Leatt 5.5 FlexLock (2019) Boots
(discontinued)
At $389.99 the Leatt GPX 5.5 FlexLock Boot is on the upper end of the mid-range, or the lower end of the top-tier boots, depending on how you look at it. We spent a ton of time in these boots riding both moto and off-road and they feel almost the same as when we first rode in them, which is good and bad. On the plus side, the GPX 5.5 FlexLock Boots are rugged, durable, long-lasting boots that, other than some superficial discoloration, have no signs of deterioration. On the downside, they were a bit stiff with ankle extension (pointing the toe) and that doesn't show any signs of "breaking in" and getting easier. There is a lot of technology in the boot, and for the full breakdown of that please see the introduction video here - Leatt Boot First Look.
New from the ground up, the Leatt 5.5 FlexLock boot was years in the making. We've seen them on pro riders like Ryan Sipes and Johnny Walker for a while and they are finally available to the public. At $389.99, they aren't as wallet draining as other top end boots but they have plenty of top-end features. It was cool to see actual test dummy footage of Leatt slamming the boot (with a fake leg) at different angles to measure the forces going into the ankle and knee. The FlexLock is designed to have a certain amount of ankle movement, even side-to-side, that is supposed to absorb some energy from an impact before transferring to the rider. But it also has lockouts that stop the ankle from moving too much, which are adjustable if you don't want much movement at all. One of the other cool features is the one-way velcro at the top of the boot. You can secure the velcro, then buckle the top strap, which slides against itself in one direction, but not the other. Pretty sweet.
Overall we were impressed with the boot. Without a hinge, the ankle feels similar to a Tech 10 and will require some break-in before it will feel completely comfortable. We'll keep riding in this boot and have a full review in the future.
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