Boots Motorcycle Boots or Regular Boots?

[MinnFallST]

Hey People,

I have been wearing above the ankle hiking boats, then my sister-in-law wiped out and broke her ankle in four places. So, I'm considering buying some real motorcycle boots such as the TCX Jupiter 4. Can someone convince me that real motorcycle boots offer more protection than hiking boots? The TCX boots are CE rated, whatever that means. I tried a pair on and, based on the squeeze test, it didn't seem like the ankle protection was much greater than regular boots. Tanks.

 

[jfheath]

I have a pair of motorcycle boots and a pair of hiking boots both made by the same company - Altberg, here in the UK. Same fit, same sole, but the motorcycle boots are much higher. I wouldn't wear my hiking boots on the bike, even before I bought the Altberg bike boots.

I don't think there is much in the way of impact protection, other than the leather and the cushioning - but probably much more than any of my previous bike boots have had. But I reckon that abrasion protection is pretty important.

 

[Daboo]

I went through a similar path over the years. For a long time, I bought my "motorcycle" boots at Big 5 Sporting Goods. I started with some that were just above the ankle, but over time went with the full blown combat boot height. With the shoe laces cinched fairly tight, you do get some support.

Then I started looking for the differences and decided to go with motorcycle boots. I'm currently using Tourmaster Epic boots. There's heel and toe protection, plus what they call malleolus or ankle protection. There's also protection for the shin. Plus they are truly waterproof. All the built-in armor is CE rated. I don't think all that protection will keep you from breaking a leg if a Mack truck rolls over it, but it has to help.

As for TCX...I won't buy another. I bought the TCX Airtech EVO Gore-Tex Boots from Revzilla...twice. The first time was just after they came out. I wore them around the office at work for a few days and just couldn't get them to fit right. Very tight fit. Uncomfortable. I wanted to like them, because on paper they sounded great and looked great. In the end, I returned them. A year or so later, I was looking for new boots. I decided to try these boots, but didn't realize they were the same model as I had purchased earlier. Now they were way to large, even though they were supposedly the same size. I rode through a mud puddle them, splashing water on the toe...and I could feel water coming in. I returned them.

Chris

 

[Uncle Phil]

I use Rocky Dakota (cow kicker) boots which are completely waterproof and all daylong comfortable. 11 inch height (IIRC) and nice thick leather.
Plus you can have them resoled when you wear out the soles. I've not 'crash tested' them and hope that I don't get the opportunity.

 

[MinnFallST]

I went through a similar path over the years. For a long time, I bought my "motorcycle" boots at Big 5 Sporting Goods. I started with some that were just above the ankle, but over time went with the full blown combat boot height. With the shoe laces cinched fairly tight, you do get some support.

Then I started looking for the differences and decided to go with motorcycle boots. I'm currently using Tourmaster Epic boots. There's heel and toe protection, plus what they call malleolus or ankle protection. There's also protection for the shin. Plus they are truly waterproof. All the built-in armor is CE rated. I don't think all that protection will keep you from breaking a leg if a Mack truck rolls over it, but it has to help.

As for TCX...I won't buy another. I bought the TCX Airtech EVO Gore-Tex Boots from Revzilla...twice. The first time was just after they came out. I wore them around the office at work for a few days and just couldn't get them to fit right. Very tight fit. Uncomfortable. I wanted to like them, because on paper they sounded great and looked great. In the end, I returned them. A year or so later, I was looking for new boots. I decided to try these boots, but didn't realize they were the same model as I had purchased earlier. Now they were way to large, even though they were supposedly the same size. I rode through a mud puddle them, splashing water on the toe...and I could feel water coming in. I returned them.

Chris

I think the TCX Jupiter 4 is the successor to the Airtech EVO.

 

[MinnFallST]

My sister-in-law broke her ankle when the bike landed on her foot. In fact, the same thing happened to my cousin when his bike just tipped over onto his foot. Maybe there is nothing that can protect against that other than moving your foot out of the way.

 

[SupraSabre]

I just (this morning) ordered a pair of these:

boots

The soles of the Vega Boots I wear now are getting thin, but I never really like them due to the two zippers! That outside zipper is a real pain for us old guys! 4:

 

[Bush]

There are a LOT of small bones, tendons and ligaments in the ankle/foot area and hiking boots offer little protection in the ankle area. Another consideration - how many times do you see shoes, hiking boots, or similar low cut footwear lying on the road where someone was struck by a vehicle. People literally fly out of their footwear in some impacts. The best choice is a calf high boot that fits snugly around the calf, with velcro or other method of fastening, so that the boot will not fly off in an accident, leaving your foot exposed to the following slide/impact with the road. Good quality M/C boots will incorporate kevlar, hard armour, or extra leather layers in that critical ankle bone area too.

EDIT: Just had a look at the boots Bob has bought. Just MOHO, but I would, and have, spent up to double that for a better quality pair of boots.

 

[Dale_I]

Last year I broke down and purchased motorcycle specific boots. It ends up being what you want more than anything else. My choice was Alpinestars Ridge Air for summer riding ($109 on sale, normally around $150):



And for rain and cold season I got some Lands End Gortex, which is basically the exact same boot with GoreTex and not perforated.

However, I would NOT be comfortable doing a lot of walking off the bike. They are supportive enough to be uncomfortable for casual use. If you are looking for something to ride and then wear comfortably, your protection will start to be compromised.

 

[Bush]

If you are looking for something to ride and then wear comfortably, your protection will start to be compromised.

Depends on what you are willing to spend. The BMW boots I bought a number of years ago cost close to $400, but I can walk all day in them too and they have outstanding protection and build quality. Bought them after Clement Salvadori reviewed them in Rider magazine.

 

[Whooshka]

Shop around. There are tons of MC specific boots out there. From waterproof touring to full on race. All levels of protection depending on how much you want to spend.

Remember... dress for the crash, not for the ride. Cow kickers are for kicking cows, not impacts, or twisting or support.

 

[SupraSabre]

...
EDIT: Just had a look at the boots Bob has bought. Just MOHO, but I would, and have, spent up to double that for a better quality pair of boots.

The line, you get what you pay for...well, when you ride through city and freeway (stop-n-go and lane splitting) around 275 days/around 30,000 miles a year, things wear fast...

Since Redwing quit making their 969 boot, I really haven't found a boot I like yet. So I thought I'd try these out.

I have spent (in the past big $$$ for boots, but my boot budget, like my jacket budget won't allow me to spend big bucks on them any more...and although I have had some boots resoled in the past, I'm just never happy with them after that and I go through the boot soles pretty fast. (Flintstone braking comes to mind!

 

[ToddC]

Made the switch myself about three years ago. MC boots are just shaped better for riding and much better weather protection.....

ToddC

 

[Bush]

Depends on what you are willing to spend. The BMW boots I bought a number of years ago cost close to $400, but I can walk all day in them too and they have outstanding protection and build quality. Bought them after Clement Salvadori reviewed them in Rider magazine.

Found an online pic of a newer BMW boot that is very similar to mine. Full length zipper on the inner leg and velcro flaps to create a tighter grip on the calf. Armour in the ankle bone area and extra protection from wear on the gear toe. 100% waterproof too.

 

[mudduc]

My sister-in-law broke her ankle when the bike landed on her foot. In fact, the same thing happened to my cousin when his bike just tipped over onto his foot. Maybe there is nothing that can protect against that other than moving your foot out of the way.

I happen to have broken my ankle in motorcycle riding incidents a total of 3 times now. IMHO, the only way to prevent this is to keep your foot out of the way or have some really major and heavy equipment on your feet.

My first brake was on the race track (turn 3 at Brainerd International Raceway, IIRC) when another rider t-boned me and my bike with his front wheel hitting me in the ankle. At the time I was wearing mid-line standard racing boots like these from Alpinestar:

After that, my wife bought me some "better" boots from Daytona. They have Carbon/Kevlar inserts all around and put your foot and lower leg in a fully contained shell. I'm pretty certain this would have kept my ankle well-enough protected to avoid the break even with the direct hit. The boot would have moved the bike instead of my leg bone providing the force. Here's a picture of Daytona boot's construction: .

However, the Daytona is not comfortable enough for daily riding and all-day wearing. I was out of them ASAP after each race.
When riding dirt, I also want the extra stiffness and protection afforded by a true dirt-bike boot. But again, not a all-day comfort situation.

I don't wear non-motorcycle boots for street riding but I also don't go to the Daytona or dirt-bike type boots just for the extra protection. I look at my boot decision like I do my decision to not put on leather pants when street riding. True, if geared up, I would be better protected and be less injured during my next crash but it isn't worth the every day discomfort to gain the once-and-a-while benefit.

My personal risk/reward equation accepts the occasional need to grow back skin on my knees and hips. It also accepts the requirement to knit back my leg bones when T-boned. If you read my thread "Just had my FJR1300 knocked out from under me" you will notice the standard street bike boots didn't hold up that time either. But that time, I think I would have had broken bones no matter what. It was the FJR hard bags that saved my foot from being completely pulverized or even detached.

So make your own risk/reward decisions but I will never wear general work boots, always motorcycle boots. If nothing else but for avoiding having laces. That one time 30 years ago when I went to put my foot down and could not--because the lace loop was around my shift lever--was enough to go moto only.

Later,
Kent Larson in Minnesota

 

[drrod]

Last summer I found out that unless you are very talented (I am not), you should not take a Vstrom up single tracks. Bike fell on my ankle and I had a break of the distal lateral fibula (ankle bone that sticks out). I was wearing Sidi Adventure Goretex boots that have pretty good ankle protection. The break mended without surgery. Not uncommon for that type of break to require surgery to repair and I think the boot prevented the break from being that severe. No way of knowing, but........it convinced me to always wear these boots when riding dirt or gravel. I use a slightly less "agressive" Sidi OnRoad when touring on paved roads. I don't think non motorcycle boots provide enough "crush" protection around the ankle and some do not provide a stiff enough sole to prevent crushing injury to the foot itself.

 

[KCJones]

I've got a couple pair of 'motorcycle' boots I've acquired over the years, but I usually end up wearing my steel toe-heel-ankle calf-high work boots. They're more comfortable and I'm pretty confident in the 'protection' factor of steel & heavy leather running basically up to my calf. I've never dropped/wrecked a bike, but I -have- dropped a Vulcan 1500 engine on my foot from about 3' in the air while wearing them without injury...

 

[Tech]

A caution on these boots:

http://www.motorcyclegear.com/street/street_boots/sport_street_touring_boots/z1_r/riot_boots.html

The strap across the boot can get caught on the foot peg. I had this happen on a dirt bike many years ago. Did a slow get off ...off the trail & down an embankment.

 

[ST Gui]

My sister-in-law broke her ankle when the bike landed on her foot. In fact, the same thing happened to my cousin when his bike just tipped over onto his foot. Maybe there is nothing that can protect against that other than moving your foot out of the way.

I really think that's the bottom line for that kind of impact. Maybe Kevlar would have dissipated the impact enough to prevent any breakage but I wouldn't count on it at all.

My guess is that good tall-ish boots prevent injuries from abrasion and twisting and those with steel shanks may prevent injury to the arches.

I don't own any motorcycle boots and wear hiking shoes for local riding and some above-the-ankle Wolverine hiking boots for longer distances. If ever purchasing real boots I'll get something that has the flap that covers the laces. On one occasion my shoe lace got caught on the shift lever at a stop. Some fun juggling that day. So now I triple-knot my laces but by the time I get where I'm going sometimes at least one is untied some.

 

[Andrew Shadow]

I use motorcycle specific boots. They are designed for what we are doing and I find (my boots anyway) allow me to do it more comfortably than work boots for example. I used to use work boots but after an eleven day trip in rain day-after-day I was fed up with wet and cold feet and the PITA of boot covers. I bought motorcycle boots after that trip. The below is the differences that I noticed.

They are completely waterproof- critical if the wet happens when it is also cold.
They breathe better than work boots even though they are waterproof. This allows moisture to be wicked away from your feet if you also wear a Gortex approved pair of socks. This makes them warmer in cold weather because your feet are dry. It also makes them more comfortable in hot weather as well because your feet are dry.
They provide protection and padding in all the right places.
They are higher to protect the calf which also helps to keep the cold air and water from getting up on to your legs.
Because the higher calf of the boot is closed with Velcro when it is very hot I can simply cinch the calf Velcro a little less tightly and I can feel the extra ventilation cooling my feet.
They have extra stiffeners where the shifter control contacts the boot which not only provides protection for the boot but for your toe as well.
They have no laces to get caught on anything.
They are designed to be less slippery on asphalt. I find work boots more slippery.
The ones I have are very comfortable and I can walk all day in them if I so choose with no discomfort.
They can be expensive but consider this- I have a pair I bought in the early 2000's. I use them for riding only. They are still in good shape and I still use them. Amortized over that many years the price becomes more than reasonable.