I am SO over motorbike boots

[SPman]

I'm with Ixion on this. $400 worth of boots will not even last a season and I've tried many brands.

Recently, I reverted to sneakers. Well not sneakers like Jerry Seinfeld, more like Diesels.

Jeez - what do you do to them.......
I've got a 5 yr old pair of Sidi Verts, that have survived 2 crashes - saved my ankle in one - that I still wear, even though the soles are almost non existent, and a newer pair in Blue (reduced to $375), that match my Draggins and the XJR........

[pritch]

Well a visit to the friendly surplus store produced the goods. A pair of new unused UK paratroopers boots.

Another option not too dissimilar is the old type US fireman's boot. They have laces like the para boot but there is also a zip for speed. There is somebody local, maybe Martybabe or Swima who has a pair.

[talbertnz]

Just had my Alpine star boots fall apart!! was most surprised!! yes they are 5y/o and yes i've worn them a bit riding bikes about 10000km total max. but never realy walk on them for any distance at all. to uncomfy for that.
the sole just let loose badly. but fixed it with some no more nails
I LOVE that stuff!!!!!

[portokiwi]

Here is a two good sites for combat boots.
http://www.legear.com.au/Default.asp?
http://www.tacticalsolutionscorp.com/

[Coyote]

I'm over motorbikes boots, and pants, and gloves, and jackets, especially in this heat.

I've realised motorcycle gear is for people who want to look cool or want to live.

I wear my jacket down the road to please the parents, then I chuck it into my backpack.

[vifferman]

My last boots (StylMartin Strada) are still alive after about 6 years of daily use, and despite a couple of crashes. The velcro is less sticky, and one zip has a tooth missing. No damage to the boot itself or the soles.
Current boots are StylMartin StylSafe - had them for 2 years and six months, and they're still OK, although the velcro shows signs of wear, and the inner liner ("boot within a boot") is a little worn.

I think it's the daily use that ferks bike gear - all that putting on and taking off wears out the various fasteners. My old bike jacket (daily use for 7 years) is still good, apart from the velcro fasteners. Of course it's had some repairs due to sliding on the road a couple of times, and it's really faded (was red, now a sort of dirty colour) due to being washed six or so times, being subjected to traffic fumes and '"windblown dust'n'dirt", and a feeble attempt at dyeing it black.

[turtleman]

Have a pair of Gaerne boots that are 15 months/24000K's old. Not a lot of wear on the Leather upper, and some wear on the sole, though I don't walk around much in them.
Very comfortable, and still waterproof !

On the other hand, my KBC cordura jacket has leaked from day 1 !
The Alpinestars pants are waterproof to a degree - get wet in the crotch, where there is a non-waterproof gusset (what the fuck is the point in that !!??)

Have reverted to Warehouse pants and jacket for real waterproofness (over my leathers), and just use the cordura for light showers....

[mazz1972]

R-Jays now have a few different options including their Terrain Boots

[portokiwi]

They look like tramping boots or walk boots. I would hate to ask but whar the difference between normal walk/tramping boots to those RJs?
apart from the price?

[imdying]

The price of boots makes them dying a lot harder to swallow. I've a set of A* boots, SMX-R I think, not sure... $275 they cost me, and for that money they seem pretty good value.

Definitely check this place out, they've an excellent reputation.

http://www.newenough.com/

/edit: Might be these actually: http://www.newenough.com/boots/racin...cle_boots.html
/edit2: Or maybe even these!: http://www.newenough.com/boots/racin...cle_boots.html

They all look the same to me :s

/edit3: My boots came from Hahn Motorsport in Anaheim, it's across the road from Burger King

[Lil_Byte]

At last Ixion you have rocked up at the same conclusion I made years ago. Protector safety GUM boots & a winter warm army greatcoat is the coolest bike gear you will ever use. The gumboot may be hot in the summer but you can kick them off Sooooo easly. Safety gumboots $50 and they last about 4 years constant use. regards Richard

Have you ever seen what happens to peoples feet when the gumboots get ripped off as they are sliding across chip seal @ around 100k.

Lace up boots at least guys.....

[Timber020]

Have you ever seen what happens to peoples feet when the gumboots get ripped off as they are sliding across chip seal @ around 100k.

Lace up boots at least guys.....

+1

Gumboots wont stay on if you take a tumble especially if they are heavy. Ive known guys who have had there gloves thrown off in accidents.

I love my oliver AT's, I get about a year out of a pair before they are wrecked.

[Ixion]

You can get lace up gumboots. Like ordinary boots , with laces, but gummy. I wore a pair for many years Red Bull or Red Band or some such name.

[Motu]

I have a pair of 20 year old lace up gumboots,just like Dad used to wear doing the lawns....minus laces.They have a toe cap and steel shank - I used to ride off road with them and they are still covered in gorse prickles.I now use them to mow the lawns...minus the laces.

Nothing wrong with gumboots - if you get the right ones.

[Winston001]

Hmmm....got me thinking. Aeons ago I used to ride with Army-surplus boots which did the job nicely although the laces were a pain. Still, it was something you got used to and quick at after a while.

I currently use a pair of Sidi motorcross boots which I bought in 1989. They've probably done 30,000k mostly in the last 5 years. They have never leaked - never. I do look after them - nugget and wax, and someone commented just yesterday what nice boots they are.

Anyway, on the budget/practical side of things, I wonder how much trouble it would be for a shoe repair chappie to sew a heavy zip onto combat boots and do away with the laces altogether. Alternatively, three wide velcro straps on the boot would achieve the same result. My Sidis velcro closed with an inner lace which I don't bother doing up for shortish rides.