Having used these boots for three hard years of year-round commuting, long tours and hard track stints I don’t think anything else is more versatile than Daytona’s Evo Voltex Gore-Tex.
They combine a hinged inner boot that allows the flex you need for lowering and lifting your foot, but resists the kind that will twist your ankle in a direction it isn’t designed to travel in.
This inner boot is lined with a Gore-Tex membrane that hasn’t leaked once in thousands of miles and also (somewhat miraculously) lets my feet breathe to avoid uber-ponk.
They were a little loose when I first got them and, with hindsight, I might have been better off going a size down from my norm – but a pair of performance insoles filled out any gaps and also made the boots more comfortable to walk around in, so I’m happy.
The range of adjustment from triple-strap Velcro fasteners on the inner boots and width adjusters at the calves means I’ve been able to wear these over leathers or inside textile trousers with equal comfort. The lack of external plastic means Kevlar-lined denim riding jeans will also slide over the top easily.
Unfortunately (for me, not you) I can even report on the crash protection of the Evo Voltex GTX, having buried myself into Anglesey circuit’s surface at roughly 65mph (I hope you appreciate the lengths to which I’ll go in the name of product testing).
Despite being convinced I had a broken big toe to complement concussion and a stitched-up elbow, an x-ray showed the Daytonas had kept my feet and ankles in one piece.
The spill explains the scuffs on the outers, but they’ve been there for three years and the boots have kept on performing despite my acrobatics, which happened after only a week of ownership.
The leather outer is robust enough to have stood up to three years of abuse – they’ve only ever been cleaned with a wet microfibre cloth. They could do with a proper clean now, but there’s still plenty of years left in them.
Even when they are very tired, Daytona’s refurb service means I’ll be able to send them back to Germany for an overhaul and could even have new soles fitted one day (though the originals are still in fine shape).
Which brings us to the biggest talking point – the price. At the time of writing, the recommended retail price is £699.99.
It’s the sort of money that will pay for two pairs of seriously impressive bike boots – one pair for dry days another for when it’s raining.
But if your budget will stretch this far, the Evo Voltex are so good that you’ll only need one pair of boots – and they’ll last you for years and years.
Fit & Comfort
They come up slightly large (it could be worth going down a size, unless you have wide feet), but there’s a wide range of adjustment to ensure the ideal fit. They have been comfy both under and over my riding kit, and are fine for walking around.
Waterproofing
They’re been my year-round boots for four riding years and have never leaked. The waterproof membrane protects the inner boot – and a damned fine job it does too.
Breathability
There are a few decent waterproof membranes out there when it comes to repelling water. But Gore-Tex remains the best I’ve tried for breathability, meaning improved comfort and less chance of stinky boots after a long ride.
Build quality
I have no complaints. The only signs of damage (and both are excusable) are from a 2014 crash and from the white leather discolouring. More sober colours are available and they are definitely more sensible.
Features
For some reason Daytona don’t submit all of their boots for CE safety testing, so they lose a bit here. It seems odd as they feel easily robust enough to pass a test. The lack of air intakes to cool feet is also a miss.