“Moisture was bad enough when it was in the air where it belonged. When it got into your boots, it became personal.” —Terry Pratchett
Janel and I live in British Columbia in what I consider to be the Hawaii of Canada: the Sunshine Coast. It’s 112 miles of some of the most beautiful coastal rainforest in the world. We seldom get much snow in the winter, which means we can ride all year. Riding year-round is amazing, but doing so in a rainforest also means getting very wet.
In the winter months, Janel and I hit the trails on our Yamaha XT250s, exploring single track, forest service roads, and, by accident, some random trails made for hikers. While all this riding is incredible, we often come back absolutely drenched. Most of our gear keeps us dry; however, one area where this is lacking is our boots. I can handle most parts of my body being wet, but when my feet get wet, I become a miserable person to be around.
Two years ago, I reached out to Leatt and asked if they had any plans to develop a more dirt-focused, waterproof boot. The response was along the lines of “not really.” At that point, Janel and I accepted that we either had to give up some safety or deal with wet feet. We chose wet feet. That changed over the holidays when Leatt released their 8.5 ADV Hydradri boots. We received our boots in February, right in the heart of our rainy season and for the past several months, Janel and I have been putting the new boots to the test.
While testing the boots, I rode with them for between one to six hours per day. If I stopped to wander around, I kept them on. I tested the boots in massive puddles and at one point got off the bike and walked through a puddle to test the waterproofing.
While it’s subjective, I love how ADV and dirt bike boots look. I feel like a super high-tech soldier in them, ready to take on the world. I have the black/bronze pair, and they match any gear I’m wearing. The bronze makes them pop a bit more than the all-black option, and they have that very signature Leatt look: logo on the top, number on the toe, and that wide toe box. I will be honest, I do love the more exciting colors of dirt bike boots, but for ADV, these look solid. 7/10
The boots fit true to my shoe size, which always makes life far less complicated. Leatt makes their toe boxes wide, which I greatly appreciate as a person with feet like a hobbit. I only had one issue with the fit. Leatt’s 5.5 Flexlock boots do not require a break-in; strap them on and go. The 8.5 ADV Hydradri boots required a short break-in period. The first day I took them out, there was a bit of tightness around my ankle. I was surprised by this, but after only one two-hour ride, the boots loosened up nicely. Overall, the fit is great. 8/10.
The three-buckle design doesn’t support my ankles as much as four would, but there usually a trade-off between dry feet and the ability to walk for an extended period. I tested them the hard way with a couple of slides. After confirming the rest of me was intact, I got back up with no foot or ankle injuries. On single track, I hit my toe on a few rocks and trees, and other than my foot flying off the peg, I wouldn’t even have realized there had been any impact. After 10 weeks of riding with these, I am still injury-free, so that must mean something. 8.5/10
I can firmly say that Leatt’s 8.5 ADV Hydradri boots are waterproof. On several occasions, Janel and I rode through puddles so deep they almost hydrolocked our XT250s. In many of them, we were going so fast that the splash was well above our helmets. When we tore into one, the splash blocked my vision, and I almost ran into Janel on the far side! Even when I walked through puddles near the top of the boots, they didn’t fill with water. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t just stand in a puddle and let them flood, but I tried to keep the test as real-world as possible. On rainy days, we would ride for several hours and never once ended up with soggy feet. I don’t often do this, but the boots are definitely waterproof. 10/10
As adventure riders, we sometimes have to get off the motorcycle for a short hike. In our 5.5 Flexlocks, this is torture, and within five minutes, Janel and I are both panting. The 5.5s are just too awkward and heavy to really go exploring in the forest. With only two buckles, the 7.5 ADV Hydradri and Sidi’s Adventure 2 Gore-Text Boots are better for those long walks when touring, but giving up that one buckle can really reduce security if I crash. The 8.5s have come a long way, making it possible to still walk around in them and feel safe. They are lightweight, have a strong sole, and, with only three buckles, your leg can move forward in them in a more natural way. I wore these boots for up to six hours in a day, and it never felt like my legs were screaming at me. I even found myself leaving them on if we stopped for a cookie or something, which I would never do with my 5.5s. I can’t really give a scale for this one, since the use of each boot is different.
Are Leatt’s 8.5 ADV Hydradri boots for you? Not really if you live in Arizona. If you in Washington and ride in the rain a lot, then waterproof boots are nice.
Do you just ride pavement on your motorcycle? Then you may want to stick with the 7.5s. You still have two buckles and waterproofing to keep those feet dry and safe, and to allow you to walk more comfortably. If you are looking for that extra bit of protection, waterproofing and don’t mind a bit less free movement when walking then these could be perfect for you. And honestly, can we ever be over-protected?
Finally, are you into some dual-sport action on the trails in the rain? Well then, this might be the boot for you. They keep you dry and let you explore, while still keeping your ankle safe and secure. As I mentioned, with only three buckles, Leatt is giving up a little ankle security in exchange for that flexibility to go for a wander. This is the trade-off: more natural movement, more chance of injuries. What I have come to realize is that on days when the rain is giving the rainforest its name and I am wearing Leatt’s 8.5 ADV Hydradri boots on the more technical trails, I just ease off the throttle a tiny bit. At least that’s what I tell Janel.
Leatt’s 8.5 Hydradri boots retail for $499 and are available in sizes 5 to 13.
