We’ve had the Leatt 3.5 Junior boots on Jax for the past few months and they’ve quickly set a new benchmark for what a proper kids’ motocross boot should be. These aren’t toy boots or dress-up versions of adult gear, they’re the real deal, built with the same thinking that goes into Leatt’s adult range. Straight out of the box you can tell they’re serious: thick plastics, proper structure and protection in all the right places.
The tech inside backs that up. Leatt’s SlideLock closure system makes getting them on and off simple, while keeping the top of the boot properly sealed and secure. The flat inner side helps kids grip the bike better, and the shaped toe box makes shifting easier for smaller feet still learning their timing. Inside, the liner is plush and well-padded around the ankles, and the dual-zone sole gives good feel whether they’re riding on the arches or up on the balls of their feet. There’s also a steel shank in the sole for stability, which is something you normally only see in adult boots.
On the track, they feel like a scaled-down adult race boot, and that’s both a compliment and something to be aware of. Because they’re so well made and protective, they are quite stiff, and with Jax weighing about 30kg, it took a while for him to really break them in. They also come up the calf quite a bit for extra protection, which is great from a safety point of view but did take him a little time to get used to. Once they softened up, though, he was riding comfortably and with far more support than we’ve ever seen from a junior boot.
This is still our first proper test rather than a full long-term verdict, but from a protection and performance perspective, these are the best kids’ boots we’ve tested. If you want your young rider in something that offers real, adult-level safety and build quality, the Leatt 3.5 Jr is as good as it gets.
RRP: $349.99
WEBSITE: moto.leatt.com.au
