WHAT IS IT? The RDX is the latest high-end motocross boot from O’Neal. It has all the bells and whistles of other top-of-the-line boots with a much lower price tag.
WHAT’S IT COST? $399.99.
CONTACT? www.oneal.com or (800) 326-6325.
WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with the O’Neal RDX boot. (1) Comfort. O’Neal really focused on comfort when developing the RDX boots. You can walk around in them all day without it taking a toll on your feet. Gel and latex memory foam surround your ankle, providing protection and extra comfort. A pivoting hinge system allows for smooth forward and rearward movement and increases torsional rigidity. Additionally, the hinge design makes it a breeze to break in the RDX boots. Testers felt at home in the O’Neal RDXs after the first ride. ( 2) Durability. The RDX boot is heavy-duty. The bonded sole is made from army rubber, which is durable, but not as grippy in muddy conditions as softer but less- durable soles. As with most hinged boots, the weight is on the high side. It’s the price you pay for added features like pivots, hinges, molded soles, full-length shanks and adjustable shin plates. Our size- 10 RDX weighed 4 pounds, 14 ounces on MXA’s scale. It was heavy, but we did appreciate the durability. We didn’t have any issues with the bonded, replaceable sole, which has a metal shank that extends the length of the boot for support. ( 3) Ratchet. The third buckle down on the boot has a unique ratcheting latch that allows the boot to be tightened by cranking the aluminum lever. This is a cool
feature, because it allows you to cinch the boot tighter without having to adjust the straps. The best way to secure the boot is to tighten down the ratchet first and then adjust the three conventional buckles. As with lots of high-tech buckles, we had some issues tightening the ratchet when dirt got caked on the strap. Otherwise, it was all good. We predict that more boot manufacturers will follow suit and incorporate ratchet systems into their boot designs. Why? Because they work. ( 4) Adjustments. O’Neal understands that not everyone has the same size feet or calves. Thus, the RDX can be customized with a three-position shin plate for different calf sizes. The shin plate can be moved upward to provide sufficient protection for taller riders. The RDX comes in whole sizes—from 7 through 13—with the added plus of a 10. 5. ( 5) Price. The RDX is a great buy in the high-end boot market. At $399.99, the RDX is significantly less than a Gaerne SG12, Sidi Crossfire 2, Fox Instinct or Alpinestars Tech 10. It is available in black or white. We love the white.
WHAT’S THE SQUAWK? We had two quibbles. (1) We’d like a grippier sole material. ( 2) We hope that designers can eventually find a way to keep all the cool bells and whistles but make the boots lighter.
The boot market has never been hotter, and the O’Neal RDX is going to put the heat on the other big-name boot companies.
MXA RATING
O’NEAL RDX BOOT
MXA TEAM TESTED
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