Daytona Road Star / Pro review | Eight-year boot test

Date reviewed: June 2025 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: £469.99 | bikerheadz.co.uk

I photographed the Daytona Road Star boots on review here just before uploading the review, so you might be surprised to learn that they were eight years old in June 2025. That’s eight years of all-weather riding and – I’m ashamed to say but let’s pretend it was for science – pretty much no care or maintenance until last week.

I’ve worn these boots on too many bikes to remember, in multiple countries, in all weathers and on road and track. This is why I turned down the offer of a new pair…

These boots are eight years old…

Construction and features

Daytona boots are hand-made in Germany with an extremely high-quality construction of a hydrophobic cowhide leather upper and Gore-Tex waterproof membrane. Both feet have plastic gear-selector panels (you might be on a classic bike), and while I’ve only used the one on the left, it still looks exactly the same as the one on the right.

The Gore-Tex membrane comes all the way up to the tops of the boots (in some others it starts lower down), and the rim is soft, comfortable fabric. Reflective panels are built into the heels.

From left to right: New pairs of Daytona Road Star Pro 43 wide, Daytona Road Star 43 extra wide, Daytona Road Star 44 wide

Are Daytona Pro boots worth the money?

I have the ‘normal’ Daytona Road Star GTX boots, which are currently still available in the extra-wide fit for £460.00. The rest of the Road Star sizes are now covered by the Daytona Pro range, which is exclusive to the UK. I got them all in the studio to compare with my old pair and found that the Pros are what I’d describe as an evolution of the ‘standard’ boots. Both versions come with a two-year Gore-Tex waterproofing warranty, but there are some differences…

• Three year manufacturing warranty on the Pros, one year on the standards (but mine are eight years old and still going strong)

• Pros have a ‘new petrol- and oil-resistant sole’

• Pros thicker shin & ankle impact protectors

• The Pros are a little taller than the standards

• Pros have a more subtle design that’s exclusive to the UK.

On the left is the Road Star Pro 43 wide, on the right is the Road Star 43 extra wide (non-Pro)

The difference in height between the Pro and the standard boots is small, but it’s interesting to see the evolution over time; compared to my eight-year-old Road Stars, the new standard boots are a little taller themselves.

When I first got my Road Stars in 2017 they cost £399.99. The standard boots currently retail at £460.00 and the Pros are £469.99. Overall the construction is basically the same, with some refinements to things like the shin and ankle impact protection, which is said to mitigate about 1kN more energy in the EN13634 test standard, and a new sole that’s said to be the best one offered by Daytona. The non-pro sole is made of polyurethane, so is likely petrol- and oil-resistant to some extent.

New vs old: On the left is the new Road Star Pro 43 wide, on the right is my eight-year-old Road Star 43 wide before I cleaned it

The point is that the Pro boots are only slightly more expensive than the normal ones, and £399.99 in 2017 is the equivalent of £532.94 with inflation. The design and construction of the Road Stars didn’t need changing, so a natural evolution is all we’d want. If you’re thinking of buying some Daytona Road Stars and have extra-wide feet, you won’t be disappointed with the fact that they’re currently not available in the Pro version; the differences are that minimal.

Fastening

The fastening method of the new Daytona Pro Road Stars is exactly the same as my older ones, with a zip on both sides of each boot that allows you to open them up fully and easily slip your foot in.

Two chunky pull tabs feature on the self-locking zips, which are hidden under Velcro-secured leather flaps.

I never did anything to maintain the zips over eight years, though keeping them clean with fresh water is all you might need to do. If necessary they could be lubricated with a little silicone oil, but mine still work perfectly.

On the right is the certification label found in current Daytona Road Stars and Road Star Pros, while on the left is the label in my old pair

Protection and certification

My old Daytona Road Stars were certified to the EN13634:2010 standard, achieving the higher Level 2 for impact abrasion resistance and impact cut resistance, and the minimum requirement of Level 1 for transverse rigidity, which is the boot’s resistance to getting squashed when it’s on its side trapped under a bike.

The new normal and Pro boots are both certified to the latest EN13634:2017 test standard, and have the numbers 2222 on the CE safety label, which means that:

• The Road Stars are a tall boot (ankle-height boots only get a 1 as the first number)

• They score the highest Level 2 in impact abrasion resistance

• They score the highest Level 2 in impact cut resistance

• They score the highest Level 2 in transverse rigidity

So, we can see already that the newer normal and Pro versions of the Daytona Road Stars are potentially safer than the older model I have, but they also carry the following acronyms on the label:

• WR meaning they’ve been tested and certified as water resistant

• IPA meaning they’ve been tested and certified for impact protection at the ankles

• IPS meaning they’ve been tested and certified for impact protection at the shins

This is the highest level of protection I’ve seen on any boots I’ve tested in almost 30 years, so to also feature on something so comfortable and easy to wear is very impressive.

Remember that, while my old boots aren’t the Pro versions, both the normal and Pro Daytona Road Stars now both achieve these extremely high levels of protection.

From April 21 2018, all new motorcycle clothing is deemed to be Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). To meet this legislation, it must be tested to a recognised standard. For more information on the new laws, click here.

Comfort & fit

Comfort and fit is extremely subjective of course, but given the sizes available anybody should be able to find a perfect Daytona Road Star…

Mine old pair are a size 43 L (wide fit) and feel like putting on a pair of slippers now. I wear size 43 trainers, but usually have to go up to a 44 in pretty much all motorcycle boots to get the width I need. In some cases I even have to go to a 45.

Daytona’s UK importer BikerHeadz sent me a 43 L Pro (wide), 43 XL (extra wide) and 44 L Pro (wide) to try on as part of this review. The extra-wide XLs were perfect from the off, though I’d likely have gone with the wide Ls as I know the leather uppers can give over time. The 44 Ls were noticeably too big for me, which just shows how well-sized the Daytonas are.

Besides the usual ‘medium’ size, Daytona also offers a slim-fit version of the Road Stars, which aren’t carried in UK stores but are available as a special-order from your local retailer through the distributor.

Currently, the Daytona Pros are available in size 41 (UK 7) to 47 (UK 12) in UK stores, but as Daytona makes them in Germany from 36 to 51, other sizes should be available by special order – check with your retailer.

There’s also a ‘Lady Star Pro GTX’ for £469.99 in sizes 36 (UK 3.5) to 39 (UK 6), which has a 25mm rise in the heel and 8mm in the toes, and an ‘M Star Pro GTX’ with the same lift in the sole but in men’s sizes 40 (UK 6.5) to 45 (UK 10).

The Daytona Road Stars also have a large Velcro panel on the rear that allows adjustment of the calf size.

Sole & grip

While it has worn down – especially at the outside edges due to the way I roll my feet – the heavily-used sole on my eight-year-old Daytona Road Stars still has a good amount of grip on it and doesn’t feel like it’s got slippery.

Hot and cold weather use

With no ventilation ports, the Daytona Road Stars can get warm in the summer, but the breathable leather (as long as you look after it properly) doesn’t get too bad.

When it gets really hot I tend to wear ankle-height bike boots with a pair of jeans, but the Road Stars are all-year-round touring boots that can do it all if you want them too…

Waterproofing

The Daytona Road Stars have kept my feet dry through some epic rainstorms over the years. Before re-treating these boots (see below) I did try submerging them for an extreme test, and water got in. It wouldn’t surprise me if after many tens of thousands of miles – and plenty of use off the bike too – the Gore-Tex membrane was struggling, but after refreshing them with the Daytona cream and adding some Nikwax footwear reproofer, the water really does flow straight off the leather again – even when immersed there’s no sign of water inside and the water just runs away as I take them out.

Before and after: How a few minutes work can bring old boots back to life

How to care for your boots

It’s really important to use the correct treatment on motorcycle boots, and not just because Daytona wants to sell you its products.

I spoke to Al Lui, an independent leather repair expert who’s worked with motorcycle kit for many years: “Keeping your feet dry isn’t just a matter of encasing them in a plastic bag,” he told me. “Water wouldn’t get in, but your sweat also wouldn’t get out, so you’d end up with damp feet anyway.

“Bike kit has to be breathable, which means rain drops need to be kept at bay while warm vapour from your skin can get out. Modern waterproof membranes like Gore-Tex can do this well, as long the path out isn’t blocked; if your boots are dirty they can’t breathe. And it doesn’t have to be as obvious as being caked with a thick coating of mud: road grime builds up over time and blocks the pores and fibres of leather and fabrics.

“The outer on any water-resistant kit will have a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating that stops it from getting soaked with water, but on bike kit especially, it’s important that these treatments don’t completely seal the outer surface or the membrane beneath again won’t be able to breathe.”

So, not only should you keep your bike kit clean, you also mustn’t use any oil- or wax-based products that can clog or saturate the fibres in fabrics and leather.

Al uses Nikwax, but does recommend that you check what the boot or garment manufacturer recommends.

Don’t just use random products, shoe polish or ‘hacks’ people have claimed to have found on social media as some could be damaging to the membrane underneath. Some solvent-based proofers, for instance, aren’t designed to work with membranes and could be a real problem.

“If you’re riding in monsoons all the time, you might be thinking about a dense proofer like like Duck Wax or Dubbin,” says Al, “but this will clog the fibres and impact breathability. I wouldn’t use this on an expensive, quality piece of kit.”

ALWAYS check what your boots’ manufacturer recommends for cleaning and re-proofing as nubuck leather requires different treatment to a more traditional finish.

Here’s how to care for your motorcycle boots:

These are my TCX Drifter, which were filthy with caked-on mud and grime

Clean your boots by first removing dust and dirt with plain water and a cloth or shoe brush. DO NOT use a pressure-washer as that can make leather brittle, damage stitching and harm the membrane. A damp cloth should be all that’s needed to clean your boots.

Salt from your sweat can also cause problems, so remove the innersoles and give the insides a clean with a warm, damp cloth.

If you need to get oily dirt off or other stubborn grime then you might need to use a specialist product like Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel.

Let your boots dry naturally, out of sunlight and away from direct heat (if they’re soaked after some really bad conditions then pack them with newspaper).

My Daytonas were very scuffed and worn, but the Daytona Lederschwärze / Black Refresher cream made them look like new. I was extremely impressed with this, and it’s easy to apply by just wiping on with the sponge applicator, leaving to dry then polishing with a shoe brush or cotton cloth.

It’s only available in black, and be careful as until it’s dried and you’ve polished it the black can come off on your fingers and anything else you put the boots on. This cream isn’t something you should need to use too often, and regular care should mean the boots won’t get in as much of a state as mine!

Daytona has its Aqua Stop Reproofer, or Nikwax has a Fabric and Leather Footwear Proofer that’s recommended for Gore-Tex and other membranes. There’s also a version for Nubuck and Suede.

When applying this to my Daytonas straight after the Black Refresher cream it seemed unnecessary, but as part of regular maintenance it’s a useful tool.

Keeping the leather on your boots supple is important and will have them looking a lot better for a lot longer if you do it every few months or so. Daytona offers a Special Leather Cleaner cream that polishes off when dry, or try Nikwax’s Conditioner for Leather, which goes onto clean, wet leather and is used instead of its Fabric and Leather proofer.

Three alternatives to the Daytona Road Star / Pro boots

Three alternative items (ideally those which have reviews of) which are similar in style, but have some key differences. Try to cover a range of prices and highlight the benefits and/or drawbacks of each.

• Altberg Roadrunner, £469.99 | Custom fitted and made in the UK, the Altbergs can also be considered a long-term investment. You’ll have to wait 8-12 weeks to get them, and while they meet the highest test standards they don’t have the additional impact ratings of the Daytonas. Fully repairable if they ever need it, our tester was very impressed. Read the full review of the Altberg Roadrunners here.

• Alpinestars RT-7 Drystar, £239.99 | The motorcycle riding instructor who tested these boots for us was extremely impressed with how comfortable and durable they are. It’s a shame they haven’t achieved higher protection levels, but they still impress. Read the full review of the Alpinestars RT-7 Drystars here.

• Richa Apollo, £149.99 | The highest levels of protection at a relatively affordable price, they even have certified ankle impact protection. Waterproofing isn’t certified but these are a great value pair of touring boots. Read the full review of the Richa Apollo here.

These are just three of many alternatives – you can find all the boots we’ve tested here and a guide to the best motorcycle boots here. Be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership too.

Daytona Road Star review: Verdict

There’s no denying that the Daytona Road Star boots are expensive, but if you ride through all weathers and want a very well-made, comfortable pair of extremely protective motorcycle touring boots then they could well be worth the investment.

My Daytonas are eight years old as I write this, which means they’ve given me £50/year value so far. I had the new versions in to try for size so I could review a more up-to-date pair, but having seen how little they’ve changed I was able to update this review and send them all back to the importer with my gratitude, but saving them the budget as I reckon there are plenty more years left in these still.

If you’re thinking about buying the Daytona Road Stars, they come highly recommended and with the confidence that they’ll give you many years of value…

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