FOX COMP 5 BOOT REVIEW

Beware that the sizes run small. Not only myself but every rider I have had come in has needed one size up. Once I got them on my first thought was how comfortable they are. They have a race-bonded-out sole that is individually moulded for each boot size. Usually with the motocross boots I’ve had in the past, they tend to take a bit of breaking in, but these were great from the get go. Looks The boots come in the common range of black or white and are the typical fox style with silver and red accents.

FOX COMP 5 SCORING BREAKDOWN

COMFORT

Beware that the sizes run small. Not only myself but every rider I have had come in has needed one size up. Once I got them on my first thought was how comfortable they are. They have a race bonded out sole that is individually moulded for each boot size. Usually with the Motocross boots I’ve had in the past they tend to take a bit of breaking in, but these were great from the get go. Looks The boots come in the common range of black or white and are the typical fox style with silver and red accents.

DURABILITY

The exterior is easily punctured, and the stitching did not hold up well. The leather has started to crumble away. This was a problem as it let water in, and like most boots, these take time to dry out. While that is not a problem if you are not riding every day, it can cause discomfort if you are riding for longer periods of time like I do. The other main problem is the soles. Only 1 year in I found myself stitching the soles back, which is far from ideal and should not be happening in a mid-range boot like this… however, considering the amount and conditions I have worn them.

The first thing I look at when purchasing boots is the buckle. The lightweight aluminium soft-touch pivot lock system on the Comp 5’s makes them easy to use and latch initially. However, once you get some mud in them, they become difficult to latch, which is not ideal for backcountry terrain. Another issue I found with the buckles is they tend to come loose and get lost while out on the trail.

AVAILABILITY OF REPLACEMENT PARTS

While Fox offers buckle repair kits, they do not come with the plastic adjusting catch, which was the first thing to come off and the only essential piece I needed to repair the boots.

PROTECTION

The boots are flexible, alarmingly so. You do get what you pay for, and in comparison to, say, the Alpinestars Tech 10, they do feel like they offer a lot less protection around the ankle or toes. For the sake of this review, I will admit that I did break my ankle out here in Cambodia a year or so ago… Of course we cannot know for sure, but I can’t help but wonder if my bone would still have shattered into a million tiny pieces if I was wearing the sturdy Tech 10s!

VALUE

Although they are in the mid-range price bracket, I was hoping for better durability. Running a tour business, I was hoping they would last a long time for our customers. So far I have been very disappointed with these boots… so is my ankle.

CONCLUSION

While I think these would be fine for someone who rides dirt roads occasionally, my advice for riders interested in hard and frequent riding looking at the Fox Comp 5’s is don’t. I would recommend the Alpinestars Tech 3s. They are in the same price range at $220 and provide a much better return for your investment. You can find my review of them here.