Posted on February 13, 2012 by John. There have been comments

One of their most anticipated - and most attractive - boots of all times, Fox recently unveiled their brand new line of 2012 Instinct boots; and the celebration was anything but low-key. Kicked off with a release party that hosted such prolific riders as Ricky Carmichael, Chad Reed, Ken Roczen, and every rider from the Sycuan Casino/Hart and Huntington racing team, Fox certainly made a big deal of their new boot.

All of this pomp and circumstance does come with good reason, however. Their newest boot - which was developed, designed, and tested by Ricky Carmichael himself - is one of the most innovative boot designs to hit the market. It will be available to the public in March of 2012, and the manufacturer's suggested retail price of $549.95 may turn a lot of riders off. Rest assured, however, the research, development, and technology that Fox and Carmichael have put into the 2012 Fox Instinct makes it well worth the price tag.

Although some people are wary of products that demand a high price only because a professional athlete is attached to it, Carmichael assures this is not the case. “"I'm not being biased just because I love the product and I believe in the product.” Carmichael said in a recent interview. "It's really good; they put a lot of time and effort into it and there are a lot of guys who are probably bummed that they can't race in it! Just the technology behind it and the safety of it is definitely state of the art. I'm happy to be involved in this project. It took a long time, but the finished product is amazing."

The design process for the 2012 Fox Instinct boot began approximately three years ago in Fox's development lab. Engineers worked closely with Carmichael throughout the entire process, and the result is a boot that is extremely comfortable, protective, and capable of enhancing your riding skill level.

Fox uses five different layers in the sole of the boot, making the interior feel akin to a high-end running shoe. A steel shank, which is sandwiched between layers, provides additional support as well as impact protection. Beneath that, a thermoplastic insert provides support for the heel and arch of your foot.

The outside of the boot is just as innovative. Fox uses a proprietary mixture of rubber, making it extremely resistant to the elements. The boot is also durable, capable of withstanding plenty of use and abuse, and the unique blend of outer rubber provides enough grip to prevent foot slippage while racing.

Adding even more support is the hinged ankle enclosure system. This device is positioned high enough on the boot to provide the maximum amount of lateral support, and it also aides in impact protection. The system uses four separate buckles, each of which features a ball-and-socket design. This eliminates the need for Velcro straps, while still maintaining the ease and simplicity seen in past enclosure systems.