OK, I have some time on my Oxtar boots now and can provide some comparative feedback. Worthy of noting, prior to these Oxtars I've owned the following boots; in chronological order: Alpinestar Tech 7, Alpinestar Tech 8, Sidi Forceflex SRS, Oxtar TCS Pro. The Alpinestar Tech 7's fit and lasted well. But the ankle protection was insufficient for me. As long as I had them, my ankles were sore. The Alpinestar Tech 8's fit well and lasted well. The ankle protection was very good. The only issues I had with them is they were very big and bulky and the soles seemed to get chewed up pretty easily. Generally they were good boots. Then I went to the Sidi Forceflex SRS's. The ankle protection is excellent and they are a nice, sleek, good looking boot. On the negative side, putting them on is like performing surgery. You have to adjust and readjust the buckles like crazy every time you put them on. Additionally, these boots chew up your bike big time; I mean big time. I finally installed leather chaps on the inside of them. This helped but is not a long term solution. Furthermore, the soles were showing signs of wear very quickly; but they are replaceable. I still have these boots and will keep them as a spare. Purely from a function standpoint, not considering putting them on or bike wear and tear, they are excellent boots. Finally this brings me to the Oxtars. Honestly, I think these are the best of the pack. They fit very well but are a little undersized. I measure at an 11 1/2 C. The size 12 Oxtars fit me perfectly. They are a little bulkier than the Sidis but not as bulky as the Alpinestar Tech 8's. The ankle protection is excellent. They incorporate the exoskeletal design with mechanical stops to prevent over extension in any direction. Sidi and Gearne both incorporate the exoskeletal design also but neither have mechincal stops as does the Oxtar. This gives me an added level of protection confidence. Furthermore, the Oxtar has the inner booty; like the Astar tech 8 but unlike the Sidi or Gearne. This makes the fit very nice and snug; just right. The soles of the Oxtars are also unique. After several rides I can't detect any wear yet. The Oxtar soles are clearly better than the AStars or Sidis. So after owning two models of AStars and the Sidi Forceflex's, the Oxtars are my favorite. I think they're the most complete package. I got mine at MX-South for $289. In a pinch, I would buy the Alpinestar tech 8's again. And if I was a factory rider with no concern for the effect that boots had on my equipment, I'd probably get the Sidi's. But for the average weekend warrior looking for excellent form and function, I think the Oxtars are the best of this bunch. I hope this write up helps some folks make decisions.