Spidi X Nashville Boots Review
Retro style, comfort and safety combined
By Marty Thompson
The Spidi X Nashville boots are a stylish addition to any retro gear, and a comfortable option when not on two wheelsHaving recently had the pleasure of reviewing some retro bikes, I thought it high time I upgraded my true 1980’s retro gear. A new pair of boots was one of the items I needed and again Spidi came to the rescue in the form of their Nashville boots.
Spidi’s Nashville boots are a more stylish full motorcycle boot, well matched to the current crop of retro and cruiser bikes. Although, not limited to those bikes, they also make a great alternative to full on sports bike boots, for those occassions where you are heading out somewhere on the bike with a destination with a social bent.
A lunch outing, a winery tour, attending a race meeting like the World Superbikes or MotoGP. Times where you want a boot that looks stylish both on and off the bike, as well as being comfortable to walk around in. The Nashville boot covers all those bases.
Unlike some retro styled boots, the Spidi Nashville boots have you covered with a decent amount of protection for feet and ankles. They feature an upper made of full grain cow leather with a thickness of 1.2 to 1.4 mm, with an oiled water resistant treatment. The lining is a full grain calf leather of .4mm thickness, making it soft and breathable.
The inner sole also gains the benefit of leather, again using full grain calf leather. The Nashville has a front with laces treated with wax, to really set off the whole retro look of the boot, but Spidi have cleverly incorporated a full metal 8mm pitched YKK zipper down the inner sides of the boots making it just oh so easy to slip them on and off, yet making them fit snugly and securely in the event of an oops.
The sole is made from the usual vulcanised rubber of a quality boot and features a “trek” design tread pattern. This makes the boot fantastic for walking around even on less than ideal grip surfaces, yet still feels fantastic while riding a bike.
The sole is trimmed nicely with a welt perimeter atop the sole, stitched to truly make the boots look vintage. They also include a “shoehorn” strap at the rear to assist in putting them on. The outer ankle area incorporates a polyerethane crumple ankle protector with reinforcements on both the toe and the heel which all enable the boots to be CE certified EN13634:2010.
The Nashville boots have fast become my go to boot, not just for riding but also when heading out somewhere for a non biking social outing. They are that comfortable.
They are available in two colour finishes, either the brown which I purchased, or black if you prefer. I’m saving my pennies now to buy another pair in black. I can see them getting a lot of use this winter both on and off the bike. The Nashville boots retail at $369.95 which I reckon is great value given the quality, comfort and looks of these boots.
For further product information, visit www.spidi.com.au (link) and Spidi stockists can be found by visiting www.motonational.com.au (link).
