A brief look at the new Gaerne Dakar Goretex adventure boots, looking at their main features & some comparisons to other adv boots and the Crossfire 3s!
I'm usually a size 13 in almost everything I wear! Gaerne sizing can be a bit different in some of the in between sizes, Atomic Moto has a useful conversion chart - but you should be ok in a 47?
Thank you for the video Not sure if it's the lighting in the video maybe my screen or both but, are the Dakars a black? Also I the you touched on this but do you think it's possible to get a pairs jeans over top of them ? Thanks !
Watched your other vids and you mentioned trying Sidi x-powers. I have been riding big street bikes for 20+ years and bought a ktm690 and x-power boots and am new to adventure/dual sport/dirt road/trail riding. The x-powers fit great, comfortable. But, I cant feel when shifting and braking, I miss a lot of shifts and sometimes the rear brake also. Thinking about getting these Dakar boots for that reason. Should I spend more $$$ on Dakars or tough it out and keep working/learning with the x-powers? I noticed in your other vid you went back to MX style boots.
The X Powers are my favorite boot for dual sport/ adventure riding. They're relatively light, good action, and slim fitting enough to work well with OTB pants. I don't have any issues shifting with mine (size 12.5/47), although it did take a bit to adapt when I started using MX boots on my T7. Have you adjusted your shift lever up a bit so you can hook the boot under easier? The brake feel is, alas, harder and something you kinda just have to muscle memory I guess. The Dakars will make this easier, and I do have a pair still as my touring / wet weather commuting boot.
@@cblais19 Good questions/suggestions. I did raise the shifter and it helped some. After that I installed an offset shifter peg that adds about 3/8" to the length of the shifter and provides more room for the x-power to position under the shifter peg. The last two rides with both those changes were with steel toed hiking boots and shifting/braking and trail/dirt riding was actually fun, not frustrating. Hence, got me thinking about Dakar type of adventure boots. Given your x-power comment it makes sense to ride with them and see if the offset shifter peg change helped. And simply riding more with them to learn muscle memory.
@@ridemfast7625 I’d give it a shot before you spend more money for sure! If you decide to go the adventure boot way, the Dakars will give you a lot more feel for sure.
How much do the ankle hinges actually protect? Can the boot be bent laterally or twisted or does it avoid dangerous movements? The Toucans are laughable in this regard. Is the sole sewn or glued? How about waterproofing vs. ventilation? Thanks for the review.
It’s the same hinge as the Gaerne Fastback MX boot, so the lower ankle has quite a bit of lateral bracing. What it doesn’t have is the higher shin area bracing with additional plastic you get in a full Mx boot, if you look at a picture of a Fastback youll see what I mean. It’s a full grain leather Goretex boot. You’re not going to get direct ventilation, and it gets hot when it’s really hot out - but I expect it to be like the toucan, which I rode in up to 40c.
@@cblais19 I have narrowed it down to the Sidi Adventure 2 and the Gaerne G Dakar. Which one do you think has more support up top? They both seem to have great ankle support.
@@cblais19 sorry Chris, should have been more specific. Lateral movement. I saw a video on the Sidi and the guy bent the mid part of the boots right over. I don’t want full on MX boots but just looking for the best protective adventure boot that you can still do some walking in.
@@davehartsock9106 you can do that on these too. None of the adventure boots have much in the way of lateral stability - that’s what makes them so nice to walk in. The Forma Terra Evos walk the line between MX/enduro and “adventure” the most, and might be worth looking at.
It's super comfortable to walk around in, at least inside the house. I've heard from sources I trust that the Klim is also quite good, and better reinforced then you'd think for a boot without an external hinge, but the Gaerne is lovely.
@@erikguttridge Not external plastic reinforcements like you’d find on a MX boot. All Gaerne products are certified as PPE. The Dakar is level 2 in all categories.
Depends what your priorities are. The Terra Evo is an adventurized taller boot with a hinge, probably a little more robust overall, doesn’t use Goretex. The Dakar is a reinforced touring boot with a hinge. Smaller profile, lighter weight.
Nice review, best regards from Italy!
Is this one of the best for touring and occasional offroading? Alternative options?
Nice review! You mentioned you ordered a 48. Do you usually wear 13 US size or 12? Just trying to figure it out for myself since I wear 12.
I'm usually a size 13 in almost everything I wear! Gaerne sizing can be a bit different in some of the in between sizes, Atomic Moto has a useful conversion chart - but you should be ok in a 47?
Thank you for the video
Not sure if it's the lighting in the video maybe my screen or both but, are the Dakars a black?
Also I the you touched on this but do you think it's possible to get a pairs jeans over top of them ?
Thanks !
Those are a black pair, they’re also in brown. It’d have to be a fairly relaxed / stretchy Jean to get over top of the shin plate.
Watched your other vids and you mentioned trying Sidi x-powers. I have been riding big street bikes for 20+ years and bought a ktm690 and x-power boots and am new to adventure/dual sport/dirt road/trail riding. The x-powers fit great, comfortable. But, I cant feel when shifting and braking, I miss a lot of shifts and sometimes the rear brake also. Thinking about getting these Dakar boots for that reason. Should I spend more $$$ on Dakars or tough it out and keep working/learning with the x-powers? I noticed in your other vid you went back to MX style boots.
The X Powers are my favorite boot for dual sport/ adventure riding. They're relatively light, good action, and slim fitting enough to work well with OTB pants. I don't have any issues shifting with mine (size 12.5/47), although it did take a bit to adapt when I started using MX boots on my T7. Have you adjusted your shift lever up a bit so you can hook the boot under easier?
The brake feel is, alas, harder and something you kinda just have to muscle memory I guess. The Dakars will make this easier, and I do have a pair still as my touring / wet weather commuting boot.
@@cblais19 Good questions/suggestions. I did raise the shifter and it helped some. After that I installed an offset shifter peg that adds about 3/8" to the length of the shifter and provides more room for the x-power to position under the shifter peg. The last two rides with both those changes were with steel toed hiking boots and shifting/braking and trail/dirt riding was actually fun, not frustrating. Hence, got me thinking about Dakar type of adventure boots. Given your x-power comment it makes sense to ride with them and see if the offset shifter peg change helped. And simply riding more with them to learn muscle memory.
@@ridemfast7625 I’d give it a shot before you spend more money for sure! If you decide to go the adventure boot way, the Dakars will give you a lot more feel for sure.
3:30 - gaiters, is I believe the official word for the seal around the tops of the boot.
How much do the ankle hinges actually protect? Can the boot be bent laterally or twisted or does it avoid dangerous movements? The Toucans are laughable in this regard.
Is the sole sewn or glued?
How about waterproofing vs. ventilation?
Thanks for the review.
It’s the same hinge as the Gaerne Fastback MX boot, so the lower ankle has quite a bit of lateral bracing. What it doesn’t have is the higher shin area bracing with additional plastic you get in a full Mx boot, if you look at a picture of a Fastback youll see what I mean.
It’s a full grain leather Goretex boot. You’re not going to get direct ventilation, and it gets hot when it’s really hot out - but I expect it to be like the toucan, which I rode in up to 40c.
@@cblais19 I have narrowed it down to the Sidi Adventure 2 and the Gaerne G Dakar. Which one do you think has more support up top? They both seem to have great ankle support.
@@davehartsock9106 what do you mean by “support up top”?
@@cblais19 sorry Chris, should have been more specific. Lateral movement. I saw a video on the Sidi and the guy bent the mid part of the boots right over. I don’t want full on MX boots but just looking for the best protective adventure boot that you can still do some walking in.
@@davehartsock9106 you can do that on these too. None of the adventure boots have much in the way of lateral stability - that’s what makes them so nice to walk in. The Forma Terra Evos walk the line between MX/enduro and “adventure” the most, and might be worth looking at.
If this works well off the bike, it looks much more appealing than the Klim Adventure GTX.
It's super comfortable to walk around in, at least inside the house. I've heard from sources I trust that the Klim is also quite good, and better reinforced then you'd think for a boot without an external hinge, but the Gaerne is lovely.
This may be the boot I’ve been looking for. I appreciate the review video. I imagine these have toe protection? Any CE or EU safety certification?
@@erikguttridge Not external plastic reinforcements like you’d find on a MX boot. All Gaerne products are certified as PPE. The Dakar is level 2 in all categories.
@@cblais19 this is exactly the information I was looking to find...thanks!
Gaerne Dakar or Forma terra evo?
Depends what your priorities are. The Terra Evo is an adventurized taller boot with a hinge, probably a little more robust overall, doesn’t use Goretex. The Dakar is a reinforced touring boot with a hinge. Smaller profile, lighter weight.