Boots

[av8rdave]

I've been riding for the better part of a decade with an old pair of military flight boots. There is a lot of good about them. The laces store under velcro, so there's nothing to get entangled. They're real leather, so they breath, and the soles are awesome - nonslip and oil resistant.

There are, however, some drawbacks. They are a pain to put on and take off, they suck in the rain, and while I don't really care much about image, they don't exactly make a fashion statement.

Does anyone have a favorite pair of riding boots they would recommend?

Thanks!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

1. Except for the rain

and the "fashion",

those boots sound ok. Maybe have a shoe-repair shop put a zipper on the side of the boots, for convenience.

I have slip-on Red-Wing brand boots. They're ok, but also not waterproof.

[ThomWV]

2. Let me brag about my boots for a moment

About 3 years ago I had a set of boots made. It was expensive and it was worth every single dime. The comfort is unbelievable. Downside is they aren't even a hint of waterproof. I'm going to have another pair made this winter in the finished leather. By the way, mine are 12" and I have speed hooks rather than the lacing system they show. They will make them any way you want them of course. Took mine about 6 weeks to be completed. They originally came with eyelet lacing, which I didn't want. I called them and they paid to have then sent back (next-day service) and they changed the eyelet that day and sent them back next-day.



http://www.dehner.com/

[guitar man]

3. I wear these

http://www.legendbootshop.com/proddetail.asp?prod=HarleyMensBootMegaHarnessD91345&cat=81&top=HD

I've seen the exact same boots without the Harley logos too. They are tough as hell and easy to get on and off, I've had mine over 2 years and they are still hanging together. :thumbsup:

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

6. Those look just like mine

Except the metal plate on the side of mine says "Red Wing Shoes", not "Harley Davidson". And mine don't have what appears to be a little metal band on the heel. Oh, and mine are not as shiny as the picture appears. Mine are dull, beat up, have a few scrapes on them. Mine most certainly have more oil and gas and rain soaked into them.

Other than that, they look the same.
:hi:

[guitar man]

9. mine are beat to hell too

I don't think I could coax much of a shine out of them anymore, but wtf, biker boots aren't supposed to be shiny ;)

[av8rdave]

12. I just picked up a pair of harness boots....not with the Harley logo though

I like the fit & comfort, although I'm sure they won't be a lot better in the rain than my military ones.

The flight boots were about shot - it's time to give them a suitable funeral. Between flying and riding, they covered a lot of miles.

[panhead1961]

4. I have been wearing Dr.Martins for 16 years

Best boot ever. Work - Riding - everyday. One pair for all occaisions.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. They must be good, to last 16 years

I don't seem to get more than 5 or 6 years out of mine. Maybe I'll try Martin's next time;

:thumbsup:

[panhead1961]

8. Damn funny - Not the same pair - I get two years of everyday wear and tear

[Robb]

5. I'm the wrong guy to ask on this

I'm from the school that good motorcycle boots are inherently good at nothing else. Solid ankle protection means you're going to walk funny. I bring something else to wear when I get there.

I wear Alpinstars' Tech 8 boot. Solid ankle protection, leather uppers, good ventilation, reinforced toe, non-slip. Plus I can attest a 350-pound bike dropped on it won't crush. ;) Of all the things to worry about in a crash, I'm the least worried about my feet.

[ThomWV]

10. They make good dancing slippers too

Just from the looks of them I'd have to suppose they are a wonder on the dance floor too.

You're doin' the right thing of course but I do have to think that the toe cleats might be a bit of overkill unless you plan to go around kicking in the doors of errant auto drivers. I presume they are more or less completely waterproof. How are those clasps to deal with? I ask because while its always a joy to put the boots on and head out it seems to be equally important to get those heavy hot beasts off when the day is through

[Robb]

11. The buckles lever on

and clamp down with a good click. Armored pants go over them and hook to the ankle and stay put. Reverse the process at the end of the day, and put on the flip-flops. :D

Actually, speaking of dance floors, I have caught myself before scratching the wood floor in the house. No dragging the feet, or get yelled at. ;)

If you're on a heel shifter, the toes aren't a big deal. But with a standard shifter, and if you ride a lot, you'll be glad the toes are reinforced. Also, in my case, on the bike at a standstill I'm on my toes, which is common for folks of normal stature on big rally bikes.

I've walked bikes across rivers in them and not felt wet foot syndrome, but at the same time I've worn them all day and had good feet -- as opposed to wearing rubber boots all day, which gives me the prune itches. :D

There's enough give to flex my ankles up and down, but not side-to-side. The main thing is how a twist in a fall won't transmit to your ankle, a good place to break something. It gets moved to the knee-hip, which together can handle more of a lateral twist before breaking. An ortho doc I spoke to actually recommended against knee braces for this reason -- the knee and hip acting together, rather than everything being sent to the hip, is a better guard against serious injury.