Tested | Forma Adventure Boots

Raymond Heron -

Let's wind the clock back to late 2019. It was a simpler time. I was riding my Yamaha MT07, and dreaming of owning an adventure bike. Hopefully one day a Tenere 700.
I was helping spread the word about the GS Rallye NZ 2020 in Martinborough, and looking forward to riding the Baby GS (BMW G310GS). Then it dawned on me. I had little to nothing in the way of adventure riding kit. No major worry, I still had all my MotoX gear, but it would be a good idea to look at some more "adventure bias" boots. The thought of riding 300+ kilometers on a wee GS in full MotoX boots did not appeal.

So, on the wish list, comfort is a big thing, followed by protection. Anything over and above this is just icing on the cake. I headed to my local motorcycle shop to see what they had that might be suitable and the first thing I saw was the Forma range. I tried a few on and instantly liked the Forma Adventure boots.

In truth, I may have bought the wrong boots, but more about this shortly.
The Forma Adventure boots are comfortable and great for relaxed adventure riding. I also wear them for commuting on days when I know it's going to be wet or there is a risk of getting rained on, which seems to be the majority of winter. They also do a great job of keeping my lower leg and foot warm. They have actually been the most reliable bit of kit I own when it comes to waterproofing. Only letting water in once, and that was when I went for a dab in a river that was a bit higher than the boots, so that's fair enough I suppose.
The reason why I may have bought the wrong boots is these days on my Tenere 700, when I get off-road, I do more standing, and quite often ride more technical terrain. On Forma's website they state "*Due to the special lightweight sole design, these boots are not recommended for use with kick-start bikes or bikes with aggressive motocross style foot-pegs.  If you are a rider that mostly stands up when you ride, we would recommend the Forma Terra Evo boots."
For this reason, I should probably be wearing the Terra Evo Boots, and may well try them next.

Forma says the Adventure boot is designed to work effectively as a road boot, with some nice dual-sport features. and I'd agree with that. Though If you are looking to buy some yourself, be sure to try the boots on and sit on your bike to see how the gear selector and rear brake feel. As I said, when I first got mine, I was riding my MT07, and getting my foot under the gear selector to shift up was a little tricky, not impossible, but not what I would call a "good fit". I ended up putting up with this for a month or 2 as I knew I wanted to trade up to an adventure bike anyway.

I've now been riding in the boots for around 18 months, and they're wearing well. still loads of life in them, they fit like a glove when I first got them, and they have loosened up a fair amount since then, still fitting well, and all-day comfortable (multiple days even)
As mentioned earlier, Forma's warning about using them on bikes with aggressive off-road-focused footpegs, yep, I've taken a few chunks out of the soles from too much standing and pivoting on the T7, They're not ruined by any stretch, but they have obviously been loved. If you're an aggressive off-road rider, then maybe heed that warning and look at the Terra EVO boots? Hey! I'm not worried, they have lasted well, and I expect to get a good 2-3 more years out of them.

Some key features:

  • 12 months Warranty.
  • CE® level protection.
  • Full-grain oiled leather.
  • Drytex® waterproof.
  • Lightweight construction.
  • Adventure anti-slip sole.
  • Stainless steel shank.
  • Injection molded shin plate.
  • Plastic gear pad protection.
  • Unbreakable GH® buckles.
  • Adjustable straps.
  • Velcro® collar closure.
  • TPU reinforced ankle area.
  • Extra soft polymer padding.
  • Anti-bacterial insole.
  • European production.