Boots: Cheap Vs Expensive

[TygerTung]

Is it worth it to get some expensive Sidi touring type boots or am I beter to just get some cheap RJ's or something?

I would prefer to get some kind of boots with replaceable soles etc.

I got some new RJ's about 4 or 5 years ago, but the zip has now broken and the soles have worn out- there is a hole in the right one from the kickstarter. It's not really worth trying to repair them.

Do the expensive ones actually last any longer then the cheaper ones? I am happy with the RJ's other than the longevity.

Is there any New Zealand manufacturers making motorcycle boots?

Any ideas, thoughts etc would be great,

Sam

[onearmedbandit]

Like most things, there will be 100 different opinions out there, none of them 'right' as such. For myself, I go with the best gear for things like feet and hands. Lots of small bones to break. I wear A*'s Super Tech R's, separate internal booty to keep your ankle and foot isolated from heavy blows, which are absorbed by the outer hard shell. Not cheap at $800 but considering how much I use my feet, and how much I rely on them, it's a very small price to pay.,

[pritch]

I had a pair of StyleMartin "Sympatex" but wasn't happy with the waterproofing and eventually plumped for Sidi Canyon Gore-Tex. So far so good.

Only minor complaint is that the fastening system is a bit fiddly. If you're less comfortably upholstered than me that might be less of a problem?

Sad experienced suggests though that it's no good wearing waterproof boots if you aren't wearing waterproof trousers and jacket. :whistle:

If you went for waterproof boots the lining would likely be past its best by the time the soles needed replacing.

[Grizzo]

I forked out $300 for some skelerup schoen forestry boots.
Badass as hell and can handle all kinds of abuse.
Plus, the soles are easily replaceable.

Takes a little bit to get used to shifting with the steel caps but!

[caspernz]

Boots can be like helmets, anything from $150 to $1050 may suit, depending on your choice.

I've got three pairs of boots, Revit, Gaerne and a pair from 1tonne. Nothing wrong with the pair from 1tonne in my view, about $200 if I recall correctly and just as comfy as the other two brand names. Not crash tested, but wearing well.

I doubt many boots these days are used to the kickstart on a two smoker? :weep:

[1tonne]

Currently we are we are rather low on some boots. We have another shipment due in about 3 weeks.

[AllanB]

All purchases of this nature are driven buy what I can afford. Consequently the best fitting, best featured gear at that point in time is without a doubt the best gear for me. But if I wont Lotto .........

[vifferman]

My StylMartyn 'StylSafe' boots (third pair of StylMartins) recently blew out both zips after 7 years. I was bummed because I narrowly missed out on replacing these for $250 with another pair (they're $450 retail). I toyed with getting the zips replaced for around $200-$250, till I read that boots should be replaced at 5 years. Shame, as these are still good apart from the zips, and comfy as slippers.
So... I decided to go in another direction, and bought some Forma Cape Horn boots, because they felt like they had better ankle protection (probably not, as the StylSafe has 7 CF plates in each boot). So far, they feel great on the bike, but are terribly uncomfortable for walking in: very stiff, and tight. But they're waterproof, warm, and have no zips (velcro, and two buckles/straps on each boot, which can be readily replaced.)

[tigertim20]

my experience over the last few years has been this.
I bought gear while low on funds. I got some boots for around $100 new, CNELL brand. Knew they were cheap but it was better than nothing.
Had those boots for about three and a half years. Alot of that time they were used for daily commuting, and regular (2-3 times a week) longer rides as well after work and in weekends. Used them for regular multi day rides/touring, and a few trackdays.
I did over that time have a few spills, including one fast one at the track. Through it all the boots were always comfortable, and felt like they provided decent support. None of the abuse caused any real damage to them, and they saved me from injury more than once.
eventually though they were in need of replacement.

I ended up getting some better ones this time, from 1tonne. now I was never unhappy with the old boots, but compared side by side, the old ones simply cant stack up in terms of value, qaulity, comfort and support.

I would recommend based on my personal experience that you go for something that costs a little more. there is a point whre you are paying extra for a brand, but do your research, and great gear can be found for reasonable prices

[TygerTung]

I don't really mid paying a bit more - as long as I know they are actually going to last longer.

The cheap boots these days seem to be reasonably well made, are the posh boots actually much better?

Maybe it is best just to get some high leg combat boots and put in some lace in zips? As long as they are stiff enough they should do the job and not wear out like motorbike boots.

Something like this might work http://www.kiwidisposals.co.nz/footwear/730-french-combat-boots

Any thoughts?

[rapid van cleef]

Its a lot of cash but Alpinestars supertech R are the best and most comfy boots you can get in my opinion. Ive tried on lots when i was just back in the uk sidi, tcx etc.

I paid 600 bucks for them in the uk. You can also get them from fc moto in germany for the same price plus about 20 bucks for shipping

[nallac]

Maybe it is best just to get some high leg combat boots and put in some lace in zips? As long as they are stiff enough they should do the job and not wear out like motorbike boots.

Something like this might work http://www.kiwidisposals.co.nz/footwear/730-french-combat-boots

Any thoughts?

Unfortunately they offer next to no ankle support, very easy to twist(or do worse to) your ankle...

I know, Work boots are all i've used up until this week. It made for a Hard and sore ride back from the Cold kiwi last year. 500k's of not being able to change gear with out extreme pain is not fun.

I just picked up a pair of second hand Preexport boots off T/me for that reason....

[1tonne]

I used to use (about 17 years ago) work boots until my leg went between my bike and the front bumper of a car. (Then I went over the corner of the bonnet)
Scared the living daylights out of me. Could have lost my leg.
Luckily I came off without any major damage and was even able to walk with a limp afterwards. But now I don't take the chance and always wear good boots with proper armour.

[Big Dave]

I can relate - my bike boots were worn out from dragging on the deck. Again.

I bought some sturdy new safety boots from K-mart yesterday - $49.95. They will do me just fine for riding.

Water proofing is more of an issue in NZ though.

[unstuck]

Find a traffic cop, and nick their boots. :Punk::Punk:

[Big Dave]

Find a traffic cop, and nick their boots. :Punk::Punk:


Particularly if you after that Hitler Youth look.

[unstuck]

Particularly if you after that Hitler Youth look.

Thats the one OI.:woohoo:

[TygerTung]

These ones look like they might be quite long lasting. http://www.aerostich.com/clothing/footwear/combat-touring-boots/aerostich-combat-touring-boots.html

[sketch]

i was lucky enough to pick up a pair of sidi vertigos for a hundy bucks off a mate before he moved to aus, there the business, end of

[pritch]

Something like this might work http://www.kiwidisposals.co.nz/footwear/730-french-combat-boots

Any thoughts?

I thought "French combat" was an oxymoron?

[Erelyes]

Avoid steelcaps or workboots. You'll probably lose the toes the caps are trying to prevent, and no decent ankle support. Plus laces can be hazard.

You could get some 'tanker boots' if you wanna go military styles. Google em.

Actual motorbike boot wise, 'Neo Targa' did it for me in the budget range. Left leaked ever so slightly from new and right was solid; after giving it the once over with some bees-waxy-dubbiny-leather-waterproofing-shit, they're both solid.

Not as comprehensive protection as something more expensive, but fit for my purpose (commuting, occasional weekend jaunt - no trackdays etc).

[Hailwood]

I had a pair of Stylesafes that lasted almost 08 years from memory..best boot I ever owned. I would own another pair but they dont make them in my size anymore.

I ended up getting a pair of Sidi Canyon boots from tardme for $250..retail is $500ish.

My 2c worth..boots are like all gear..get the best you can afford..how much is your skin worth?

[BMWST?]

after starting riding again and the zips giving up in my old axo touring boots i wanted something with some actual protection around the ankle and foot and shin.I ended up getting some Gaene adventure boots,they are a bit bulkier than i wanted but it seems you cant have one without the other,relatively comfy too

[george formby]

I have an older pair of Sidi goretex adventure boots, I guess 6 years old. All day comfortable & watertight. They are still rock solid in every aspect except the soles. I have not followed through on the recommended cobblers from a thread I started recently for info on a re sole but this thread got me thinkin about cost / benefit. It might cost me $100 to get them done properly, they might not get done properly, it might cost me more with courier charges, er, guaranteed really, etc.

Thing is, I know I can get reasonable boots from the likes of 1tonne for 2 hundy or so with excellent after sales service should i get a "bad" pair. At that price a few years use then replacement seems better value than $450+ boots which need more money spent on them & may well shit themselves before the new soles give out or the replacement soles may wreck the boots. Get my drift? The Sidis are great, I highly recommend them but the way I use boots, which includes walking in them, I'm yet to be convinced they are the best $$ value. I will report back when they get cobbled.

[vifferman]

I've had two bikes written off. The first one (my first bike, a CB175), I t-boned a car that didn't give way (but yeah - I could have avoided it if I'd been more 'on to it'). My gear was: open-face helmet, leather jacket, jeans and jandals. Got a few scrapes and bruises, and 9 stitches in my right knee.
Last bike I wrote off was a 1991 VFR750, that a brain-dead car driver u-turned into. I was wearing all the gear: good AGV helmet, Spidi gloves, Teknic jacket with back protector (came in handy when I bounced off the car onto my back!), leather pants with knee armour (which saved my left knee when it was between the bike and car), and StylMartin boots. I suspect I broke my heel (couldn't walk), but it was never x-rayed due to the hospital being flat out and overcrowded due to renovations. Because of the heel thing, the next StylMartins I bought were the StylSafe, which have been untested, like all the rest of my gear.
I wouldn't go without wearing armoured gear (with joint protection etc), including boots. And you have to pay for that, which gets to be a pain in the wallet when gear requires replacing every five years or so.

[TygerTung]

All I'm trying to work out is do the expensive boots actually last longer than a cheap pair of RJ's etc? I'm satisfied with how safe the cheap boots are- they all have good armour these days, but I just want to know if the expensive ones are actually longer lasting?

I don't mind spending more money if they're going to last me 20 years or something, but if they are all only going to last 5 years of occasional use (I usually ride my pushbike) I may as well just get the cheapies.

[george formby]

All I'm trying to work out is do the expensive boots actually last longer than a cheap pair of RJ's etc? I'm satisfied with how safe the cheap boots are- they all have good armour these days, but I just want to know if the expensive ones are actually longer lasting?

I don't mind spending more money if they're going to last me 20 years or something, but if they are all only going to last 5 years of occasional use (I usually ride my pushbike) I may as well just get the cheapies.

If you buy a top line pair of boots for occasional use, yeah, they will last.
In your position I would go for second tier boots, though. Just makes more financial sense. I stumped up for the Sidi's because I need boots that would take a regular beating which they have done but for Sunday squirts & the odd jaunt probably overkill price wise.

[Flip]

Had cheap MC boots, had expensive MC boots. They are all crap, uncomfortable and don't last long.

I have worn the same tall "shit kicker" style work boots since 05 on my scooter. I know the brand is Blue Steel and they are as comfortable as slippers. They also last for ages.

In a distant 2nd place was a pair of Martins touring boots that stayed waterproof for a couple of years, but I did tear the sole off going dirt bike riding.

This is what my boots look like, on the track on an advanced skills course.286870

[\m/]

I've got a pair of Gaerne GRW Aquatechs, cost me about $400. Been very happy with them so far, not too cold in winter or too hot in summer. From my experience they have good crash protection as well, having walked away from a trackday lowside with my left foot only a bit sore for a day. Only issue I've had is that the soles are wearing on the ball/arch area, though they have done over 50,000kms of riding.

[baffa]

I prefer well made flexible boots, as opposed to the ultra protection bad boys that are a pain in the ass to walk with, but thats just me.
Bought a pair of Gaerne (some italian brand) boots not so long ago, so bloody comfortable, and decent ankle protection, which is my main concern.