Boots

[trepetti]

I am ready to buy my 1st pair of riding boots and I need some advice. I am a sport rider looking for as much protection as I can get, but I want a pair of boots that I can walk around in once I get to my destination. They don't have to be the most comfortable shoes I own, but I dread the thought of packing sneakers. Plus, I have only a tank bag and don't want to leave a pair of boots with the bike when I change. I was looking at the Sidi Cobras but have no favorites. What do you wear?

 

[JoeSTL]

I have 2 pairs of boots. Icon Superduty 4 boots and TCX X-Five Gore Tex boots. The Superduty were my first pair of boots are very sturdy over the ankle and comfortable to wear on and off the bike. I usually wear them now when I am planning on being off the bike for long periods of time. A few months ago I got the TCX boots and to me they are amazing. Much lighter than the superduty, more protection as a full length boot, and still comfortable if I'm walking around in them. Plus they're waterproof and don't let any cold air get in during this time of year. I don't know if they will give you as much protection as the Sidi Cobras, but I guarantee you can walk around much better in TCX boots.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

I had the Sidi Cobra Air for about 18 months now and I now have holes at the bottom of my soles and the inside liner has ripped due to the fact that I have worn these boots everyday including all day at work.

 

[trepetti]

I had the Sidi Cobra Air for about 18 months now and I now have holes at the bottom of my soles and the inside liner has ripped due to the fact that I have worn these boots everyday including all day at work.

Wow. That means:
A: These are really comfortable
B: They were so friggin' expensive that they ate up the entire footwear budget.

I am hoping it is A:

Thanks

 

[Rebuilt]

I got some from JNS here but unsure what make but recently just been wearing my 95 issue combat boots ...


thankfully all the other clothing aswell bit cold at mo :thumbup:

 

[outasight20]

I have the Icon Field Armor boots:
They are really sturdy boots and provide a great amount of ankle support as well as shin, toe, and heel protection. They are actually really comfortable although they look a little bit like ski boots so I personally wouldn't be wearing them around at work. But for running errands and walking around between riding, they are great.

 

[motojoe122]

I have A* smx-4's, I hear the 5's are the same or better. I can wear them all day, walking and riding.

 

[Hellgate]

Alpinestars S-MX+...and be done with it.

 

[rsw81]

I have the Sidi Cobras and find them very comfortable. Good balance between protection and comfort for a street boot.

 

[Yasko]

Oxtar touring boots are the best for me. :cheer:

 

[RJ2112]

Walking around at work is an important part of deciding on what boots I can wear.

Having spent 20 years in the USN, wearing steel toed boots, I really like having that protection for my toes. I am familiar with it. I rode for years wearing a pair of steel toed flight deck boots. Insulated, over the ankle leather boots with a medium grip sole. The biggest issue for me was the laces. Got to the point where I would lace them up over my ankle, then wrap the rest of the lacing around my shin and tie it off where the top eyelet was.

Those boots finally died, some ten years after I retired. I could have bought a motorcycle specific pair of boots to replace then, and that might have given me some extra armor outside my ankle area.

Instead, I found a pair of Bates® Enforcer Series Ultra-Lites™ Tactical 8'' Waterproof Work Boots for Men | Bass Pro Shops

These things are a good boot. Side zipper from the instep to the top of the boot, so once you adjust the lacing to suit, you don't have to touch it again. Great insoles.... very light and cushy -- feels like a pair of athletic shoes inside. The insulation on them is comfortable when riding all the way from 105 to 30 degrees F.

They are not garish, and I can wear them with slacks or jeans without looking out of place. Took about a week to break in.

I am very comfortable, and feel like I have above average protection for my feet and ankles. Considering I paid $72 for the boots, I have to think I made out quite well.

Your mileage may vary....

 

[regder]

Oxtar touring boots are the best for me. :cheer:

Pretty sure Oxtar has changed names to TCX now. I've had a set of Oxtar sport boots for probably about four years now. Ridden about 80k km in them, rain and shine. Walked a good number of km's, including a 15km hike through the woods and having to traverse a pretty wide river when I got my FZ6 stuck off-roading.

Amazingly the boots are still in ok shape. Well, I wore through the insole at the heel on one of them, and there are a few small holes on the outside where the fake leather has worn off. Overall, they're still very wearable, and there's plenty of material left on the sole.

 

[VEGASRIDER]

Wow. That means:
A: These are really comfortable
B: They were so friggin' expensive that they ate up the entire footwear budget.

I am hoping it is A:

Thanks

Pretty cheap, I think I paid somewhere around $150 with my discount a couple of years ago. I have the mesh version, and you really can feel the air breath through the boots, great for warm/hot weather riding. I'm considering getting the Cobra rain version now since I have moved to a much colder climate.

I have the Sidi Cobras and find them very comfortable. Good balance between protection and comfort for a street boot.

As Rob had mentioned, it's an intermediate boot at best when it comes to protection, balancing it with comfort.

When it comes to gear, I'm kind of off the curve, since I use it everyday, and wear it as normal clothes. Just bought a first pair of jeans, and underwear in over two years. Been about six years since I've boughten a pair of sneakers. Ask me when was the last time I bought motorcycle gear, last month.

I doubt anyone will wear out their soles of any motorcycle boots, so I wouldn't worry unless you wear them as normal foot wear and nothing else for two years.

 

[mrphotoman]

Alpinestars S-MX+...and be done with it.

i have those too, really comfortable and look nice too

 

[PhotoAl]

Current boot is a Komodo, inexpensive for a high performance street boot and comfortable to walk around in. Pretty much waterproof and warm enough in the winter. Waterproof even after a couple years of daily use.