Alpinestars Tech 1-T driving boots

Price: £179.95 

Contact: www.alpinestars.com

Serious about track driving or racing? Then you’ll want a pair of driving shoes. We’ve put Alpinestars’ new Tech 1-T boots through their paces.

Available in sizes four to 12, the shoes are easy to get on thanks to a low back and Velcro straps. They’re comfortable, too, plus the mesh sections help keep your feet nice and cool.

We tried the 1-Ts in a range of cars, and found them well suited to precision driving – even with our size 12 feet in some cramped pedal boxes.

We could easily hit the throttle without touching the brakes in the tight pedal area of a Porsche Boxster, and the padding around the heel meant it was simple to roll our feet between the pedals.

However, once we got out of the car, the bold red-and-white colour scheme of our test pair attracted some odd looks. Plus, the price is steep. We tried Piloti’s Prototipo shoes in Issue 1,138, and they offer similar functionality and comfort for £75. The 1-Ts are available in more than one colour scheme, but we think that the Prototipos look better.

Verdict

Rating: ★★★
What is it?
Alpinestars boots are great for driving, but come at a hefty price.
What's good?
Lightweight, choice of colours, easy to put on, breathable, comfortable and precise.
What's bad?
They don’t come cheap, colours are a little garish for wear when you’re away from the track.