Spada Raider Boots Review: Versatile And Affordable
I’ve extensively tested these adventure/touring boots in a variety of conditions and have come away impressed
If, like me, you spend your riding life switching between different bits of gear for the sake of testing, it’s a good sign when a particular item becomes your go-to. That’s become the case with a set of Spada Raider boots I’ve been testing for around eight months.
These are adventure-style boots, but I’ve ended up wearing them all year round and for a variety of riding including touring, riding sportier bikes and yes, adventure-y trail riding stuff. In all, I’ve clocked thousands of miles while wearing them - likely well over 6,000.
Key features
- Leather and nubuck construction
- Reinforced toe and heel
- Hipora waterproof lining
- Gear change pad
- Buckle and Velcro
I tested the boots in a size 11, which came up marginally larger than expected. They’re easy to slide on and feel extremely comfortable to wear for a big day of riding. There’s also some level of adjustability, with two clamping points for the buckles and some big velcro patches to ensure a snug fit around your calf/shin. They feel sturdy, although I haven’t (thankfully) yet had to test out just how good the reinforcements are.
The waterproofing generally works well, although, on one supremely wet day of riding on a tour through Germany, there was some ingress, and after that point, the boots took a very long time to dry out. They are quite thick, so that’s a lot of material to get damp, but the other side of that is the Raider boots keep your feet really warm when temperatures drop. Also, despite being chunky, operating gear shift levers or the rear brake lever is never an issue.
The boots have mostly stood up well to those many thousands of miles of riding, still looking reasonably fresh besides some creasing on the sides. You do need to keep an eye on the screws that hold on one side of the buckles, though - they loosen over time, and one has made a successful bid for freedom. It’s probably worth winding them out, popping on a bit of Loctite, and screwing them back in again.
Although they’re not the sort of boots I’ll use for a lot of walking off the bike (I’ll either change into trainers upon arrival or wear the more casual Furygan Stockton boots I’ve also been testing this year), you can cover a reasonable distance without it getting uncomfortable. You also don’t get any annoying squeaks as is sometimes the case with sportier boots.
Should you buy Spada Raider boots?
Considering how much these boots cost, I’ve been very impressed. They’ll be my boots of choice until they fall apart, which by the looks of it, won’t be for some time yet. It’s worth noting the boots do still carry the old Spada logo, and not the updated branding revealed in early 2024, but that seems like something unlikely to bother most. Of more importance is the performance of the boots, which is first-rate.
If you’re after a versatile boot that won’t break the bank, these are a great option.
Matt has a background in motoring journalism of the four-wheeled variety but has long had a passion for motorbikes, taking his first steps into riding in 2010.
