Frey Daytona Ladystar GTX Boots: Solid Performance on Solid Ground

I confess to a weakness for beautiful, high quality motorcycle gear.  My closet is overflowing because I’m always in search of the perfect jacket or helmet for women -- beautiful as well as protective.  I have three pairs of boots, but there’s really no need.  For every ride, I consistently choose the same pair – my Frey Daytona Ladystars.

I’m 5’3” with a 29” inseam, and was initially drawn to the Ladystars because they promise to add at least an extra three-quarter inch of height in the heel with a slight lift in the toe, but here’s the truth: these handmade German boots are fantastic for all riders.  In fact, the make the exact boot for men, rebadged as the M boot.  Exceptionally comfortable both on and off the bike with no break in period necessary, they are also guaranteed to be waterproof, thoughtfully designed for a customizable fit, and engineered for safety.  Top-quality materials and workmanship mean these boots will last for years; friends tell me they’ve worn theirs for over five years.  I've been wearing mine for about six months now, covering about 7,000 miles, without any signs of wear (well, they could use some polish).

Despite stiff armor in the ankle and tongue that protects the shin, the Ladystars are as comfortable as street boots.  There are two zippers, with the outside zipper opening almost to the toe box, making it easy to take them on and off. This opening also helps accommodate an extra insole, if you desire.  (I initially inserted a molded insole for a little extra height, but eventually discarded it because it cramped my toes a bit.  However, I was unable to use the insole with my Oxtar boots because the Oxtar zip was too short for access to the toe area).  Both zippers are covered with leather flaps secured by Velcro, keeping them weatherproof and allowing for some adjustment.  What really aids in customizing the fit, though, are the two extra Velcro panels at the back of the calf.  This level of customization allows me to wear the Ladystars with everything from jeans to over-the-boot leathers and chaps to racing leathers.

The Ladystars have a large reflective patch on the rear for added visibility.  But the soles of these boots are the most important safety feature. The rubber is oil and gas resistant, so when you put your foot down you’ll make good contact with the pavement.

The Ladystars’ claim to fame is the promise of added height in the heel and toe. Unless you’re a Harley fan, shorter riders like me often struggle to get a toe on the ground, much less flat-foot a bike.  People tell me there is no need for a rider to touch the ground, but I’ve never known exactly what they mean -- especially at an off-cambered stop sign or when stuck in stop-and-go freeway traffic.  Over the years, I’ve installed adjustable lowering links, used a custom Corbin seat featuring their “nose job”, and changed shocks on my bikes.  But one advantage of the Ladystars is they can be used on any bike – this makes life easy!  My one wish would be to have the boots offer more than three-quarter inch height; if that happened, I’d run right out and grab the Triumph Street Triple of my dreams.

So what’s not to love?  The price.  Over the years, the price of the Ladystars has crept up.  When I purchased them several months ago, I paid $399.00 plus tax and shipping.  Currently at $449.95, Helimot is the exclusive US distributor; that means you won’t find any online deals (www.Helimot.com).  And if your size is not in stock, you may wait several months to receive your boots.  But before you choke on the price, consider this: you may not need lowering links or a shorter shock, the Ladystars transfer to any bike, you can skip the custom seat, and they fit with any pants.  You’ll spend some cash on any boot, so the difference between an average boot and the Ladystar may not be significant.  I absolutely love my Ladystars.  I’ve worn them on multiple-day trips, they’ve seen extreme temperatures -- I’ve even run in them when helping a friend bumpstart a dead bike -- and I always have happy feet.  And happy feet make a happy rider.  Can you put a price on that?