Forma Swift Dry Boots

We tried on a selection of Forma boots here in the office and found the length to be about right. The width on the boots is a touch more wide than most other brands we carry. Alpinestars and TCX tend to be the most wide, but these might even be a touch wider. I’d say they are a D to E and might even work for somebody with a slightly wider foot (but don’t get carried away and think they are wide enough for a person needing a EEE or wider). So my advice would be to use the chart below to choose a size based upon your US shoe size.

Forma offers advice on choosing a size from your foot measurement. Here’s how:

1) Measure the overall length of your foot. Forma recommends placing your heel against a wall and measuring from the wall to the end of your longest toe.

2) Add 3/4” to the length of your foot

3) Using Forma’s sizing chart below, choose the smallest size boot with an insole measurement that is at least the length of your foot plus 3/4”.

Use Forma’s size selection method as a “second opinion”. Maybe you’ll find it reassuring if it matches your size choice based on street shoe size or, maybe it could be a tie breaker if you are undecided between two sizes. FWIW, Forma’s advice didn’t work for me since I have relatively short toes. I wear a 45 (known from trying on) and this method put me in a 42.

Forma’s Swift boots are new for 2021. This is a high top sneaker-style riding shoe. It is currently offered in two versions… the Swift Dry boot which has an integrated waterproof liner and a Swift Flow boot which is not waterproof and has venting features for use in hot weather. The Dry boot is available in both men’s and women’s sizes and the Flow is available only in men’s sizes. Take the links below to view the other versions.

The Swift Dry and Flow boots are made with a leather upper bonded to a reasonably dense rubber sole. Forma is one of the few manufactures of boots that use genuine leather and it’s one of the reasons I’ve always liked Forma boots. There are plenty of leather-like performance materials that look good and perform well, but I’m a little old-school and I like leather boots.

Like a lot of other riding sneakers like these, all these versions offer integrated armor units on each side of the ankle that are sandwiched between the outer leather and the inner liner, so you can’t see them, but you can feel them and they’ll provide a measure of protection against impact in that area. The heel surround and also the toe box are stiffened too. The sole has an integrated stiffener mid-way between the heel and the toe of your foot to keep the sole from bending when you apply weight on the pegs. The insides of the shoes are well padded with comfy 3D nylon and have a removable insole.

With the Dry version, you get an integrated waterproof liner. Of course with a shoe like this, you’ll need to wear long enough pants to cover the tops, otherwise water will come in. Also, the tongue is attached to the boot only to about the top of the foot, so avoid deep puddles too. The Dry version, having the waterproof liner will block wind and so therefore, plan on this version for climates with wet weather and cooler temps. The “Flow” version doesn’t have the waterproof liner and has some perforations on the leather to admit air flow. So choose the Flow boot for dry summer riding.

The Swift boot design will be very comfortable to wear for motorcycling, but nothing here screams “motorcycle” so you’ll be just a comfortable wearing them anywhere. :: Paul, 03-09-21