by You could get a pair of boots, for instance, that looked great, but they weren’t very tough. Or you could get tough boots that, frankly, looked pretty damn ugly.
Luckily, there are still brands out there that have not fallen prey to this dichotomy. Aether is one such brand, and its new Tioga Moto Boots exemplify how the outfit has sidestepped the style-versus-substance trade-off.
Artisan-quality craftsmanship
Obviously, these boots look outstanding. While relatively minimalist, they bear the hallmarks of classic, iconic moto boots. But they offer far more than just good looks. They’re backed up with incredible quality.
For starters, every single pair is painstakingly handmade in Portugal. That alone is the kind of attention to detail and craft that too few brands respect these days. However, it extends to the quality of the materials, as well.
To that end, the uppers are built entirely from Spanish full-grain cowhide leather. And they’re lined with Spanish calf leather. They’re also water-resistant, lending a bit of all-conditions durability and keeping them protected from downpours, puddles and more.
They also have a handy lacing system, combining classic eyelets with more convenient, quick-hiking-style hooks, making them secure yet easy to adjust on the fly. But perhaps best of all, their stunning appearance hides a bevy of technical details and safety features.
Hidden technical details
You’ll notice a couple of extra reinforcement points on the boots’ exterior. At the toe, there’s a classic toe shifter pad, which protects the upper from, well, motorcycle shifters.
There are also a pair of circular protrusions on the ankles. These hide cutting-edge D3O lateral and medial ankle guards behind them, just in case you take a spill. D3O also supplies these boots with vibration-reducing AeroMax insoles.
Below that, the boots feature ultra-grippy, slip-resistant Vibram outsoles (the multi-industry standard for high-performance footwear). That means you can be sure-footed on all terrains and in all conditions.
And if all that exceptional quality and tech isn’t enough, the boots also feature Goodyear welt construction, so they can be resoled for a lifetime of use and abuse. On or off a bike, these boots will serve you well for decades (or longer), and they’ll look absolutely dapper the entire time.
Availability and pricing
Aether’s Tioga Moto Boot is now available on the brand’s site in black or brown for $595 per pair.
Aether
