In Gear: Alpinestars SMX-6 V3 Boot Review

The longstanding SMX-6 boot is the Italian firm’s jack-of-all-trades street-riding footwear and joined the brand’s ranks a little over a decade ago with a simple premise: Take race-derived safety features from the more track-focused Supertech R ($569.95) and SMX Plus ($469) models, then repurpose them into something that the everyman or everywoman rider can use in the real world. The result is a sporty set of kicks for general suitable for commuting, sport riding, sport-touring, and even track days.

With the SMX-6 V3 entering its third generation, as the name implies, there’s quite a lot of new ground to cover with these boots. Despite a host of changes, we need to highlight a wallet-pleasing highpoint about the latest iteration: Astars has maintained the current pricing structures, with the standard, vented, and Stella (female) options coming in at $299. Meanwhile, waterproof (Drystar or Gore-Tex) options have the same additional $45 and $75 cost, respectively, as before. Who doesn’t like getting a bit more for the same price?

The mission statement with the SMX-6 V3 is to bring its appearance, construction, and protection more in line with what we’d see in the upper echelon Supertech R and SMX Plus V2 boots, without forgetting its core role as a comfortable, street-friendly, and track-capable option.

To do that, Alpinestars redesigned the exterior, focusing on beefing up protection. That narrative begins with an elastic gaiter at the top to create a more seamless fit, whether you’re wearing a suit, leather pants, or riding pants (denim/textile). Sure, it’s a minor change, though one that has a mild functional benefit in that it manages to keep more debris out of your boot. You’d be surprised what makes it there after a long ride or track day.

Moving lower, we find a redesigned TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) shin plate that covers a larger surface area of the boot’s shaft, which should help deflect any impacts during mishaps. While it provides greater coverage and is more visually prominent when compared to its predecessor, Alpinestars designers maintained a lower profile for the express purpose of pulling jeans or riding pants over the boot. Of course, that will depend on your sizing and cut, though these boots should snuggle up under regular-fit, straight-leg riding pants.

Alpinestars has us covered once again where lateral and torsional movement is concerned, though we are seeing some updates in those areas, too. The calf support system has been redesigned, as has the heel cup, with aggressive styling cues. The shift pad extends further down the medial side of the boot, ponying up extra layers between you and the asphalt while creating a grippier surface for quick edge-of-the-boot gear changes. Still, the tactile feel is good even with sharper, machined shift pegs. Replaceable toe sliders are a sporty addition, and they’re restyled this time around. Interestingly, they’re backward compatible with the SMX-6 V2 since the same mounting system is used.

A refreshed TPU ankle brace is slightly larger than before, theoretically increasing reinforcement to that region and, importantly, adding critical biomechanical support to reduce unwanted flex side-to-side to potentially reduce serious injury. Meanwhile, thinner TPU protectors are layered near the inside of your ankle. However, they’re not quite as sturdy as what the SMX Plus V2 offers via its interior lacing system, nor the Supertech R with the incredibly supportive inner bootie.

That’s fair, as we’re trading mobility and comfort for the average rider. It’s a stretch to expect the same protection levels as the Supertech R, which is the highest protection in the brand’s arsenal, used by track day enthusiasts, racers, as well as a boatload of our favorite stars in the MotoGP World Championship, World Superbike Championship, and right here in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship. That’s not meant to create doubt but to provide some use-case context. Understand that the SMX-6 V3 is CE-certified to EN 13634:2017, just like the racier SMX Plus V2 and Supertech R boots.

Durable leather and plastic guards do the heavy lifting concerning abrasion and impact protection for this full-size boot. We should note for newer riders that reaching for a full-size boot affords ankle, calf, and shin protection that most riding shoes can’t provide due to their physical size – a few “high-top” riding shoes like the Alpinestars Superfaster do flirt with the idea. Ultimately, you’re getting a significantly higher protection level with these than you would with more casual options, and we encourage readers to consider that carefully.

An all-around sport boot will be worn in more places than the racetrack, so comfort is paramount. The Supertech R boots are also quite comfortable, though they’re far more complicated to put on and take off, while also being roughly a half-pound heavier than the equivalent-sized SMX-6 V3 moto-galosh. Nor is the brand’s premier roadracing boot quite as plush as these, which are designed with longer trips in mind.

Part of the SMX-6 V3 appeal is how easy they are to don or kick-off, making them easy to work with when getting to the office or maybe airing your dogs out between sessions during the summer. The expansive open/closure system is your typical Velcro flap with a zipper mounted via a stretch panel, like the Supertech R. It’s a great feature that helps those with bulkier calves cinch things up without a struggle. In addition, the Velcro flap is streamlined to prevent most hang-ups on rearsets. However, the fact that there is a seam from the Velcro means it isn’t as successful in that endeavor as the Supertech R, which features unobstructed microfiber material on the inner portion of the boot.

That comfort line of thinking continues when taking a gander at the new front and rear bellows, which ditched stiffer leather in favor of a soft TPU layered over textile material, said to bolster impact protection and abrasion resistance. The takeaway here is that the new rubberized zones encourage greater flexibility. That’s juxtaposed against a crush-proof sole with a shank that is sportingly stiff, without hindering feel through the foot controls.

So, we’re left with a reasonably flexible boot when walking or being active on the bike while still employing those crucial ankle-support systems mentioned earlier. As for outright comfort, they are on par with what we expect from Alpinestars in that the interior is plush and has a true-to-size fit and an average-width footbed. However, we’ll have to hold any opinions about ventilation, as we’ve been using them through the winter months here in California with a non-vented version.

Yes, choosing gear can be a bit of a chore, especially for those who aren’t into shopping. What helps is when you can reach for safety equipment capable of handling so many duties, making the SMX-6 V3 appealing to an everyman/woman rider. The ease of use and versatility and the $299 starting MSRP are appealing. Naturally, those who find themselves at track days or race weekends often would be better served with the Supertech R or SMX Plus V2, though that’s a narrow audience and comes at a higher cost. For the rest of us, we’re getting a solid amount of protection at a decent price.

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