Forma Phantom boot review - perfect for road and track with aggressive looks and tons of protection

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I’ve been wearing these Forma Phantom motorcycle boots for around 1500 miles of sporty road riding – using them both with leathers, and under riding jeans. I’ve not yet had chance to ride with them on circuit, but I’m hopeful to do so in the coming months.

I’ve tested a wide range of sports boots in my time with MCN, including Forma’s own £269.99 Ice Pros, which I wore for two race meetings plus a spot of flattrack, and loved them to bits.

I awarded them four out of a possible five stars and couldn’t wait to get stuck in with the Phantoms – drawn in by their aggressive looks and colourful yet subtle patterns.

Retailing at around £316.99, they are undeniably expensive, and likely to be a bit overkill for someone riding solely on the road, but this price is partially justified by its impressive safety standards and fabulous build quality.

Are the Forma Phantom boots comfortable? 3/5 

The Forma Phantoms feature an internal soft boot for your foot to slip into, which is then secured with an elasticated fastener. The outer boot is secured with a zip on the outer edge of your leg, plus an upper ratchet around the shin.

They hold your feet in place nice and securely and give off the impression that they could take a hefty whack and keep you protected – a theory I’ve fortunately not had to test. The upper ratchet can sometimes take a few shoves to lock onto the tooth you want though with your leg inside.

For all this security, they can also feel a little too stiff – especially when you’re moving around off the bike. Other options I’ve tested, such as Gaerne’s GP1 Evo race boots are so comfortable I barely notice I’ve got them on – something that can’t be said for these Formas.

What’s more, the inner boot combination can also make them a bit awkward to wear when tucking my leathers in – with the base of the trouser leg sometimes bunching up the fabric inside and causing discomfort.

On more than one occasion I’ve fastened them up, taken a step, and then sat back down and re-adjusted to a more comfortable position before jumping on the bike.  

They’re nicely ventilated though without being too cool for an English Spring day on the road, and once you’ve got your leathers set in the right place, they are comfy enough on the bike to leave on for hours at a time.

Do they look good? 4/5 

I’m a big fan of the looks of these boots – it’s one of the things that drew me to them in the first place. This black, red, and grey design is by far my favourite of the colour options, but I would normally gravitate towards options with a little more white panelling if available.

One of my favourite features is the front tiger-like pattern running down the base of the shin and onto the upper foot. The understated colours also mean they match a wide variety of motorcycle types and liveries.

• Related: The latest motorcycle reviews by MCN

Are the Forma Phantoms good quality boots? 4/5 

The quality is up there with some of the best boots I’ve sampled. But then they should be when they’re so expensive to buy. Anything less would be unacceptable for the money.

I’ve covered around 1500 miles so far in my pair and they still look brand new – with only the discolouring of the white rubber soles against the footpegs suggesting they’ve been worn.

The construction feels dependable and secure without being bulky and I’m confident they will stand the test of time, should you decide to invest.

This is further backed up by my previous experience with the Forma Ice Pro race boots, which put up with thousands of miles of abuse, before being passed on to a relative for plenty more all-weather usage.

What about protection? 5/5 

This is something I can’t fault with the Forma Phantoms and – while I’ve not had to test it – they give off the impression that they would stand up to a slide well.

They are CE certified and score the maximum level two ratings across the board for protection. I’d feel confident wearing them on the road and on a racetrack, with your feet and ankles held in a secure position without feeling claustrophobic.

Are these boots good value? 4/5 

The Forma Phantoms are expensive, but then you do get an awful lot of kit for your money.

Compared to some other track-focussed boots, such as the Alpinestars Supertech R, and XPD XP9-R they are hundreds of pounds cheaper, and feature slightly less bulk around the shins to make them easier to live with on a daily basis. 

I have tested more comfortable track boots though, which is a hugely important factor when riding at high speed when all of your concentration is required.

The last thing you want to be doing is thinking about the kit you’re wearing, and others – such as the Gaerne’s I’ve already mentioned – do a better job of this.

My verdict 4/5 

The Forma Phantoms had big shoes to fill (if you’ll pardon the pun). Having lived with boots from the brand in the past and been mightily impressed, I was expecting big things here once more.

In many ways, the Phantoms tick all the right boxes. They feel very safe, have tonnes of protection, work on the road and track, and should suit multiple styles of bike. However, they can feel quite stiff on your feet and tucking in your leathers can be an awkward job.

Once everything is where it should be and you’re on the bike, there are no major complaints, but on foot, and when suiting up, they can be a faff.

I also don’t like how the soft plastic rim of the opening often folds inside with your leathers tucked in, rather than sitting flush with your shin. It’s not a big thing at all, just taints the aesthetic a little.

Outside of that, they feel robust, and secure, and I’m confident they will put up with many seasons of track riding, plus thousands more miles on the road. My pair still look brand new and I’ve no reason to suspect yours would look any different.

How MCN tests motorcycle boots

At MCN, our team of expert journalists have decades of experience gained over hundreds of thousands of miles in order to provide you with opinions and evaluations you can trust, alongside news of the most significant developments in motorcycling safety gear. We want you to stay safe, enjoy your riding and hopefully look great while doing so! 

We don’t test our kit to destruction; we use it exactly how you do, in the real world and in all conditions. That means we can deliver impartial buying advice you can rely on.

Each of our expert reviewers tests their products for a variety of things, both subjective and objective, and these boots are no exception. Factors assessed include the boots’ ability to keep the rain out; what level of protection they offer; how comfortable they are to wear and walk in; how they look; how easy they are to put on; and any other features they may have.

We cover thousands of miles in motorcycle boots between us and we regularly compare them with one another in the office, so collectively we’ve built the sort of knowledge base you can trust.

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When we review a product, we award it a score out of five. In the ratings tab of a given pair of motorcycle boots, you may also find more specific scores for the different aspects of a product’s performance to help you make an informed decision. We test against criteria like how comfortable a boot is; how protective it is; if it looks good; and if it is good value for it’s price tag. Here’s a guide to what each number score means:

• 1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A product with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
• 2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A product with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level and there is room for improvement.
• 3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A product with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
• 4 stars – A product has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A product with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
• 5 stars – A product has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A product with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

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