normally wear either Lems or Xero shoes 95% of the time. OF course this is individual specific and just our experience. They also have zero resemblance of trying to keep water out. Skipped the waterproof because of the Texas heat but even water puddles or river crossings with just the splash result in wet feet, however they have kept mud and dirt out.
Would I recommend, yes, if your budget puts you in this price range and you don't need any more width. But if more budget or more width, then pony up and get the Gaerne Balance/G All Terrain. I had tried on the G All Terrain and they felt great. Will be getting a pair in the future. Most importantly will be purchasing from Atomic Moto. Service here is the best I have had in a long time.
These boots are a bit snug in the forefoot area but seem to be loosening up after wearing for a few hours. Quality seems pretty good. Customer service is great.
Pretty stiff new calf is tight for me can't wear my usual knee/shin guards definitely made for slender legs. Toe box is pretty good. Really like the solid feel of the sole.
This is my first set of real motorcycle boots as I've always worn hikers in the past I ride an 83 bmw r80 commuting and on off road trips. I was looking at the balance pro-techs but after talking to Brian we decided the boulder would suit my needs better. I wasn't concerned with waterproofing (i'd rather have something that breathes) and I haven't really gotten these boots wet yet so I can't speak to that aspect of them. I am very impressed with how comfortable they are to walk around in I have been wearing them to work and aside from being a bit warm they are comfortable all day. I did replace the insoles I'll never understand why the boots in this price range don't come with decent insoles it makes such a huge difference. I recently got a plated wr400 and I want to start riding more trails but I will probably get another set of boots for that as these don't offer as much ankle support as an mx boot. In the meantime I am wearing an ankle brace inside the boot per Brians recommendation. My only regret is waiting so long to get them.
Bought this boot to encase my feet for riding - due to extensive foot surgeries I do not want to EVER suffer injury/impact/abrasion to my feet or ankles so I searched for boots that offered above average support. The CE Rating on this boot is 2-2-2-2. The ratings are hard to learn from manufacturer and dealer websites for some reason. 2 is the highest rating, 1 is the lower rating, and 0 is essentially going barefoot. The 4 buckles will keep the boot on my foot with no doubts (protection isn't any good if the boot flies off the foot. Police find riders boots and shoes often missing both on impact and abrasion crashes). The side-bend support is very good in these boots which was important to me. The sole is rigid which is another key attribute so if you go toe down your boot/foot doesn't rip backward and if you go toe up into the ground the sole won't rip off or twist the ankle to mush. The side panel and front panel are plenty adequate for ankle crush protection and smash resistance/protection if an object is hit. This is the first product I've owned Made in Romania and I am well impressed. The buckles are nifty and durable. Comfort?? They are comfy now but took a good 20 hours of walking about, flexing, bending, stairs etc. to get comfortable. I jam a softball down into the ankle area when I'm not wearing them to encourage the plastic boot plating to conform to a shape similar to my foot. These are structured stiff boot and required break-in for me. I keep the top 2 buckles buckled tight when I'm not wearing them to encourage the uppersto take on a cylindrical shape rather than being flat which makes the shafts more comfy on my calves/shins. Happy I bought them - they are very protective yet comfortable enough to walk around in and wear all-day and on multi-day rides. I am able to insert custom orthotics in for improved arch support and comfort. Toe box is thick so a bit of adjustment to my gear shift linkage was helpful. Glad I bought them and I'd buy them again. They are warm but not hot. Talk to Brian for exact sizing/fit. He (and I)recommend a size larger so that if ever you crash your toes don't smash into the inside end of the boot. A shot of silicone spray makes them easy to slip into (talcum powder could work too if needed). No negatives to comment on. They are solid protections, fairly comfortable, stylish I suppose and do what I want them to do. I wear them under my riding/touring pants - it's a snug fit but does fit. I don't like riding without them. I highly recommend you wear protective boots when riding ANY motorcycle not just off-road or adventure. Be safe!
They do seem like a good boot, overall I like them but have 4 issues. Main and biggest is the strap length, the straps in all positions are just way too short. Next I ordered a 14/49 and they are still pretty narrow. Third issue is they should mention treating the leather on the boot before first use or just do it from factory. A lot of wear where where the straps rub the leather, and they are not very water resistant. Lastly, I bought these because I thought that they would be a good balance of control, feel and protection. They are pretty much like every other boot where you cannot really feel the controls much at all. I am not a fan of the plastic molding in a toe box.
This all being said I do like the boot. I am hoping that they last if few seasons. I can't say I feel they offer a ton more protection or substantial gain over something like an O'Neill Ryder boot. But for three times the cost. I'm hoping I get three times to use, as the cheaper boots tend to only last a season or two.
I reached out to Brian from atomic and he helped get me into the best boots for my feet! Very comfortable and fit like a glove thanks again Brian
Comfortable!!! No sag!!These are great for motorcycling and I can see multi-sporting them to skiing, ice hockey, running, etc. Impressive socks and comfortable!!!
I'm happy with theses socks. They are the right length for my new Motocross boots. I can't say enough about Atomic-Moto, they are just great to deal with. I highly recommend dealing with them, no matter what you buy.