Alpinestars Faster 3 Rideknit Shoes

We tried on a selection of sizes in the Faster shoe and found them to fit true to size, so our advice is to choose the size you normally wear in street shoes. The width is “medium” or C/D.

Note: In past years, we found the Faster shoes to fit small by about one size, so we are pleased that these new Faster 3 shoes fit more true to size.

New for 2019 is a series of shoes called the Faster 3. These are available for both men and women and come in three version… a solid microfiber, a solid microfiber with a Drystar waterproof liner and finally a “rideknit” version built with breathable mesh material to make them comfortable in hot summer months. Here’s a rundown on the versions available:

The standard Faster 3: This shoe is an upgraded version of the Faster and the Faster V2 from years past. The upper material on this shoe is a solid microfiber material. It will be good for mild and dry weather use. Available in both men’s a women’s sizes/colors.

The Faster 3 Rideknit: The Rideknit in the name of this version refers to the breathable panels on the side of the shoe. Basically some of the solid microfiber is substituted with a sturdy breathable mesh fabric. Air blows literally right through the rideknit panels, so this version would be the choice for use in summer months and in dry weather (not waterproof). The Faster 3 Rideknit is available for men only.

The Faster 3 Drystar: A waterproof layer is added behind the solid microfiber upper in this boot to keep water from coming in around the shoe. The waterproof shoes don’t vent/breathe as well as the standard Faster 3 or certainly not as well as the Rideknit shoe, so choose this shoe if you think you’ll be riding in wet weather or if you want a more “airtight” shoe for cooler weather. Note: a relatively short shoes like this won’t keep your feet dry if water comes over the tops of the shoe, so the waterproofing ability is inherently limited by the height and will be much less effective than a taller waterproof boot. Available in both men’s a women’s sizes/colors.

The Faster 3 is a highly styled sport riding shoe. This design is based heavily on Alpinestar’s experience in race driving shoes, which you can see in the low profile design. I’ve tried on this “3” version as well as the previous versions and I find the innersole of these new boots to be thicker and more comfortable than the previous ones. The shoe is styled to make the sole look VERY thin, but they don’t feel that way wearing them. The overall comfort in wearing this shoe is excellent. The laces give ample adjustability and there is a strap at the top of the laces to help hold the laces in (away from moving parts). The insides of the boots are well padded and trimmed. I especially like how the back of the boot is deeply scalloped to make walking/shifting easy.

I’d characterize the overall protection scheme of this shoe to be “light”, but better than versions in the past. This is a highly styled sport shoe, so the sides of the boot wrap down to a thin sole, so they can’t provide the same protection that a more robust sole, meaning one that sticks out wider than your foot. The toe box is reinforced, but only about 1” back from the tip. On each side of the ankle, there is an embedded armor disc which will help absorb impacts that might hit the ankles from either side. The reinforcement around the heel area is definitely better than in past version and they’ve rolled the sole up the back of the heel cup to add a bit more beef. I’d say the heel and ankle areas are comparable to an average touring boot.

The Faster 3 line of shoes is somewhat unique in our lineup… they are one of many “shoe” styles, but one with very sporty styling where most of the other shoes are more casual. Please take the links below to view the sizes/colors of the other four versions for men and women. :: Paul, 04-03-19

Alpinestars says: Featuring new performance innovations adapted from decades of R&D experience in the highest level of motorsports, the Faster-3 Shoe utilizes a seamless knitted construction to create a riding shoe that is extremely lightweight and breathable and also boasts class-leading protective features, both inside and outside.