JOE ROCKET METEOR BOOTS: ONE YEAR ON

by Boris

"They come on and off quite easily". This is them off.

The business side. Like Son-of-Elvis's Qualifiers, except you don't fall over in them so much.

Just over a year ago, Geoff Bonfield at Mat Mladin Imports gave me a pair of Joe Rocket Meteor boots (rrp $199).

"Take these, he said. "Your Johnny Rebs seem to have seen better days."

"I do not want these, Geoff," I replied. "I do not wear boots like these."

"Look, these are brand new and we'd like some feedback."

"You know if they are shit, then everyone I know will know they are shit and I know lots of people," I said.

"They are not shit," said Geoff.

"We'll see about that," I muttered, threw the boots into the back of Mick's car and went home.

The next day I put them on.

"Hmm," I hmmed. "They fit."

I noticed no pinching, or stiff sections like you normally do with brand new footwear. The Meteors slipped on easily, thanks to a wide mouth, and were easy to affix to my feet, thanks to the big chunk of Velcro at the ankle and a neat ski-boot/motocross-type clip system across the front. They come on and off quite easily, even when you stagger home from the pub and fall down a lot when you try to get undressed.

I walked around in them, didn't notice anything untoward and rode to work. They worked on the bike, i.e. they didn't catch on stuff, there was enough flex in the ankle to allow normal gearchanges, they didn't slip off the pegs, and they seemed just as happy to be utilised when you're riding á la rapido on the balls of your feet or just bumming along on your arches.

I then forgot about them -- as you do with any product that is so comfortable and practical -- and have been wearing them virtually every day for the past 13 months.

I wear them to work every day and walk around in them all day. Occasionally, I run in them (not very far, admittedly, but with immense grace), and have come to understand they are truly a superb boot.

They have been wet innumerable times and survived without burst stitching and undue stretching. They are actually waterproof, but in major downpours, water does run into them from above. Normal rain and light showers are fine and your feet arrive dry at work.

They have been slogged through the mud of two Phillip Islands and have provided me comfort and warmth when my feet have been sorely in need of both.

The only time the sole has slipped was on the wet pebblecrete near my pool. On the roads they have yet to slip on anything I've put my foot down on.

Technically, they are of leather construction, 100 per cent waterproof, breathe well, have an adjustable buckle and ankle strap, moulded plastic side-impact protection and a padded ankle area, reinforced gear-shift area and a nice reflective patch on the heel.

Spiritually, they are just beaut.

I even crashed in them when that cat-rapist nailed me on the Harbour Bridge and all that happened to the boot was a scuff mark on one of the aluminium clasps.

There has not been one lick of leather ointment applied to them, nor a single layer of polish.

They have been tested as given, without additives and enhancements and I beg to report the following with my hand on my heart:

These are great boots.
They still fit today, the way they fitted when I first got them.
The Velcro still grips strongly.
None of the stitching has frayed or split.
After about four million gear changes (I ride everyday) a small hole is finally appearing where your foot contacts the gear lever.
The sole has come away a very little bit from the upper on the left boot in one small area near the toe, but you've got to peer closely to notice it. A dab of glue would solve this in a trice.
Johnny Rebs only last me about nine months and cost $50 more with nowhere near the protection or ease of use on a bike -- especially on a sportsbike. Johnny Rebs are great on cruisers and not so great on other bikes.
I will buy my next pair because I think they are worth every cent of the asking price and I will put my money where my mouth is.

Check out the pictures I took of them the other day.

Not bad for boots that get worn to death every single day of the week.

Nice one, Joe Rocket -- and thanks, Geoff. You've made a believer of me.