Boots, which ones are worth my look?

[Smifffy]

I'm on the hunt for boots (which is WELL overdue) which brands/models should I be looking?
Since I will prob only be able to afford 1 pair & I ride almost everyday all year round my requirements would be as follows

Waterproof (I hate wet feet)
Warm
Comfortable (It's not uncommon for me to spend half a day walking round in bike boots on occasion)
Hard wearing/long lasting
Affordable
Decent width (I got wide feet, apparently a side-effect of running round barefoot & butt naked )
I guess they're the main ones & I ride a 80's Sports Tourer if that makes any difference.

What brands should I be looking? What do people have & love? What do people have & hate?

I have a pair like this:

http://www.harley-davidson.com/store...formance-boots

Yes, they are Harley branded, and I don't ride a Harley. They are made in China.

They are waterproof and hard wearing. They are super comfortable, I can ride somewhere, eg Paeroa streets, and then walk around in them all day. They seem to fit my big, wide, flat feet ok.

If I could find the generic brand from the same chinese factory, I'd buy another pair without hesitation.

[JimO]

I have a pair like this:

http://www.harley-davidson.com/store...formance-boots

Yes, they are Harley branded, and I don't ride a Harley. They are made in China.

They are waterproof and hard wearing. They are super comfortable, I can ride somewhere, eg Paeroa streets, and then walk around in them all day. They seem to fit my big, wide, flat feet ok.

If I could find the generic brand from the same chinese factory, I'd buy another pair without hesitation.

did you get the arseless chaps to go with them?

[JiB]

I have a pair of Alpinestars SMX-4 WP. Alpinestars seems to be the brand of boot that will accommodate my wide feet. TCX and Dainese are useable, but not especially wide.

My boots have been worn everyday for 3 years, they have done everything from commuting, to gravel/dirt trails, to track days. Still waterproof now, even after I went for a slide with them at Hampton Downs. As an added bonus they stopped my foot from being crushed by my bike.

The only problems haven't been the fault of the boot; they've got a bunch of scuffs and one of the zippers started to stick a little after the crash.

I know when it comes time to replace them I'll be buying Alpinestars again!

[Scuba_Steve]

Well got down to the bike shop on the weekend, didn't find a boot but now know some to look at & some not to
Seems the big ones are out - Alpinestars, SiDI, Gaerne
My fat foot fits - Forma, Oxford, RJ's

Are Forma any good, anyone know?
Anyone able to suggest other brands wide like Forma/Oxford/RJ?

[Gremlin]

I've got the Forma Adventure boot (probably not what you want, but it's experience with Forma), been very happy with it and would buy another pair.

[Madness]

Are Forma any good, anyone know?

I'm onto my second pair in so many years I've forgotten. They seem to hold up well, to weekend use at least.

I've found the only drawback being the shite insoles they supply with the boots. Might as well turf them out when new as they do fuck all but bunch up like a pair of Husaberks panties. Most irritating, especially when you're such a fat cunt that it takes a significant amount of effort to even just touch your boots.

[Scuba_Steve]

I've got the Forma Adventure boot (probably not what you want, but it's experience with Forma), been very happy with it and would buy another pair.

I don't mind the look of them, really depend on how they sit on the bike... But those Adventures, while alot of people seem happy with them, appear to be the only Forma boot anyone buys. Almost all the reviews for Forma boots on teh interwebs seem to be the Adventure ones

[willytheekid]

...you will look AWESOME!! (Luv mine!)




I just bought some half boots to replace my old Hein Gericke halfies (pissed I can't get another pair)...bought some Sidi GAS shoes -

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/sidi-gas-shoes

Its like I'm wearing socks!, there WAAAAY to breathable for my liking (freezing!, but will be great in summer), but they are very comfy!



...good luck with the boot hunt SS

[flashg]

I don't mind the look of them, really depend on how they sit on the bike... But those Adventures, while alot of people seem happy with them, appear to be the only Forma boot anyone buys. Almost all the reviews for Forma boots on teh interwebs seem to be the Adventure ones

I also use the Forma adventure boots, they are great and you can walk around in them all day, very comfortable. Mine are tan colour but they are available in black as well (for weddings and funerals)

[pete-blen]

I also use the Forma adventure boots, they are great and you can walk around in them all day, very comfortable. Mine are tan colour but they are available in black as well (for weddings and funerals)

+1....... black.....
also have a pair of shorty motor bike boots..great for just riding around town etc

[Digitdion]

I have a pair of Daytona gore tex boots. They are expensive. But total quality. Got sick of getting cold wet feet so went the whole hog. I got them from the states on a trip over there.
I think there is a wholesaler now here. Not sure who.
I have a very wide foot and no problems at all. Once the sole wears out they can be resoled.

[smmudd83_1999]

I'm on the hunt for boots (which is WELL overdue) which brands/models should I be looking?
Since I will prob only be able to afford 1 pair & I ride almost everyday all year round my requirements would be as follows

Waterproof (I hate wet feet)
Warm
Comfortable (It's not uncommon for me to spend half a day walking round in bike boots on occasion)
Hard wearing/long lasting
Affordable
Decent width (I got wide feet, apparently a side-effect of running round barefoot & butt naked )
I guess they're the main ones & I ride a 80's Sports Tourer if that makes any difference.

What brands should I be looking? What do people have & love? What do people have & hate?

there's a lot of you talking about adventure/off road boots here.

Going back to the original post (above), it would have been good to have known what sort of riding you are doing. You state that you ride an 80's sports tourer - an offorad boot isn't great as they are very stiff and normally require an upright leg position that maybe your bike doesn't allow (how sporty is this sports tourer?)
There is some logic in some the previous posts. But for my tuppence worth:

I like to walk around in my boots (as you do) -but more than this, I like a boot I can hike in. Because motorcycle boots normally have very stiff soles and poor flex they aren't good to walk 20km in. But that's part of their design for crash protection - design is just a balancing act of a series of compromises afterall.

For many years I used an older ex-British army boot. Not the new Goretex Magnums - I used the old, all leather construction of the late 90's/early noughties ("soldier 95" issue). If you keep 'em polished they were 100% waterproof. Good ankle protection, way better than a tramping boot. With a soft insole fitted I walked the Nijmegen marches in them twice, and spent 6 weeks peak bagging in Alberta/BC. Much stiffer outer sole than a walking boot so may fare OK-ish in a crash and are abrasion resistant. If you use waterproof trousers they come high enough so your pants fit over them (water will drip down into a lower tramping boot). I also used them for an 8000 mile (12 or 13 k kms) 6 week trip around Europe, a circumnavigation of UK, another European trans continental trip, wore them on my daily commute (I didn't own a car), and have ridden in them for 3.5 hours at -13.5 degC (not in NZ). Obviously, very few boots will be warm at -13.5degC, which gave me painful toes. Not fun.

Downsides - 1) laces. Some people reckon they can get caught on footpegs when you put your foot down. I've never done that, and maybe if they wore normal boots more often when riding they would also realise what a myth that is. Unless your laces are too long and your have excessive droop. As for laces "bursting open" in a crash...are buckles going to be any better?? 2) in summer your feet cook when walking distance off the bike. Which isn't a problem just gives you stinky sweaty socks. They're not all that breathable. 3) You have to retro fit with a soft insole if walking any distance, as I said, the soles are stiff and pass the hard impact if walking on tarmac straight to the soles of your feet after 20kms. 4) A dedicated motorcycle boot will have toe protection and sometimes a steel rod running up the front and back of the boot for additional ankle and shin protection. A boot made for long distance tabs obviously doesn't feature that. 5) If you are a lazy boot owner and have an aversion to shoe polish, they won't stay waterproof for more than a couple of years.

I would probably still be wearing them if I didn't mistakenly leave them behind in temporary barracks accommodation. Dang.
I now wear Frank Thomas Aqua boots. Despite being a touring & poor weather boot they are neither waterproof, comfy for more than 2kms walking, only good for distance riding down to about 6degC, and I'm not convinced of crashability next to a nice pair of AlpineStars. So, NOT recommended.

Old boots link. At this price, I might get me another set again....

http://www.britishmilitarysurplus.co...1-1123740.html

[rastuscat]

For Touring I have BMW Santiagos and also Sidi Canyons ,both Gore-tex and very comfy. Both are at the top end of the market. There are lighter road boots on the market but I find the ones with Gore-tex liners not as hot in summer.
TCX and Forma are good boots as well, keep a eye on Trade Me as there are some good buys some times near new when People order wrong size from overseas.

I had some Santiagos for years, wore them out. I have BMW Gravel boots now, best I've had, though the clips aren't as strong as the ones on the Santiagos.

It sort of depends on whether you'll be walking around a lot in them. I have some BMW All Round boots, but the sole wears out too fast for them to be my favourites. I have had new heels and soles on them.

Whatever you pick, get some that are able to be resoled.

[Gremlin]

there's a lot of you talking about adventure/off road boots here.

Just to refine this, they are different things. Adventure have a little more flex than off road/mx boots. Those are very stiff, often with metal around the edge of the boot and what not, 4+ buckles for fastening. Adventure boots are a little less hardcore, the Forma has 3 buckles for example. That said, yes, when they were brand new you had to shift your entire lower leg as there wasn't any flex.

Adventure and Off road boots are also taller than road boots.

You basically have:
- sport boots (track biased, no good for walking distance, good protection)
- touring boots (road biased, better at walking, less protection than above)
- adventure boots (adventure, usually good for walking until you head off road biased, decent protection)
- off road, mx boots (dirt biased, uncomfortable for walking, heavy protection)
- specialist stuff, like re-inforced shoe shapes for more comfort, less boot etc.