Spada Predator Boots - Review Hot

The Predator boots from Spada is a sports boot which is both waterproof and breathable with distinctive styling.

Initial Thoughts

This is a mid range sports boot from the same distributor to bring you Shoei helmets and Nikwax waterproofing, Spada being the in house brand of their operation. Immediately the sporty styling jumps out at you and this is going to be something you either love or hate, but personally I find this a very handsome boot and the styling should go with any style motorcycle. Getting hold of these gives you a feel of something chunky and substantial, without excessive weight, which has to be good news all round, the outer of the boot is devoid of the fancy armour systems you typically find on a sports aimed boot which opens up the predator boot to a much wider audience in my opinion.

Construction

The outer is made predominantly from leather for durability with an Hipora membrane for waterproofing without taking away the natural breathable nature of the leather. The opening has a sewn in flap, so there is no gap for water to penetrate anywhere. I tested these boots during something of a heat wave, but after strolling in and out of my house pouring bottle after bottle of water over my feet, I am confident that this set up is most effective. Of course the, rather unusual, heatwave does have the advantage that whilst my waterproofing test was unconventional, I was able to test the breath-ability without going overseas and this too was good.

Other features include the TPU mouldings. These are sturdy, but I was unable to see the calf moulding. Perhaps there has been a miss-type in the literature. The toe sliders are easily removed, and if you are able to scuff them, new ones are available on the companies website for a nominal fee. Reflective panels are present on the back of the boot. Whilst I am for any safety feature, these do seem very small and I doubt they really enhance the visibility of the rider. A gear change pad, present on both boots, definitely gives a reassuring strong feel to each change. I was pleasantly surprised by this, as I had expected it to be something of a gimmick.

Niggles: Whilst not the end of the world I was slightly irked by the fit and fastening. The Velcro sections can come undone as you flex your ankle and will not hold the boot tight around your calf, but rather at a predetermined size, which may or may not be right for the individual rider. I also found my little toes slightly squashed after wearing the boots for a short time, although I wear the same size shoe and boot exclusively, bear in mind this was during one of the hottest summer's registered so a little bit of expansion of the feet is quite normal. These issues, of course, can be easily overcome by trying a pair of Predators on before you part with your hard earned cash.

Features

• Leather outer construction

• Waterproof and breathable membrane

• TPU shin, ankle & calf mouldings

• Replaceable toe sliders

• Zip and Velcro closure

• Rubber moulded gear change pad

• Moulded ankle supports