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Welcome to my Alpinestars Faster 3 review. I have been using these motorcycle riding shoes for commuting since the start of 2022. If you are considering purchasing the Faster 3 shoes, then you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive into the review.
Key points
- Comfortable: The shoe wears like a set of high-top sneakers, albeit a bit stiffer. I can wear them all day long both on and off the bike with no discomfort whatsoever.
- Practicality: I wanted a shoe that gave me protection while motorcycle riding but with a style that doesn’t look out of place in the office. The practicality offered by the Faster 3 shoes is hard to beat.
- High Quality: Alpinestars rarely drops the ball when it comes to quality. There’s a reason why their gear is the choice of many professional racers — it’s built solid & built to last.
- Good Protection: With CE-certified protection, TPU ankle support shank, TRP toe box and TRP heel counter, the Faster 3 shoe is built to protect your feet. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more protective shoe.
Why bother owning a set of motorcycle riding shoes?
I use my KTM RC 390 to commute into the city every so often where I work at one of my client’s offices. Wearing a set of full motorcycling boots not only looks silly — it’s downright uncomfortable. That’s why I decided to purchase a set of motorcycle riding shoes.
Why don’t you just wear a set of sneakers you say? Let the video below answer that question…
Herein lies the market that bike riding shoes serve – a shoe that you can wear all day while keeping your feet in one piece in case you bin it.
How protective are the Faster 3s?
I hope the video above convinced you as to why you shouldn’t be riding your bike in old gym sneakers.
That begs the question – just how protective are the Faster 3s compared to regular shoes?
Here’s a list of all of the main protective features:
The upper material is made of seamless microfiber that is thermo welded for added durability
The ankle and heel area is made out of hardened TPU material
Strategically positioned TRP toe sliders protect the side of your outer foot in case you make contact with the road
Dual-density ankle protectors between the shoe upper and lining padding help provide further rigidity and protection
An asymmetric upper toe box adds rigidity to the part where your shoe meets the shifter
Integrated support shank that spans the length of the sole which prevents buckling under excessive torsion
CE certified to EN 13634:2017
As you can see, the shoe offers a considerable amount of protection over a standard shoe. One of the reasons why I chose the shoe is it’s one of the only ‘street’ style riding boots that come with CE certification.
Construction & design
On top of the protective features, the Faster 3 is made out of premium materials with intelligent design cues to aid rider comfort.
The boots’ upper makes generous use of microfiber and knitted mesh, allowing for plenty of ventilation. This continues down into the lower tongue which is also made of knitted mesh. Alpinestars has also installed air vents on the lateral and front areas to help air pass through the boots.
On the inside, the boot makes generous use of 3D padded mesh lining that helps to form your foot. There’s anti-slip micro-suede in the heel to give you more stability while riding. Even with all of the protective features, the pair of boots remain remarkably lightweight.
Sizing & comfort
I bought these boots blind off the internet without trying them on beforehand. In hindsight, I should have gone into a shop and tried them on first. I’d say these boots run half a size smaller than my regular sneaker size. I’ve also noticed the boots are rather narrow which may be an issue for those who have wider feet.
With the above said, the boot is surprisingly comfortable. With the flat and thin sole, they feel like an extremely rigid version of Converse Chuck Taylors.
On the point of rigidity, I think Alpinestars has found the perfect balance between rigidity and comfort. In comparison, I own a pair of SMX V6 full race boots which are extremely rigid and not that comfortable when compared to the Faster 3s. With that said, the rigidity actually makes me feel more confident on the bike.
What are they like to ride in?
If you have never ridden in dedicated motorcycling boots then you are missing out.
The first thing you noticed is the crisp and confident feeling you get when shifting through your motorcycle’s gears. The reinforced upper toe section makes your shifts feel planted and solid.
Next, you’ll notice how comfortable your feet sit on the footpegs thanks to the thin and flat sole. Speaking of which, the sole is clad in high grip rubber with a tread pattern similar to a sports tyre — a very nice touch.
The lace-up design may polarise some riders. For one, it makes it quick and easy to slip the boot on and off. On the other hand, having laces dangling around your bike’s mechanical running gear can be a safety hazard. Alpinestars has thought of this however with the TPR hook and loop strap that goes over the front of the lace section. You can secure your laces by wrapping the strap over them so they don’t get in your way as you ride.
Personally, I am not a fan of low cut-out behind your Achilles. If you like to ride with your motorcycle pants tucked into your boots, then you’ll find that your pants will slip out at this part. Alpinestars did this to make it easier to move around on bikes. In particular, those with aggressively high foot pegs. However, I would prefer it if the cut was not there.
What is the price?
At the time of writing, the Faster 3 retails for a price of $199 AUD.
Alpinestars Faster 3 Review Conclusion & Worthy alternatives
Alpinestars faster 3 rideknit: The Faster 3 rideknit shoes make generous use of proprietary microfiber material offering superior durability and abrasion resistance. The Faster 3 rideknit retail price is about $30 more than the standard Faster 3 pair.
So there you have it, that’s my Alpinestars Faster 3 Review. What are your thoughts? Would you consider purchasing the boot? Let me know in the comments below.
Faster 3 Size Chart
Alpinestars Faster 3
The Alpinestars Faster 3 is a comfortable and practical every day motorcycle riding shoe. With CE-rated protection & high quality construction, the product is built to keep your feet protected over many miles of use.
Product SKU: 2510219-10-6
Product Brand: Alpinestars
Product Currency: AUD
Product Price: 199
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.5
Alpinestars Faster 3 Review: Best Motorcycle Shoe?
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I have this shoe, but the review misses the TRUE nature of the CE rating. There are FOUR areas of safety (height, abrasion, cut through and transvers ridgity) and a rating of 1 or 2, 2 being better. Without those four ratings, you really, and that includes me, have no real idea how good this shoe is.
I crashed with this shoe and the bike was on my foot. Is is black and blue fromthe bottom to above my mid calf. Would it have been far worse with a sneaker? Hell yes. But it could have been better, too. The ridgity of the sole did keep my foot from being broken, but the farther you go from the sole, the less the crush protection and it shows on my foot. A CE transverse ridgity rating of 2 might have helped.
I will no longer buy a MC boot and not get the TRUE CE ratings for the four tested areas. Why should you? This review isn’t done yet in my opinion.
Thank you for sharing your experience and insights. Your points about the CE rating are valuable and highlight the importance of understanding all aspects of safety certification. It’s clear that while the Alpinestars Faster 3 shoes provided some protection, there are areas for improvement, particularly in terms of crush protection. That’s why I personally wear full length motorcycle boots for any extended riding for those exact points you raised. I hope your recovery is swift, and thank you for contributing to the discussion on motorcycle safety gear.