In researching last issue's
Cold Weather Gear Guide, I went through a long list of boot manufacturers to unearth the few that carried insulated footwear (and that's not counting the ski companies). But I drew a blank when the good folks at Cima, Intl., asked me if I'd like to try a pair of Forma boots. The $299 Sonic Winter boots were insulated and besides, they had the word "winter" in the model name, so I figured there was something to them.
Turns out Forma is a well-established motorcycle footwear firm that's been doing business around the world for years now, primarily in the roadracing, touring and motocross end of the market. And now, the Italian-based manufacturer and distributor is making its move into the States with a small selection of touring and off-road boots.
When I first got the Sonics, my first impression was that they sure looked the business, sporting a tough leather upper that reached nearly over the calf and sporting toe reinforcement as well as shin plates and ankle guards. I had to admit the cut of them looked European, but then I put them on and felt the love. Though the leather uppers were smooth, I wouldn't use the word 'supple' as an adjective here -this is not fashion leather, but supportive and protective - tough stuff, in other words.
What really sold me was the instant comfort I felt when I put them on - I didn't have to gooseleg it around the house like Frankenstein for days, waiting for the leather to loosen up and break in. The Sonics felt lighter than they looked, and I was walking around comfortably within an hour or so. A pretty nice surprise.
Further helping my callus-ed cause was the anti-shock EVA midsole, which did a nice job keeping things fairly well padded down below. I'd read the boots came with an Air Pump in the sole as well, which conjured up visions of that nutty Reebok craze from 20 years back.
The Air Pump, turns out, has nothing to do with an inflatable system - it's simply the way the replaceable footbed and the underlying sole is designed to passively move air around. In any case, it does keep your feet decently ventilated, especially considering there's a layer of waterproofing as well as insulation within.
Pulling the Sonics on for the first time takes a little patience, only because the process is a bit different than the usual pull-and-stick. You slip your foot in, then tighten the interior laces - yep, laces - to cinch the waterproof gusset snugly around your leg. Once the laces are tight, you pull the velcro-tabbed leather upper tightly around and against your leg before you secure it down against the other velcro patch on the boot's instep and upper calf. The front external velcro closures -there are two - grip each other quite determinedly.
It's a little finicky the first few times, but once you figure out what constitutes a good fit for you, it's a cinch. By weekend's end, I was getting them on and off in no time. And because they were so comfortable both on and off the bike, I didn't even pack a second pair of casual shoes.
The Sonics kept my feet warm and dry throughout the cold riding months of February and March, the proprietary waterproof and breathable DryTex liner working in concert with the internal WinTherm insulation- laminated directly to the DryTex tubular liner - surprisingly well. According to the literature, the WinTherm uses aluminized fibers to reflect body heat back to the source and sure enough, I found my toes stayed pretty toasty over 4,310-foot Siskiyou Summit, the tallest point along I-5, even in late February (just make sure you wear appropriate socks too).
Conversely, the insulation can create uncomfortably warm conditions if you wear the Sonics during an unexpected Southern California heat spell. But then , they are winter boots...
Another plus for the Sonic boot was its oil-resistant rubber outsole. When I'm putting my paw down at a stop light, I can't stress enough how much I absolutely demand a direct, solid connection to the asphalt - I don't care what bike I'm on. Gravel can be a very painful road obstacle if your shoe doesn't manage to stick to it, and I'm happy to report that the Sonics' tread pattern proved nice and grippy, always giving me the confidence to plant my foot and lean the bike at a stop.
The rest of the Sonics' feature list is fairly standard - or should be standard - for most touring boots. The front of each boot's toe box is stiffened for added protection and there's an additional plastic patch to reinforce the top of the toe against the gear shift lever. There's also molded plastic shin and ankle protection, for which I was supremely grateful when the log truck in front of me on I-5 began spewing branches toward my legs. In sum, I'll probably be reaching for the Forma Sonic boots the next time a long, cold roadtrip is on my itinerary. And I have a feeling that'll be pretty soon.