What boots are you riding?

Discussion in 'Gear & Accessories' started by Wxduff, Aug 26, 2019.

  1. Wxduff

    Wxduff New Member

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    I'm looking to get a new pair of footwear as it's the only piece of my riding kit not well sorted. I'd been riding the sv with a nice pair of Carolina loggers but these are not stylish, match neither the bike of the rest of my kit, and are hot. Most importantly, the vfr's shift linkage is more compact than the sv and the lack of feel in the boots makes finding the shifter and brake somewhat difficult.

    I'm looking for recommendations for riding shoes (short boots or shorter) that flow an abundance of air and feel for the controls. I also have wide feet for my size, so brands that run narrow are out.

    Just curious what people are wearing and are happy with.
     
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  2. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    Like with most clothing, you have to find the ones that fit you the best. For me the brand that fits me, dare I say it, like a glove, are TCX. With SIDI boots, they were either too tight or too loose. With all of my TCX boots, the fit is spot on, so I stuck with them. The seem to have a good reputation and for the most part, a great level of protection for the cost.

    The other thing you need to consider is protection level. Just because a boot is built for motorcycling doesn't mean it's going to provide you with the best protection. Case in point, race boots typically provide for protecting you for over flexion and extension of your ankle, in more than one direction, however this usually means a stiffer boot, which when walking around is much less comfortable than a touring boot. Both will most likely prevent serious abrasion injuries and stay on during a crash but the race boot will most likely prevent broken ankle. Of course there is no guarantees but the protection level of a race boot is meant for such possibly of injuries but at the expense of off bike comfort.

    I actually have three different pairs of full length riding boots, a standard race boot TCX S-Race, a pair of S-Race Air (Perforated) and a pair of TCX S-Speed waterproof. All three are built using their TCS system, which is the fore mentioned ankle protection system but I find that walking around isn't all that bad but they are a bit squeaky at times.

    My suggestion is to pick a type of boot you're looking for and then try different brands who make that style of boot. Try on different sizes, not all sizes are created equal and bring a pair of socks that you might typically wear when you try them on. Walk around in them in the store for a few minutes and if available, sit on a bike and see how they feel both off and on the bike.
     
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  3. scottbott

    scottbott Member

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    just bought a couple of weeks ago a pair of Daytona Arrow Sport GTX, seem very comfortable as my left foot gives me a bit of trouble and they open up nice and wide and are of course repairable if sent back to Daytona
     
  4. mikem317

    mikem317 New Member

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    Sidi Vertigos. I need to resole them soon though as they're pretty worn through but the rest of the boot is doing OK.
     
  5. Thumbs

    Thumbs Member

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    All seasons boots - Alpinestars SMX 6

    Hot weather - RST ventilated boots, they’re fairly wide too
     
  6. Wxduff

    Wxduff New Member

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    I ended up settling on the tcx rush wp. I wanted the air but couldn't find them in my size. Such a huge improvement in feel over the loggers. They were a touch too narrow at first but are breaking in nicely.
     
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  7. mofo

    mofo New Member

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    I will catch some heat for this, but I'm wearing cowboy boots at the moment.
    Icon, tcx, sidi and others work for me.
     
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  8. WiscoTwisties

    WiscoTwisties New Member

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    I’ve had my Shima SX-2 for a full season and they have held up great. Look like a pair of casual shoes with jeans on, out very sturdy and lots of protection in the ankle.
     
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  9. sorenlaf

    sorenlaf New Member

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    Another vote for Daytona. I have a pair of Trans-Open GTX (in Daytona-speak, GTX means a gore-tex boot). These are their dual-sport boot. Very comfortable. Excellent protection. I could do without the steel toe kick. Incredibly well made. Looked like new for the first 2 years, about 25k miles.

    Almost 20 years old, about 100k miles - I no longer commute 1k/month on a bike... Rubber bits on the top of the toe where the shift hits have given it up, but no other issues.

    Never had wet feet. Kind of warm in the summer, so I also have a pair of their low-end (which would be at least mid-range from most manufacturers) track boots.
     
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  10. Jelorian

    Jelorian New Member

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    +1 for Daytona. I am on my 2nd pair of Road Star GTX boots. Fully waterproof and really good armor and protection. Just look at their reviews online. Almost nothing bad is said about them except maybe their looks but to each their own. They look like dedicated riding boots. If you are looking for something more traditional looking I hear the TCX' Hero/Blend, Stylemartin Wave, Sidi Arcadia, or even Daytona's own AC Classic would.
     
  11. manindab0x81

    manindab0x81 New Member

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    Running the Daneise TRQ Tour Gortex. Real nice so far. Previous boots were alpine stars smx low cut series. Those saved my ankle form serious damage twice already...upgraded to the Daneise
     
  12. Jelorian

    Jelorian New Member

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    When you say upgraded, is it because you went from low cut to full height boot?
     
  13. manindab0x81

    manindab0x81 New Member

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    Yah the new ones offer more twist protection. With the low cut boots you don't have as much of that protection. Although they prob saved me from breaking my ankle I had a pretty bad sprain (4 months in and still lil stiffness) I think one of the most important things to keep you safer is to do a weight training program that focuses on the 4 main compound lifts. This makes your bones,ligaments, and everything else more resilient to a wipe out...

    Those Dainese boots are the gortex version too. One of my favorite things about them is the bottoms grip the concrete even on oily surfaces.
     
  14. RhINO

    RhINO New Member

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    I sport a pair of TCX S-Speed which I have a slight problem with. Something around the base of my small toe makes them hurt like f***after about 2h. Not sure what but it might be a seam there that isn't nicely placed.

    Might be switching soon, not sure to what since it's hard to try this issue on any boot

    Skickat från min H8324 via Tapatalk
     
  15. Jelorian

    Jelorian New Member

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    Maybe an replacement insole would help?
     
  16. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

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    Alpinestars SMX-S for me, replaceable toe caps, no squeaky mechanisms at the ankle, and they are waterproof and comfy all year round.
     
  17. RhINO

    RhINO New Member

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    TCX boots are retired as of last week, never got them fitting right so they were replaced with a pair of Alpinestars smx plus which I hope will give me less pain.

    Skickat från min H8324 via Tapatalk
     
  18. BoomerDave

    BoomerDave New Member

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    My RedWing boots that I bought in 1976.
    Seriously though, these are a bit clunky on short rides but they have done well on all-day rides.
    Have shopped for new boots but they seem pricey for what you get and don't seem to do anything a good pair of normal shoes can't do.
    RedWing IrishSetters 1976.JPG
     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2020
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  19. Jelorian

    Jelorian New Member

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    There definitely are some really good work boots that will offer good protection while riding a motorcycle. What most lack are ankle protection. Something you want if sliding down the road with a 400+ motorcycle on top of your foot. A dedicated motorcycle boot should have better ankle protection and usually better torsion resistance. Redwings cost just as much as a quality pair of motorcycling boots nowadays as well.
     
  20. BoomerDave

    BoomerDave New Member

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    Can't disagree with you on that, just wanted to brag about my old boots.
     
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