Boots I really like my Combat Touring boots

Jollymon24

Jollymon24

SToc less
Joined
Feb 16, 2006
Messages
17
Location
Birmingham, AL
Bike
2004 ST1300
Just a shamless plug I guess....

I bought a pair of "Combat Toruing" boots about 18 months ago from Areostitch/riderwherehouse place. ANyway, they were no doudt more than what I was wanting to pay, but they can be resoled and I have not regreted making that choice.

Right at 38K miles of touring in them and the are wearing like iron! I dont carry covers or anything for riding in the rain. (they say they are not water proof, but I have never gotten wet inside the boot, even in southern down poors).

I like these boots so much, that I dont even pack other shoe when I go for a trip. (well, I carry a pair of sandles for to/from the shower when camping)

:woo :clap2: :clap2:
 
How odd!

I have been scouring the internet for reviews on the Aerostich (Sidi, I believe) boots for a long, long time. I've always liked the styling of the boot, and I surely trust the Aerostich brand. However, I haven't seen many people speak up about the Combat Tourers in many forums.

Personally, I bought a pair of Alpinestars motorcycling boots which I wore for two seasons before deciding that they would be my only pair of motorcycling specific boots - I hated them. Awful. Unfomfortable. Yuck. Icky. Blah. They're full of dust-bunnies now.

Ever since then, I've been riding with a pair of steel-toed Red Wing work boots, which I like because they're good for hiking when I park the ST.

BUT, if someone here is all about the Combat Tourers...I'll look into them again. Do you have the full height boots, or the "Lights"?
 
This could be perilously near a hi-jack. When I read the header, I thought maybe there might be another like me.

I wear a pair of 'Vietnam' style combat (jump) boots for riding. Comfy, light, sturdy, cheap. Short sole, near flat heel, good for casual walking as well as riding. They aren't made to be waterproof (fabric inserts), but they do dry out well:) Oh, and as cool as anything I ride in. I do not know how many miles I have on them, it is a large number. I have worn the shift patch and left toe down to the steel. Another year or two is all I will get out of them.

I have a pair of custom boots that I wear when the weather is cold, not too often here. Good leather, I grease them to make them near waterproof.
 
I think part of Aerostich's claim for their Combat Touring (motorcycle specific) boots is that they're sort of an "all day comfort" boot that is good on and off the bike.

Would you hike around in them Jollymon? :shrug2:
 
Paul said:
I think the absolute worst experience I've ever had on the ST was a near freezing, light rain to sleet conditions, and my steel toed Red Wings got wet. I thought I was going to loose toes. Gerbing jacket, pants, and gloves but no heated socks. I could only go about 50 miles before I had to stop and just walk around to get feeling back into my feet. I finally made it into Deming and the lady at the convince store felt sorry for me and gave me two trash bags. I put on a pair of socks a trash bag and another pair of socks and made it the final 100 miles home. I still ride in the same model Red Wings but with out the steel toes.
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Oh yeah. Don't get me wrong: They're not perfect, and the steel toes make it a challenge to shift easily...but despite all of that they're still better than those Alpinestars boots I bought. :(
 
The only thing with steel toed boots in cold weather is the steel draws the cold like a magnet, had to wear them for 34 plus years in an outside environment. Walking in the snow there would be a large chunk that would build up on top of the toe area under certain conditions.
 
ordered a pair friday from the aerostitch sale listings. only (haha) 200 bucks
 
EASt said:
I think part of Aerostich's claim for their Combat Touring (motorcycle specific) boots is that they're sort of an "all day comfort" boot that is good on and off the bike.

Would you hike around in them Jollymon? :shrug2:
Click to expand...

I have first hand knowledge that while Jollymon doesn't do all that much hiking, he has wandered around quite abit in them and hasn't complained all that much about how badly his feet hurt.:)


I have the alpinstar roam boots. They are very comfortable on and off the bike. My only complaint is that being waterproof boots they don't breathe at all and my feet get sweaty mandating some kind of moisture wicking sock otherwise the creeping foot crud attacks.
 
Someone asked about air flow relative to boots... I have a pair of Magnum Tactical boots.... SWAT team/Special Forces type... front laced in zipper for quick don... I'm lazy.. I don't like to lace up boots...they are padded fabric and leather uppers, leather foot (no steel toe) and heavy cleated molded rubber soles and low heels... excellent riding boots. I wear them summer in up around 100?F 90% humidity without discomfort. I wear them in winter down into the 40?F range... I'm not inclined to ride either in the cold or the wet.. Riding is a fun thing for me, not a test of endurance. They are also all day comfortable walking.... not pretty or stylish, but they get the job done.

JR
 
Mac said:
I have first hand knowledge that while Jollymon doesn't do all that much hiking, he has wandered around quite abit in them and hasn't complained all that much about how badly his feet hurt.:)


I have the alpinstar roam boots. They are very comfortable on and off the bike. My only complaint is that being waterproof boots they don't breathe at all and my feet get sweaty mandating some kind of moisture wicking sock otherwise the creeping foot crud attacks.
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Good to know. I'll put them on the list of things to buy when I've got a couple of hundred bucks laying around :|
 
Combat touring

I have a pair of Aerostich combat touring boots .
I have had them only a year and feel that they are some of the best heavy duty protective motorcycle riding boots I have owned.
Only complain if you want to wear your jeans on the outside of the boots it is sometimes depending on jeans haed to get them over the outside of the boots.
I like the idea of the combat lites , not as much upper leg protection butt cooler in the summer .
Rocky police/ military style boots do not give you the protection that I think a person needs while riding on a motorcycle. A rider here in the Houston area had an accident while wearing with the lace-up/zippered military style shoes and now he walks with a limp because of the poor ankle support the boots gave.
Want to guess what boots he wears now?
 
JR.... Winter?? 40 degrees?? That's only a cool spring day....
Winter is when it gets below 0, and more than a foot of snow... (Which is rapidly approaching)
:)
Putt...


JReviere said:
Someone asked about air flow relative to boots... I have a pair of Magnum Tactical boots.... SWAT team/Special Forces type... front laced in zipper for quick don... I'm lazy.. I don't like to lace up boots...they are padded fabric and leather uppers, leather foot (no steel toe) and heavy cleated molded rubber soles and low heels... excellent riding boots. I wear them summer in up around 100?F 90% humidity without discomfort. I wear them in winter down into the 40?F range... I'm not inclined to ride either in the cold or the wet.. Riding is a fun thing for me, not a test of endurance. They are also all day comfortable walking.... not pretty or stylish, but they get the job done.

JR
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I just purchased Aerostich Combat Lite boots this week and I'm now in the process of breaking them in.

The fit wasn't good upon arrival. There was too much room for my medium-volume foot. But with a little tweaking I think I have achieved perfect fit.

I called Aerostich and discussed the situation. They recommended I buy sizing insoles from them. Instead, I opted to first try several backpacking insoles I have on hand. I did this with and without the Sidi insole, which is of minimal quality compared to other OEM insoles I have in my overstocked boot closet.

I couldn't get the fit I wanted with footbeds on hand, so I went to a local shoe store and tried a half dozen more. Perfect fit finally arrived when I used the Sidi insole with a Sofsole Thin Fit footbed.

Eureka !! The Aerostich Combat Lites now fit like a fine hkiing boot and I'm ready to beat these beasts into submission. They do indeed have thick leather, but I've been down this road before with other fine Italian boots. I'll wear them everyday in the house for a week or two, then get them out on the streets.

These boots look like they'll last a lifetime. I'll update you at my first re-sole.

Eric
 
I've had the combat lites since early March and have about 10K miles on them including a 3 week road trip to Alaska and the Yukon

Gave 'em a rub down with snow seal when they arrived

It rained every day we rode - from lite showers to downpours and my feet stayed dry

Brilliant!!!

Takes a few months and several thousand miles to break in
 
I looked at both versions of the Combat Boots. I really like that they are all leather and have no plastic do-dads on them. My only concern - from a dirt racing background - is the hardware clasp right near the ankle. I've gone down hard a few times and have been bumped in a corner - block pass. My concern is that the buckle may cause injury to my ankle or catch on something if I go down hard on the side.

For that reason, I'm looking now at other Sidi and Alpinestar boots.
 
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I'm about to order a pair of Combat Lites on Mon. Any problems with their size chart? I'd hate to get the wrong size and go throguh the hassle of exchange.
I'm also thinking of getting the Aerostich Darien Jacket.
 
I have had a pair of combat lites for about three years.

They do need a break in period. These are stiff out of the box, I think mine started to feel good after 5-8k miles. But they just keep getting better the more miles I use them
I also needed to use some sizing soles to make the boots fit my slightly narrow foot.
Once broke in these are among the most comfortable ridding boots I have. I have used these for coaching MSF classes at times and had no major foot problems.
 
redst05 said:
I have had a pair of combat lites for about three years.

They do need a break in period. These are stiff out of the box, I think mine started to feel good after 5-8k miles. But they just keep getting better the more miles I use them
I also needed to use some sizing soles to make the boots fit my slightly narrow foot.
Once broke in these are among the most comfortable ridding boots I have. I have used these for coaching MSF classes at times and had no major foot problems.
Click to expand...

Your experience with these leather-lined boots is the same I have enjoyed with a couple pairs of all-leather backpacking boots. They take a while to break in, but in my opinion, there's no better fit and feel than an all-leather boot.

I'm a couple of months into my Aerostich Combat Touring Lite boots and they look like they'll last for many years. They're still not even close to being broken-in, but the desired creases are beginning to form. I've maintained a snug fit with a medium sock to ensure the boots fit my feet like a glove. When the leather ultimately softens, these boots will fit like a comfortable second skin.
 
I'll chime in here on how much I like the Aerostich Combat Touring Lite boots. I've had 'em for about a month now. Wore them around the house and out to dinner for a few days before I mounted up to ride to Laughlin a couple weeks ago.

Found out on my way down the block that what was comfortable for walking wasn't flexible enough to get under the shifter with. :cool: I worked it out and spent a bunch of time on those two 300 mile days stretching and flexing the boots. Today I put them on for a ride and flexed them a bit before mounting up and by the time I got well into today's 266 miles I actually got my foot down under the shifter. :wt1:

Stiffness when new, and break in aside, these boots are awesome. On road comfort is exceptional and after the first couple of hours they were pretty comfortable to walk in. Being thick, heavy leather it will only get better. Traction (I got the gray cleated soles) is also excellent and sure.

I was a little leary of the laces inside the flap but the system works really well and these boots are quick and easy to get in and out of. Sizing, for me, was true. I ordered 9.5, same as I wear in Red Wings, HD boots, and just about everything else and the fit was perfect. I had only to tighten up the side clasp a notch or two and I was set.

I had been considering either these Combat Lites or the SIDI On Road and opted for the CLs. When all was said and done I like the breathability of the all leather option rather than having all that Gortex lining and all that. Fact is, living in the Southwest, I'm more often riding in heat than I'm riding in wet. :p: If I was more consistently riding in cold, wet conditions I might have gone with the On Roads but all reports are that these Combat Lites hold their own in the rain too.

Right now I think its time to rub a little leather treatment into the creases that are starting to form.

:headbang::bannana::yes: Thumbs up for the Aerostich Combat Lite Touring Boots. :yes::bannana::headbang:
 
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