This makes my 3rd set of Alpinestars Tech 7s. Still have one pair that are 10 years old.Benefits of this mid-range bootcomfortlongevityreplaceable solesqualityprotection If you are new to riding or a seasoned vet I would look into the Tech 7. Most comfortable boot straight out of the box. That nice fit would lead you to believe that it isn't that much in the protection department. After owning these over the years I can say they are very safe. They provide just enough ankle rotational stability but not to much like some others. The toe box is small but still protective. The buckles are the easiest to use I believe.The only down fall I have had is the ankle pivot rivet failed on me with the last pair. Alpinestar will not repair them. I found a video online that shows a repair. That I did over 5 years ago and they are still going.