The Richa Flare from one of the top users point of view!

The Richa Flares are full-length touring boots with a combination of leather and textile in the upper. It’s the textile component that literally shines out; studded with a dot matrix of retroreflective material, it simply looks dark grey most of the time. But when the light hits it just right, or when headlights catch it at night, the fabric panels light up bright white. Not in a ’70s glam rock kind of way, but it definitely makes you significantly more visible.

The boots feel sturdy and well-made, and the panels are all double stitched. In the time I’ve had them the only glitch I’ve noticed is some slight fraying on the threads on the right boot where it rubs on the heel plate, which to be fair has happened on all my boots.

There’s a leather pad on the toe of each boot to protect the textile underneath against wear (particularly on the gear lever), and external ankle protectors.

Protection and certification
The Richa Flares meet EN 13634: 2017 with a rating of 2221 and IPA WR. In a nutshell, that means they’re a high boot, meet the higher level of performance in both abrasion and impact cut resistance, and the basic level of transverse rigidity (twisting).

The IPA alludes to the increased level of ankle protection. WR means they’re resistant to water penetration. The ‘transverse rigidity’ and ankle protection has certainly been tested while riding off-road; on a particularly boggy section of byway, I ‘dabbed’ to pick the bike back up, but my foot sank into the soft mud. A stuck boot and a slowly falling bike would potentially have resulted in a broken ankle with a non-certified boot (a key reason why it is worth checking UKCA/CE certification with vendors of dubious gear on social media), but with the Rich as – which are touring boots not adventure boots – I escaped muddy, but unscathed. Top marks in my book.

Comfort
It’s important to try on boots to make sure they fit properly. I initially got a pair of size 9s – my regular size – but while the left boot would go on with a proper struggle, there was no way the right boot would zip up properly. 

Fat calf issues aside, the Richas are incredibly comfy. They slot on like a pair of old slippers and when done-up are snug but not tight.

The lining is plush and does a great job of keeping your feet cozy. In the chillier mornings my feet were comfy with normal socks on, though you of course benefit from a thicker pair when riding in the depths of winter. Contrast with temperatures climbing toward the high 20s and my feet never felt clammy even when working up a real sweat heaving my bike through thick mud in rural Staffordshire.

I’ve not been yomping through the hills wearing the Flares, but I’ve pottered about and in normal use they are comfy to walk in. I get the impression if I was to walk in them all day – like at BSB – they may induce a couple of hotspots on the heel or instep, but for general riding and some short walks during breaks they are absolutely fine.

For actually sitting on the bike I’d say they’re probably some of the most comfortable full-length boots I’ve tried, and not many of us buy our boots with the intention of hiking!

Waterproofing
The Richa Flares are fitted with a Hipora membrane designed to keep water out while wicking moisture away from your feet. A lot of gloves and boots have it fitted and it works to a greater or lesser extent. I’m happy to report that after riding through some absolute hoolies the Flares kept my feet largely dry; even riding through fords and deep muddy puddles they kept out unwanted moisture. Only after being exposed to one of the heaviest prolonged deluges for over an hour did my toes get damp, but the rest of the boots stayed dry. Almost full marks; there are plenty of much more expensive boots that perform much worse in testing conditions.