GEAR REVIEW: LEATT 5.5 FLEXLOCK ENDURO BOOTS
With plenty more time inside Leatt’s top-tier Off-Road boot, we have a much better idea of what we like about the 5.5 and what we don’t.
2021 saw the South African company come out swinging with a full do-over on their off-road line-up. Now the company offers total head to tow coverage, including protection, hydration, and everything in between. Check out the full 2021 range HERE.
We got our hand on a pair of the 5.5 Flexlock Enduro boots in December and have spent the past two months having a good old time using them in a whole host of situations. Trail riding, Motocross, Enduro, Extreme, and Flat Track racing. These particular boots are the Johnny Walker specials and besides looking cool as fudge, they have a few nifty features that I really like too.
Buckle Protection
This really caught my eye when inspecting the design and features of the 5.5. Although not too many top-tier boots these days suffer from the clips coming undone, a lot of boots don’t have clip protection build in. Meaning if you’re going for that block pass or using a tree to bounce off, you can do some damage to your clips. Both bottom clips have plastic protection surrounding them, which help deflect off incoming missiles. Plus they are forged alloy and stainless steel so they will take a beating either way.
Slide Lock Closure
Velcro may have been the greatest invention the world has ever seen. But Leatt went a little further with their own take, specifically designed to work on these boots. Instead of regular Velcro, they have developed an auto-locking, one-way sliding closure system for a great and no fuss seal at the top of the boot. No more will the Velcro at the top bunch up as you are closing the top clip. It simply slides tighter and doesn’t come off until you lift it off. I expect to see this new system on all top-level boots in the very near future. Doesn’t seem like much, but once you’ve tried it you will understand its potential.
Protection Features
Quite simply, it’s full of them. The boot design is claimed to help reduce force to the knee and ankle by over 30%. You can also adjust how much side-flex you have depending on your needs. Are you walking off the bike a lot - then give yourself a bit more flex. Maybe you’re doing some Cross Country racing and need it stiffer - lock it on…the choice is yours.
Fit and Feel
Leatt went with the no-bootie option and I have no grudges about that. The majority of manufacturers out there have ditched the inner bootie and seem to be doing just fine. The inside of the 5.5 is very comfortable right from the get-go. The inside is padded in all the right places and for my foot at least, I felt no sore points when using the boot.
The toe box seems like it would accommodate a larger foot which is handy. But at the same time doesn't feel too large and in the way. A rider with a narrow foot might find the 5.5 a little too roomy, but you will have to sus that out for yourself.
I have left the side flex adjustment to ‘Flex’, as I do plenty of walking around and slow technical riding - moving on the bike a lot and letting the bike move underneath me a lot too. The replaceable sole incorporates an extended footpeg riding zone, meaning if you’re a rider that uses the balls of your feet, or the arch, you have a durable gripping surface either way. And being the Enduro boots, there is a nice tread pattern for when you’re out pushing your mates up a hill.
I found very few negatives about the 5.5 Fleklock boot during my time so far. But, I don’t like how the bottom two bootstraps are sewn on plastic. This isn’t Leatt specific either. A lot of boot makers sew on the straps and I always think if they catch on something really tough and rip - that’s the boot done. I would like to see boot designers come up with a way to make the straps replaceable, like the top two buckles - in a perfect world.
This has not happened here, nor on any other brand of boot I have used - but it just seems like a vulnerable point in overall boot design in my opinion?
The other gripe is that the inside plastic is maybe too grippy. Yeah, I know…this negative is kind of a positive too, in that gripping the bike with your legs really locks you into the bike - thanks to the genuine rubber that is very grippy on the inside. But if you have a sticker kit, the edges of your side panels can take a bit of a beating. But hey - I’ll take bike control over looking good.
If I’m honest - the main reason I went for this colour was that it looks very, very cool. It’s not your typical white boot, but it’s close enough to have that white boot street cred, while also be a little edgy at the same time.
The Leatt 5.5 Flexlock is now one of my go-to pairs of boots alongside my Sidi Crossfire 2 and Alpinestar Tech 7 Enduro. And with a price point of only $599, you’re getting a lot of protection and features for your money, with a fair amount of replaceable parts. The 5.5 is the kind of boot you could use long-term with ease.
Boot Features:
Fit: Outstanding comfort with first-class fit even for wide feet
Closure: SlideLock system, Auto-locking one way sliding closure for great seal at top of boot
Forged aluminum buckles with Over-lock system and stainless steel base
FlexLock System: Adjustable lower boot flex for personal preference
LockOut of the sideward ankle movement to reduce forces
Force Reduction: LockOut ankle movement gives: Up to 37% reduction of ankle forces - Up to 35% reduction of forces to the knee
Bike Grip: Inside of boot is flat and grippy for great bike feel
Toe-Box: Low-profile, for easy gear shifting
Ankles: 3D-shaped impact foam over ankles for added protection
Heel grip ankle design for stability when riding on your toes
Sole: Enduro pattern for grip when pushing the bike
DualZone hardness
Extended foot peg riding zone for arch and on the toes riding style
Steel shank reinforced and CE certified
Inner Liner: Breathable mesh 3D liner with anti-slip reinforcement for zero heel lift
CE tested and certified as: prEN 13634: 2017
You can ask for Leatt from your local dealer, or visit www.bits4bikes.co.nz and have a look at the colourways on offer.