Forma Adventure Boot | 7 Year Review
After seven (7) years of ownership, my Forma Adventure boots have finally earned their retirement, so there's no better time to look back at how these boots have performed over the long term.
How Long Do Forma Adventure Boots Last?
Needless to say, getting seven years of use out of anything is a big win these days. For me, a boot that can survive multiple seasons of mud, cow poo and beach riding is worth the money, and retailing at $549 still shows that the Formas still demand a premium despite the model being around for roughly a decade. They are obviously built to last and I suspect if you don't abuse them as much as I have you'd probably be able to expect pushing a full decade of ownership.
Forma Adventure Boot Comfort & Waterproofing Performance
This is where things start to get complicated. After all, what riders now expect from a boot labeled as an "adventure boot" has changed in the time since I first bought my Forma Adventure boots. However, in terms of performance they've been pretty damn good.
Starting with comfort, these have to be the single most comfortable motorcycle boots I've owned in my 20 years of riding. No caveats, no arguments, these boots are damn comfy and I can happily wear them all day and then some.
The sole has plenty of grip so I never found myself struggling up a muddy hill when out playing off road thanks to those big lugs.
Weather tightness is another massive tick when it comes to the Forma Adventures. I've ridden in absolutely torrential rain where most of my riding gear has leaked, but my feet have always been on the dry side. Heck, I've even waded out into a shin deep stream in them and returned with completely dry feet.
Sole Protection & Off-Road Drawbacks
It should come as no surprise that advise has changed over the years when it comes to what makes a good adventure boot and this is where the Forma Adventure hasn't fared so well.
While these boots have been INCREDIBLY comfy, the soft sole and leather build has a couple of aspects that place them more on the touring side of the off road spectrum rather than than for hard-core adventure.
That soft sole which goes a long way in making these boots all day comfy can be torn to shreds by sharp footpegs. It didn't take long for the pegs on my old CRF250L Rally to start chewing into the arch of the sole, while the kickstand spring chewed into the side of my left heel where it is partly of foam construction. It never got all the way through, but slightly tougher MX style boots don't suffer from this problem at all.
The other part about the sole being so comfy is it doesn't offer the most protection when compared to those MX style boots most riders have shifted to. If you're expecting maximum protection on your adventure rides these aren't the boots for you and you should look at something like the the Forma Predator 2.0.
With all that said, I've fallen off plenty of times wearing these boots and not suffered any injuries to my lower legs or feet - but obviously your mileage may vary.
Would I buy the Forma Adventure Boots again?
Honestly, when it comes to replacing my Forma Adventure boots I'm in two minds. While I could easily have another pair, are they really what fulfills my current needs?
I could go out and grab another pair of the tall adventure boots, but when it comes to ADV riding these days I'm more likely to be wearing my fully protective enduro boots if I'm braving the road less travelled or mucking around on a trail ride.
However, as a touring boot they were damn near unbeatable - so there is still a very good case to have a pair in the wardrobe. So with that in mind, I think I'll be saving up for another pair of Forma Adventures - but the "Low" version looks like a bit of me as a further compromise on comfort and every day usability.
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