Fancy Kicks: Waterproof Pioneer Outdry Motorcycle Boots from Rev'It

Motorcycling is a small world sometimes, and innovation often doesn't come easily. The Dutch apparel specialists over at Rev'It! searched outside the two-wheel industry for inspiration in creating these Pioneer riding boots.

A quick look and you’ll notice there are no standard laces, buckles, or zippers. Instead, a dial-and-cord cinch from outdoor company Boa—twist the knob clockwise to tighten and pull out to release. It’s a system that was invented in the early 2000s and has sold more than 83 million units.

For the sole, Rev'It! enlisted the rubber company Vibram, which has been making shoe bottoms since 1937 and is headquartered adjacent to so many footwear makers in northern Italy. Vibram is probably most famous for the wild-looking Five Finger shoes with the individual toes, but the company has soles on everything from dress shoes to hiking boots.

More traditional technology is used to keep feet safe and dry, namely rigid heel and toe cups and the patented OutDry waterproofing—a one-piece coating heat-bonded to the outer layer of the boot that makes water bead up and roll off. For abrasion resistance, the Pioneers use good ol' fashioned cowhide, as well as 500-denier Cordura textile panels.

It's a decidedly different piece of moto-footwear—part outdoor-industry DNA and part motorcycle expertise—from the looks to the technology. These Pioneers sell for $400, with a taller, shin-plated sibling, the Discovery, retailing for $460. —Zack Courts