Motorcycle Boots Recomendations

I want to get a new pair of motorcycle boots for the upcoming season and was wondering what suggestions people may have. I’m a long time, casual rider who has become more safety conscience over the years. In the past I’ve worn all kinds of light-light, multi-purpose boots.

For example, is it important to look for something with a steel toe? Is leather the best choice? Is ankle-height sufficient? Any particular vendors I should look for or avoid? Since I’m primarily a weekend warrior I would also like to find something that is somewhat comfortable. Your advice is appreciated!

Cheers!

 

Steel toes make for cut off toes.

Leather is great.
Ankle protection is very important.
Above the ankle boots are best both for support while riding, and to keep your floppy ankle from bending too far during an accident (even putting your foot down in the wrong place during a stop can result in a broken ankle).
Most important is comfort. The best gear is the gear that you wear. You really need to go to a motosports outlet and try on boots.

I have been wearing Tour Master Response 2 boots for the past three years and find them to be a good value, and comfortable for walking around in. They are not the best boot by any means, but they do offer decent protection and are waterproof.

 

We use flip-flops out here........j/k

 

I wear the joe rocket mc boots with the cross over lace strap and heavy duty oil resistant sole ($90). Decent and fashionable boot but not water proof. If you decide to go with a pair of these use a perm black marker to dye the pink edges of the straps (they'll look girlie otherwise).

Gary H.

 

I use my old combat boots from my Air Force days. Light, they feel great, they aren't steel toe but they have thicker leather until the ankle. Oh, and they're waterproof. Seen em at surplus stores for $30 a pair.

 

I thought about doing this too. Combat boots seem ideal but wont provide the necessary ankle protection in the event of a accident. Then again neither will the jeans and non-protective leather jacket I wear. I digress.

Gary H.

 

I use the Icon 1000 Elsinore boots. They're leather, calf high, and waterproof with some mink oil rubbed in. They are very stiff when new but they will break in over time. There's a heel slider and some minimal shin protection.

 

Moto-cross boots for me. Knee high and kinky LOL.
I once broke my lower leg, tib and fib, in a bike accident, and was just wearing ankle boots and spent the following week in traction while it slowly pulled the upper bones back past the lower section that had just taken the break. Not nice traction, especially when you need a crap.
Ever since then it been the 'crossers. You might still break a leg but at least it could be hopefully held in one place.

 

I have Matterhorn (I think by Corcoran) waterproof combat boots that I have worn since Desert Storm--about 24 years. The only time I don't wear them is for short trips when there is 0% chance of rain, and then I wear regular combat boots.

 

I use Police issue SWAT Original boots
very comfortable and perfect for riding

 

Steel toes are only for if you ride a Harley. That way you don't hurt your toes when you kick it out of frustration.

dave

 

I have always worn a good pair of (non-steel toe) work boots. Personally prefer wolverine or doc martens....

Someone else mentioned it above... Steel toes and motorcycles dont mix. Its hard to shift and theres a risk of loosing 1/2 your foot if you go down.

 

If steel toe boots are going to cut half your foot off, without them your foots not going to worth having.

 

You do have a point there @Polock

 

Belvedere steel toe boots. My boot of choice for the past 20+ years.

 

I wear Redwing steel toe harness boots. My company gives me $100.00 boot credit so they only run me about 60 out of pocket

 

Thanks for all the great advice! I guess while the steel toe issue may be debatable, I need to find something leather that can protect the ankles.

I've noticed a bunch of eBag ads for Joe Rocket Ballistic boots. At under $90 the price is right. Does anyone have any experience with these? I'm going to see if I can find them locally to try them on.

Cheers!

 

7 inch stiletto heels from jimmy choos so I can reach the floor .
Fashionable ,

 

Thanks for all the advice - it really came in handy....

Just as a FYI, I checked out some boots and ended up going with a set of Tourmaster Solution 2.0 Air boots. They were about the same price-point as the Rockets (>$100) but appeared to be better made and more comfortable. I know there is a lot of better stuff out there but for the price I think these will be fine based on the riding I do. Certainly a step in the right direction based on what I wear now..... =)

 

I bought Tour Master Solution WP boots three years ago and I'm very happy with them. They are comfortable for walking around, totally waterproof in downpours, and offer decent protection. I'm just now wearing down the soles to the point where I might have to find another boot.

I'm looking into some of the "adventure" boots that are a crossover between street touring boots and MX boots. Forma or Gaerne. More money but probably worth it. As with helmets and jackets, the more you spend, the more you get.

 

Thank you Polock. Exactly the point I was going to bring up!

Steel toes are basically mini steel domes/arches, and that kind of shape makes for some of the strongest structures in the world. If something is going to hit your foot with enough force to crush that little dome, do you want a clean break further up the foot that is easier for doctors to operate on, or do you want mashed pota-toes?

For the record: my riding boots are not steel toed, but I wish they had been. I chose mine because I love the way they look, they are zippered, and they're nice and durable with a high ankle at a decent price for the quality. Also, they're thin and flexible, making shifting feel easier and more natural (I've had some bigger boots that made it hard to tell where my foot was or if it was making contact with the shift lever) and the leather is doubled up on the toe to make the shift peg more comfortable against my big toe.

 

Id wear my fathers boots, but 40 years later I'm still trying to get them out of my @$$.

 

Let me explain my problem with steel toes. Put a pair on, now crouch down on your toes. Feel that steel digging into the top of your foot???

Steel toes are designed for top and front impact, not bottom.

 

And not for the immense amount of force that can be dealt during a crash. Besides which I don't believe that there are any steel toed boots on the market which have adequate ankle protection. Having said that, tib/fib fractures account for the vast majority of lower extremity injuries, so maybe high motocross boots are a better choice.

Also, I like my little toesies to be warm in the winter.

 

Right. I don't mean to imply that I think steel toes are meant for motorcycling; they're not. They were designed for factory and construction work, to prevent injury in case something is dropped on top of your foot. Proper motorcycling gear is built for abrasion resistance mostly, and some padding for impact absorption. I just wanted my boots to also have steel toes for multipurpose use.

I do have a pair of combat-style boots that are steel toed (the large boots I referred to earlier that make it hard to feel what I'm doing) that I used to use for snowmobiling. I can attest that they get cold quickly once you're off the sled.

 

Oh come on now

 

The last broken ankle in this household cost us $5k out of pocket. I'll stick to boots that were built for riding in.