Cramster Boots: First impressions & details

Just to give you an idea of the size. That's my crash scuffed DMS Boot with the new Cramster (tall) model	Size reference 2
I artifically lightened the pic, which is why it looks odd. The two flaps can almost be operated independently. I use the zipper halfway when I need to tuck my riding pants in to allow adjustability	Same as pic on the left. But with the flaps open. Note that the zipper does not lock (like a trouser-fly zipper)
That's the toe slider. It's kind a big and pinches a bit at the trailing edge. But loosening that screw helped. Planning to loctite the screw down in that position. Problem solved	That's the toe slider assembly. The boot has a 'dock' stitched in with a brass (no rust) hole to screw into. Two tabs hold the slider in position and prevent you from mounting it back to front. I do wish the rear tab was a bit longer. It would have held the rear edge of the slider just a bit away from the boot and prevented it from pinching. No matter, I just cut away the offending material with a knife. Perfect!
Calf slider. Also screws in like the toe slider. But no tabs on the back, so a lose screw will allow/cause rotation	That's the shin protection. The material feels like rubber, but the padding isn't especially thick – allows movement but won't protect all that much, then
That's a detail of the toe slider mounting	That's the shift pad. It is an extra layer of leather (on both boots, so Bullet riders can be happy). But leather wears. So eventually there will be a discoloured, slightly worn spot here
A rubber heel cup rounds out the back of the shoe. Rubber feels better than the plastic cups that are the norm. The plastic ones cause your feet to slide around when you're resting on your heels – like at your office desk	Toe Slider detail

Now that you know the shoe (Previous post)intimately, let me tell you how it felt. And felt, come to think of it, is what the lining material seems to be. Cramster's official spokesman said that the boot was designed to be warm and water resistant with touring riders in mind. So the felt is warm, but not comfortably so. A liner-less boot is supposedly coming up soon, and will be lighter and cooler.

I got a size 44, which fits perfectly (allowing space for a thicker sock when I return to Leh or some such). So the sizing is pretty spot on. In feel, the boot feels most unlike a sport motorcycle boot. A full-on sport boot restricts movement somewhat, but in true touring fashion, the Cramster boot has no plastic hinderances, so it feels pretty much like a normal boot would. The sole is thicker than my all-out sport boots, but return a fair amount of feel.

Here's the thing. A friend of mine spent a full day locating a pair of tall boots and finally got a pair made from Nashik. Which look, um, all right (He's reading this... gotta be careful) and he paid Rs 5,000 for them. These boots had they been on sale back then, would have been perfect. At Rs 4,600 from the tall boot, this is actually great value.

Downsides? Yes there are a few.

• The toe slider's mouted a bit tall. I'm worried that when the time comes, the sole will grind down first, and the plastic toe slider later.
  
• The outer ankle bone is unprotected, although the inner one had a hard pad over it.
  
• I wish the shifter pad was moulded rubber or plastic

Suggestions

• If the toe slider mounting were bigger, it would have given the toe area more strength in a crash.
  
• The toe slider need not be this thick, really.
• A half zipper instead of a full length one, will give the top of boot more flexibility in fit terms
• Toe slider mounting should be lower. The bottom of the toe slider should clear the sole only by 5 mm or so
• Um, colours?