This year, I had the chance to try out a complete 509 set. Today, here is my impression of the 509 Raid boots. The trial model was a pair of all-black boots with traditional laces, but they are also available in black and white.
When picking up the boots, I can see right away that they are explicitly designed for off-trail use. The boot is, first of all, very rigid. It has good rubber protection on the top, at the back and on the sides of the foot to resist razor-sharp running boards. The boot is rigid, but not to the point where it’s hard to walk in. When the boots are fastened, they support my feet very well.
During my tests, I found the boot comfortable for long hours. I especially like the fact that the upper part of the boot is made of removable fabric. This allows for a seated position with the boot when riding long trails to the playground. The flap enables you to lean forward and have fluid movement. The rigidity of the boot helps me control manoeuvres when I’m standing on the snowmobile in deep snow. I found that the grip on the boot is not aggressive enough. In fact, the surface is too flat, especially when there is a lot of snow and ice forms on the running boards. The lugs are big enough, but not rugged enough to adhere well.
The boot still provides excellent support for my leg and holds my heel in place while moving from left to right on the snowmobile. I’m not usually a big fan of lace-up boots, especially when you’re having fun in deep snow, but the eyelet on the top of the foot allows you to tie them to the 509 pants with a strap.
The laces are well protected and do not get caught in the running board. The snow doesn’t go up in the boot, thanks to the eyelet system, which keeps my foot dry. Although these boots are not excessively warm because they are designed for off-trail use, my feet don’t freeze because I don’t sweat intensely in them. They evacuate sweat well.
All in all, this is a good quality boot that is made to last a long time. For those who would find that the boot isn’t tight enough with the laces, a similar Boa model is offered by 509. The latter is equipped with a fastening system with a steel cable and two fastening buttons at the boot’s top and bottom.
Many thanks to SledMagazine.com and 509 for this trial.
