Helstons Osaka leather trainers in black

 

The chassis is leather. You get a waterproof membrane. Entry by means of both laces and a zip. Speed eyelets at the top. A padded cuff at the top of the shaft. A nicely padded lining. Extra panels of leather at the toe and the heel. Ankle protectors. Toughened counters in the toe and heel. A pull strap. A chunky, rubber sole. And so on.

 

That pretty much describes half the short biking boots out there.

 

One thing we're not massively impressed with is a row of stitching sewn into the boot's toe upper. This is meant to suggest a gear change pad, but there's nothing there; just a row of stitching. Really, what's that about.

 

So what causes the Osaka to stand out from the crowd? Why would you buy the Osaka over any other pair of similar-looking, trainer-style boots?

 

I think the only point we would make is that feel more robust, and look better made, than many such boots. They are weighty, they are solid, and they look as though they are going to be more protective than the boots out there that purport to do the same job.