Last Update: 12 January 2022
Like other motorcycle riding gear your motorcycle boots and motorcycle footwear are essential riding gear, and an extremely important piece of your motorcycle protective gear. They’re designed to safeguard your feet while ensuring comfort and safety while riding. Appropriate motorcycle footwear allows you to move around your motorcycle foot-pegs or footrests while riding which ensures proper use of motorcycle foot controls. A sturdy boot also is key to supporting your motorcycle while stopped.
The difference between your made-for-motorcycle boots and everyday boots is that they’ve been designed with key features to the activity of motorcycling. A boot designed for motorcycle riding has features such as, added support at the ankle and the front of the boot, special fasteners, impact materials and more! They’re generally taller too. This ensures full protection from flying road debris or from hard motorcycle elements. Plus, a motorcycle boot offers many extra “high-speed” features such as added layering or armour at the side ankle area and side toe area and will even have extra leather layers in the toe shifter area.
OVER-THE-ANKLE IS KEY
Boots should be high enough to protect the ankles. Therefore, it is essential your motorcycle boots are “over-the-ankle”. Your ankles are complex bone structures, and it is important to protect them. Your feet are vulnerable to many riding hazards such as stones, road debris flying up from the road, off-roading branches, and hot engine parts. In a fall your boots will help protect your ankles and feet.
LEATHER IS A MUST
Boots need to be made of strong leather. Leather boots are sturdy and ensure solid, well covered protection in the case of a fall. There should also be no textile in your boot design. For example, the shoe brand “Blundstone” combines sturdy leather with style, but is built with an area of thin elastic textile at the ankle area. This textile combination represents a vulnerability. Plus, in the case of a mishap or crash, you want your boots to remain on your feet- the Blundstone won’t. Boots which are fastened well have a higher chance of remaining in place during tumbles and slides.
In the case of a mishap or crash, your boots must remain on your feet. Boots which are fastened well have a higher chance of remaining in place during tumbles and slides.
THE BOOT HEEL MATTERS
Heels are important on your motorcycle boot but should be low enough so they do not interfere with your movement on the foot pegs. At the same time you want the heel to provide a lodged grip on the foot peg / footrests. This allows for secure footing and ensuring your feet don’t slide forward off the pegs.
Best to not wear boots with loose laces as these may catch on controls or your foot-peg especially when putting your foot on the ground at a stop.
GRIP WILL KEEP YOU UP
Your motorcycle boot grip is important. Remember, it will be your two feet which will be constantly holding up your motorcycle when stopped. Rubber soles with a good tread design offer best gripping results. Soles should be made of hard, durable material. A motorcycle boot with a slippery sole could cause you to lose footing when you put your foot down on say a greasy gas station service or on gravel.
Your motorcycle boots should give you the grip and traction you need on mud, sand, water, and oil. Some high-quality motorcycle boots feature an oil resistant sole.
TYPES AND STYLES OF MOTORCYCLE BOOTS
Depending on your riding style or discipline (road, off-road, touring, etc.) there are motorcycle boots of all sport disciplines and of many various designs. In fact, it is good to eventually have a variety of boots in your own motorcycle gear wardrobe.
THE SIX BASIC TYPES OF MOTORCYCLE BOOTS
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- On Road Boots (General): Great for on-road, and touring.
- Off-Road Boots: Specialised for riding in dirt or off-road terrains; dirt bike or motocross.
- Touring Boots: Special design for long distance (many hours) riding and may often be waterproof.
- ADV (Adventure Riding) Boots: These are similar to off-road boots yet often more functional for on-road use too.
- Sport or Race Boots: Designed for high speed function taking from the sport of motorcycle racing. Great for daily on road use as well, but often mega reinforced and not comfortable for long hours of wear.
- Cruiser Boots (Similar to On-Road): These are usually high grip and composed of thinner materials for multi-functional use (i.e. walking).
Having a selection of motorcycle riding boots to choose from will certainly help you enjoy all forms of riding environments, even if you only own one style of motorcycle!
