ADV Boots vs Work boots?

[taskmaster86]

I wanted to pick your brains about motorcycle boots. I wear all the gear most of the time but I have never owned motorcycle boots, so I am newby when it comes to that.

I am wondering if buying a pair of adventure/touring boots is a worth while upgrade to the regular Chippewa works boots I normally ride with. I normally wear an 8" Chippewa all leather work boot and I have been happy with them. I ride about 90% rode and 10% fire roads and light trail with my S-10. I am not sure if adv boots are worth the slight upgrade in protection over the heavy leather Chippewas, for the type of riding I do.

The ADV style boots I am deciding between are the Gaerne G Adventure and the Forma cape horn or adventure. I also like the look of the more protective Alpinestars Toucan but I really don't like the price, nor do I want a boot that is uncomfortable to walk in for long periods.

I appreciate your input!

 

[jmcgilroy]

Most of my trips are multi-day, so work boots, hunting boots or such...anything that I can wear out for an evening meal...saves on packing space.

 

[Kabish]

I've always been told the second piece of gear that has the biggest impact on your well being is your boots. Standard work boots are not designed to take impact at speeds, although they are for sure better than tennis shoes. A lot of videos that I watch with people using regular shoes the laces snap on impact and your boot goes shooting off your feet. If your lucky its just the boot without your foot being in it

Just like every other argument about gear though.... It all depends on what you want out of your equipment and the gives/takes of protection vs comfort. I personally wear the Icon Raiden DKR boots but they are NOT designed for walking around in. They give me pretty good protection and I like the rear zip entry and how it "locks" your ankle in the boot. I've had 1 "accident" on a bike, was splitting at around 15mph and my floorboard on my old bike hit a guys tire. Needless to say my foot got jammed in between and pushed up then smashed a little. Impact was hard enough that it actually bent the mount on the actual frame of the bike. Due to the way these boots lock your foot in I had no injury. I could only image what would of happened if I was wearing normal shoes. So +1 for good riding boots

 

[pnelson]

I got a pair of Forma Adventure boots last summer. The main improvement I noticed in comfort while standing up riding for a good part of the day. My feet (arches) were not sore with the Forma boots because they have stiffer arch. My other boots are Gore-Tex Belleville military boots. They are comfortable for riding and hiking. The Forma Adventure boots are too but not for hiking. The arch makes them stiffer for walking.

Everything is a trade off. I don't think there is one boot that can do it all. If I'm going to be on the pegs, I ride with the Forma boots. If I'm on a road trip on pavement I stick with the Belleville boots.

Belleville 690 >> http://amzn.to/1XLTHP9
Forma Adventure >> http://amzn.to/1YQslpr

 

[taskmaster86]

Kabish- It does seem foot injuries are very common, even you don't hurt any other part of your body. That is why I am looking into getting some actual motorcycle boots. The Icon raiden dkr was another boot I was considering just because it looks so cool. I am glad you mention that it is not comfortable for walking, because that is what my intuition was saying about them. I am not interested in boots that really lock up your ankle or are not good to walk in. I know they may offer better protection but I hate the feeling of uncomfortable boots in general.

Pnelson- Thanks for the feedback on the forma adventures. That is too bad about the stiff arches. I too have a few pairs of the Belleville boots I was issued when I was in the Army. They are a good boot but I think my chippewas are a little better built and I like the look of my Chippewa's a little better also.

Keep the responses coming!

 

[Squibb]

Just observe ATGATT, if you want to stay safe. I still see riders in shorts/teeshirt/sandals, let alone alternative boots.

If you want to give your feet their best chance of surviving an accident, that means wearing good quality calf length motorcycle boots. These should have a fully bonded sole, preferably with a steel former to prevent the sole being twisted. Then they need good solid ankle & shin protection. Short/ankle boots do not satisfy this crteria, even if they look like bike boots. Then again, you don't need heavy Adventure/MX boots, just because you ride a Super10. Yes, boots will make your feet hot, in warm weather. Yes, they can be a nuisance when walking (just put some trainers in the top box & change). Ignore this at your peril. I had a low speed altercation with a car, in my youth, just wearing lightweight shoes. I was lucky to survive with just lacerations - a few inches the wrong way & my foot could have been mashed, just because I didn't bother to wear my boots for a short 3 mile trip.

Personally I am a Daytona man, but there are plenty of good quality motorcycle boots out there. Work Boots satisfy the task they were designed for - tough, all terrain use, with solid grippy soles & protective toe-caps. However, they have been known to fall apart in a bike crash. Military boots - well they are probably excellent all-rounders, but still lack protection in some crucial areas.

In the final event, we all want to do our own thing. OK, that's fine, but when it comes to protective gear, just do it with your eyes open to the risk factors. S**t happens, get proper protection if you want to stay in one piece.

Ride Safe .................... KEN

 

[Dogdaze]

You decide..........

 

[Koinz]

You decide..........

Holy molly.

 

[EricV]

Feet are hard to repair. Most people that have a motorcycle crash with foot damage will live with diminished use for the rest of their life. The same reasons you wear armored protective riding gear apply to wearing real motorcycle boots with shin, ankle, heel & toe protection. I have crashed a couple of times over ~35 years of riding, but was always wearing riding boots. The boots always suffered damage of some kind that a normal boot might have survived, but would still have likely caused foot damage w/o the extra armor built in to the riding boot. In one case, my foot got caught between the curb and the bike while sliding at 35 mph. W/o the reinforced toe and extra armor in that boot, it clearly would have crushed my foot and possible ground thru a lesser boot to my skin. I still broke a leg in that crash, but no road rash anywhere thanks to the gear.

Spend the money, accept that they can't do it all and take alternate footwear for your trips. I typically take some teva sandals which pack well. I currently wear TCX X5 boots on some street rides and Gaerne G Midlands on the Super Ten rides or anything going off pavement. They are comfortable to walk in and while I wouldn't choose them as a hiking boot, I have hiked to a lot of bonus locations up trails for a mile or two and constant shorter walks during endurance rallies w/o ever wishing I changed footwear.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Unfortunately, we need a piece of the bike which can impale your leg or be a pivot that the leg tries to break on. It's the foot peg.


I wear boots with the thought that the peg is a threat.

 

[Pterodactyl]

There is a very good reason motorcycle boots do not commonly use laces, or if they do, the laces are covered with a flap. Laces can easily become entangled and prevent the movement of the foot.

 

[taskmaster86]

Unfortunately, we need a piece of the bike which can impale your leg or be a pivot that the leg tries to break on. It's the foot peg.


I wear boots with the thought that the peg is a threat.

That especially seems to be a problem with the S10. Even just putting your feet down at a stop, the foot pegs are right in the way and whack me in the shins. Something with a built in shin guard would really be nice.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

No question to me about the value of a good heavy duty protective boot. I had a deer hoof do this to my bike.



Never felt it. Took me a while to figure out how the deer managed to do it. Didn't happen when dirt riding, happened on a highway at high speed. If you don't think your vulnerable at any time, in any situation, you're wrong. For me, I want nothing less than my Sidi Adventure boots. Worth every penny.

 

[Jbusch]

I have broken both feet and had surgery on both due to off road dirt bike accidents. First time I was wearing steel toe work boots, second time I was wearing mx style boots. I wear forma low boots now. Messed up feet suck! Crutches suck, knee scooters suck, surgery sucks. The forma low boots allow me to walk around comfortably and still offer protection. My plan is to have a trail running shoe in side luggage and use those when I want to hike around for long hikes. The low boots are easy to manage, easy on and off and comfortable, and easy to store even with my size 14

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

 

[taskmaster86]

After some research and consideration, I have decided I am going to spend the coin on a more protective, proper motorcycle boot.

I know that I want an ADV style boot that is comfortable on and off the bike. I want to be able to wear the boots all day, go for short hikes, work on the bike and wear my carpenter jeans over them. I do not mind some weight and break in time for the boots but I do not want a very restrictive, plastic MX style boot.

So far, I think I have narrowed it down to a few choices: The Sidi discovery rain, The Forma Cape Horn, Gaerne Midland (if I can find them) and maybe the TCX Infinity evo gore tex. I like all of them but I also have some reservations on all of them. The first 2 choices are the ones I am leaning towards and it is a toss up between the heavy duty protection of the discovery rain or the comfort and smaller upper of the cape horn.

If you have any experience or input for me, I appreciate it.

 

[Squibb]

All the boots suggested look good, if you want/need the 'Adventure' biker look.

However, if most of your riding is on pavement, something like the Sidi Evo Black Rain works pretty well - in fact, any good quality general purpose touring boots come to that. My old MX boots look the part, but I hardly ever wear them these days, just too bulky & OTT for road use - capable of kicking large chunks out of any bike, without even noticing.

If buying on-line, watch the foot sizes/widths - with Dainese/Sidi/Gaerne/TCX, I always need to try around one size larger, just to get the width right. For instance, I am a UK9/US10/Euro43, but need to go a full size up for comfort to UK10/US11/Euro44 with these brands. Whereas I always find Daytona(Frey) size perfect.

Ride Safe ..................... KEN

 

[Bryn]

Ken has mentioned Daytona already.... they are the most comfortable boots I've ever had..... the Daytona Non Stop ( I think) are police issue around here ( hence I got a free pair when I was still in the job )

They are over 4 years old, look like new, totally waterproof and I could walk around in them all day without them bothering me..... Worth considering.... I appreciate they don't look like adventure style boots but who cares

 

[Dogdaze]

You may want to consider Altberg, they too were UK Police issue at some point, they also make a 'Hogg' style that is designed for dual purpose, riding and walking

http://www.altberg.co.uk/product/hogg-all-weather-original/

 

[jmcgilroy]

I can't imagine taking a short hike in the MX boots you've selected or any others. Those Daytona boots might work. I guess this whole thing depends on the type of riding a person does. I'd love to hear that I'm wrong about the "off-the bike" comfort level of MX boots but until then, I'll have to stick with some GorTex hunting boot.

 

[Raptula]

I always ride with boots, up-graded from 1/2 to 3/4 Alpine Stars sport touring boot. I can't imagine riding with anything else. A few months ago I did a short 2 mile run with sneakers, it scared the crap out of me, never again.