MSR MXT Boots, a month down the track

It’s been a month now since acquiring my new MSR (Mountain safety research) MXT boots, been on three rides with them and spent the better part of 20 hours using them so feeling reasonably confident to give an appraisal.

General description- a combination leather /plastic boot aimed at the middle ground buyer who is looking for high end comfort and wear, very very similar to some of the tech series boots in appearances, non-hinged and non bootied, with fairly agressive tread pattern

Comfort- Excellent, Easy to fit, the old ankle trap is almost non-existant, and offers top amount of padding in both sole and calf area. I would get one size above normal boot fitment on most off-road boots anyway so same goes here, dosen’t let moisture in unless in extreme water crossings.

Buckles and secure fitment- Hinged evolution system of what has been around since Moses rode his XR500 in the original thumpernats, a bit fiddly at times and offers not only the ratchet on the male portion but two fulcrum points on the alumium buckle itself, self centreing buckles with large thumb clasp area, very top of boot has very agressive velcro for seling elements out, velcro can hinder buckle at times as it tends to grab before top portion is firm, but easily overcome by resequencing your approach.

Feel and gearchange and braking- maybe this is partly the Pivot pogz fitted to my bike, but once i repossitioned my gearlever up one notch (thicker than the O’neals I previously wore) gearshifts are positive and neutral is easier to find, braking is initially a bit “heavier, but less pressure was the order of the day, as these boots required less input to move the lever, maybe the sole is slightly different shape to old ones, kickstarting doesn’t slip off lever even when lever is coated in yellow clay, an old bugbear of mine, used to put rubber hosing on kickstart levers to combat this in years gone past.
Feel is good, ankle movement is reasonable, then restricted where you want it to be by way of plastic placs meeting on the outside of the boot, should pose little risk of broken ankles, shin protection is tops, very heavy plastic plate has copped afew blows so far, not even transferred to other than a foot deflection, no marks on lower legs, did find fitting my kneeguards a bit more of a chore as the velcro doesn’t encourage kneeguards.
Walking is typical Off-road boot, but with better ankle movement is more natural and going up and down inclines good, don’t slip too much in mud or clay either.

Value for money- Tops at around the three hundred- four hundred dollar zone for mid-range boots mark one should consider these boots as I have seen much more expensive ones with less comfort and worse buckle systems, there was a rumour they are rebadged Tech 4s, but I tend to believe they aren’t as Tech 4s aren’t as comfy, and these are the most comfortable off-road boots I’ve ever owned, moreso than my old Scotts, Axos, Alpinesstars or the stylish bright red Vendraminis with Booties.

Would I buy another pair? talk to me in 18 months cause i demand a good life expetency out of all of my boots, and if they wear as well as they wear I’ll be buying another set in 5 years.

Bruce Cee