Richa Saturnus WP boots in black

As we have often stated, the motorcycle apparel business is not short of protective, ankle boots. And so, on one level, the Richa Saturnus is just like hundreds of other, similar-looking boots out there. 

 

I suppose what I would say is that the Saturnus feels a bit more robust and stronger than some. It certainly feels more like a proper, motorcycle boot than a trainer that is trying to pass for a motorcycle boot. It's a very solid affair, with a super-strong sole that's as strong as any we've come across on a boot of this type.

 

The chassis is a Nubuck-style material, although this is interspersed with other panels of synthetic material in various places. There's an extra layer of leather down the outside of the foot and, as you would expect, you get a moulded gearchange pad on the inside edge.

 

There are toughened counters in the toe and heel, whilst the ankles are protected with D3O pucks. It's not absolutely clear from Richa's description of the boot's features, but it is very much implied that the have a shank in the sole. And certainly its rigidity suggest that this might be the case. The sole itself, aside from being very rigid, has a grippy bottom. Richa describe the sole a wear resistant, but then again I have never heard any manufacturer suggest that the sole on one of its boots wears out quickly! Oh, and you get a reflective insert in the heel.

 

The boot has a waterproof membrane, as indeed most short boots do. It's not Gore-Tex, but we rarely have any waterproofing issues with Richa's products. Of course, what you have to accept is that a short boot is never going to be as waterproof as a tall one. And that's because as the rain bounces off the road it will more easily find its way over the shaft of a shorter boot. No specific issues with the Saturnus here, but you probably need to know this.

 

So, in all respects, the Saturnus is like many a short, motorcycling, ankle boot. But its USP, as the marketing wonks are wont to say, is that it comes with a BOA-style, lacing system. And this we really love. It's the system used on one of our favourite boots, the Outlander boot from Klim. It is so easy and simple to use, there's no messing about with laces. You release the knob by turning it anti-clockwise, then you push the tongue forward, and step in. To tighten the boot, you just turn the knob clockwise. And its infinitely adjustable; so easy to use. When you want to get out of the boot, a half turn in the opposite direction and the mechanism is released. You can just step out of them.

 

Listen, we all grew up with laces. And they work, of course, but winding-wire systems like this a better, easier-to-use and more reliable. The first question everybody ever asks is whether the system can be relied upon. Well it can be. And a lot more so than a pair of laces. This is the future. Laces are just so old hat!