I had the privilege of submitting another Guest Post on RideApart.com.

Below is my original version:

There are many ways to categorize people and slice them into groups: Male – Female, Maximisers – Satisficers, Fashion – Function. Well, at least for the last pairing listed, the Stylmartin Indian boots eliminate that divide. The Indian boots, part of the Urban Series, aims to fulfill all the fashion and function needs of today’s casual rider.

The Gear:
Stylmartin is not a household name in the states but the Italian company is trying to change that. Stylmartin has introduced three boot models for sale in the US and the Indian is aimed straight at the hipster cafe rider.
The Indian comes in a greasy Black and a quickly-distressing Brown. I have been wearing the brown version now for two weeks and they already show nice rugged looking break-in. This is accomplished by applying a darker top finish to a lighter brown leather underneath. As the boots are worn and scuffed the lighter brown shines through. They look quite nice and can be polished if ever you need to dress them up again.
As for utility, I have been wearing these both on and off the bike, as they are intended, and can say they excel at being a comfortable casual boot that provide confidence on and off the bike.
I have found Stylmartin’s waterproof claim to be slightly exaggerated, though they are very water resistant and good enough for 95% of riding. I came to this discovery while riding my Z50R through the snow and slush. I’ve also shoveled plenty of snow while wearing these, living in the North East, and they performed expertly. The water resistance proved sufficient and the Vibram sole provided incredible traction of otherwise slippery surfaces.

The Good:
Almost everything. Stylmartin has created a boot that is highly stylish, functional, and comfortable. The quality of the construction and materials is arguably worthy of the cost. The soles are the perfect mix of rigidity and feel, are expertly stitched to the upper and, importantly, replaceable.

The Bad:
The price is high enough to deter non-committed buyers, even if their quality might demand such a price. As noted above, they are not, in fact, waterproof. One minor niggle is that the lever patch on the toe pushes down on my big toe joint when I walk, but I think this will work itself out as they break in. Lastly, the sizing is troublesome as they run nearly, but not a full size large. Normally I wear a 44 and opted for the 43. They are just long enough to fit comfortably.

The Verdict:
These are a definite buy. They look good, they feel great, and they should last a lifetime. Remember to order a size down.

Related:
http://rideapart.com/2013/11/aerostich-combat-touring-boots-review/
http://rideapart.com/2013/02/boots-you-can-wear-on-and-off-the-bike/

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