My gear closet is overflowing with motorcycle sneakers these days, but I’m not complaining. I’ve always been more of a sneaker than a boot guy, and finding motorcycle riding gear that fits my personal style while keeping me safe is always a win.
Lately, I’ve been putting miles into the Stylmartin Zed WP—a waterproof protective riding shoe that drips with the brand’s signature aesthetic.
Stylmartin’s particular flavor of Italian flair has been a hallmark of their designs since they launched in 1979, and the Zed WP wears it well. It’s styled like an upmarket hiking boot, with a water-repellent suede upper and a grippy-looking Michelin sole.
Admittedly, it’s not the type of shoe I’d normally wear casually. But once the friendly FedEx man rang my doorbell and I opened the box, I was pleasantly smitten.
The Zed WP’s suede finish looks and feels deluxe, with contrast stitching to accentuate its sleek lines. Reflective piping offers extra visibility in low light conditions, without screaming for attention the rest of the time, while a stitched ‘X’ at the edge of the eyestay adds a quintessential Stylmartin accoutrement. Even the laces are well-considered, sporting reflective accents that add a little pizazz.
Extra material at the front adds padding for gear shifts, while a Stylmartin roundel on the ankle hints at the D30 armor hidden within. (The whole package is CE Level 1 certified too, in case you’re wondering.)
Getting in and out of the Stylmartin Zed WP is made easier by a gusseted zipper on the internal side of the shoe. There’s enough play there that you can simply unzip the shoe and kick it off with the laces still tied, but you do need to untie them—and loosen them quite a bit—to get it on. A generous, easy-to-grab loop at the back aids the process.
A short hook-and-loop strap secures the zipper at the top, but there’s nothing to stop the laces from flapping around. It’s not a deal breaker, but a bigger strap across the front that could secure both the zipper and the laces would be even better. The zip can be sticky sometimes too, thanks to the natural contours of the shoe.
The Zed WP runs true to size and scores extremely high on comfort. The chassis is tangibly firmer than a pair of, say, tennis kicks, but in a way that feels reassuring rather than overly stiff. The padded leather section at the back is another neat touch that adds both style and comfort.
That balance of comfort and functionality carries through to the Zed WP’s sole too. The molded (and replaceable) insole is cushioned, with an EVA midsole sitting between it and the Michelin outer sole. The whole arrangement is rigid enough for hours on the pegs, but flexible enough for hours on your feet.
The fact that the tread of the Michelin sole vaguely resembles that of a tire is neither here nor there. What does count, is that it is extremely grippy—particularly in the wet conditions that this sneaker was designed for. I’ve put enough wet miles into the Zed WP to know that I can confidently stop at traffic lights without worrying about losing my footing.
The zipper gusset and tongue gussets are low profile enough that they don’t irritate you while riding, but effective enough that the Zed WP can shrug off rain as advertised. And while Stylmartin does have similar shoes for warm weather, the Zed WP is breathable enough for all but the hottest days.
Not too many pieces of motorcycle gear can juggle style and functionality as well as the Stylmartin Zed WP does. It’s fast become my go-to riding shoe for most conditions—to the point where I’m considering snagging its sibling, the Zed Air, for balmier days.
Price €199 [Stylmartin] / $229.95 [Revzilla] | Sizes 39 [US7] to 48 [US14] | Images by Devin Paisley
