Riding boots

[Real_Wolf]

Oh god, racing boots for wearing round uni would be painful, not the best for walking around. Other boots I listed are much more of a worthwhile idea

[Ixion]

Get yourself some combat boots, I got my first pair years ago when I was in the Army and they are by far the most comfortable things you can put on your feet! I have since upgraded to an American made pair, but pretty much the same theory applies. Good protection, ankle support, steel in the cap sole and heel, and waterproof. And REALLY nice to walk in, seeing as that is what they were made for!

+1. I am SO over motorcycle boots. Ovepriced, crap quality and leak like a leaky thing.

I have Oxford Bone Dry boots. What a joke that name is, if it's raining I might as well stick my feet in the bath before I go out. They leak badly because I had to epoxy parts of the sole back on, I wouldn't recommend these unless your a fish.

Those are the ones that put me finally right off motorcycle boots. Absolutely total and utter crap. I have also had to expoxy the soles back on, but now the uppers are breaking in half. Total rubbish.

What you need to do is get up to the Army Surplus place in K Road opposite the billboard of the chick with the gimormous tits, and get a pair of Army Surplus combat boots. Their stock varies, I got new Brit Paratroop boots for $300 and odd, they had Danish Army for about $100 . Mine are totally water proof, solid as a politicians head, and dead comfortable to walk around in all day. Tough leather and special ankle support (paratroops - think about it !).

[Dare]

What you need to do is get up to the Army Surplus place in K Road opposite the billboard of the chick with the gimormous tits, and get a pair of Army Surplus combat boots.

Thanks for reminding me about that place! Rep for you. EDIT: Haven't spread enough apparently.

[jono035]

Ahhh, the paratrooper boots are a good thought. Mine have held up quite well over the past year but I only walk out the front door and to the shed followed by walking up 2 flights of stairs and into the lab.

[motorbyclist]

Not really long distance walking, just able to walk enough such as between classes, etc

i manage quite well in my "racing boots", but they are by no means cheap

of course what makes them "racing" is light weight and breathability. The zip isn't waterproof and you do get wet after a while in heavy rain. Man Up.

"combat" boots would do just as well as tramping boots in a slide; pretty well really that leather is probably thicker than normal bike boots anyway!

[crash harry]

I've got 2 different pairs of Sidi boots - one racing-style pair and one touring style pair. Both are completely waterproof and I've had them for ages. The race boots have been crashed in several times and stood up really well. They aren't cheap - I think the were about $300 a pair, but they have lasted really well through some pretty harsh treatment and they've still got years in them.
I would buy Sidi again for sure.
The touring boots are pretty flexible really quite comfortable to walk in. Not maybe for miles and miles, but I often ride places when I'm meeting friends and more than once I've worn them out to town for the night with no hassles. Bonus is that they prett much look like leather shoes sticking out from under your jeans.
Forget about the racing boots for walking in. They make you walk like a cowboy because your ankles won't bend properly.

[Usarka]

I'm slightly paranoid about the combination of laces and pegs since i saw someone who couldn't get their foot down at the lights......

[Dare]

The touring boots are pretty flexible really quite comfortable to walk in. Not maybe for miles and miles, but I often ride places when I'm meeting friends and more than once I've worn them out to town for the night with no hassles. Bonus is that they prett much look like leather shoes sticking out from under your jeans.

/Thread?
Incidentally have been trying to find pants that a.Don't look & sound ridiculous off the bike and b. would stand up to a crash/moderate rain.
Wondering if army surplus has anything.. Might pop up now if they are open, need a gas mask!

[Slyer]

My Gaerne boots are great for walking around and waterproof too!

[jono035]

i manage quite well in my "racing boots", but they are by no means cheap

of course what makes them "racing" is light weight and breathability. The zip isn't waterproof and you do get wet after a while in heavy rain. Man Up.

"combat" boots would do just as well as tramping boots in a slide; pretty well really that leather is probably thicker than normal bike boots anyway!

My concern isn't just a slide. Having a bit of solid structure there in case of the bike ending up on your foot in whatever situation would be pretty useful. A mate just got out of the hospital after having his bike come down on his foot during a low speed high-side. 2 plates, 14 screws and a bone graft = something to be avoided...

[Real_Wolf]

My concern isn't just a slide. Having a bit of solid structure there in case of the bike ending up on your foot in whatever situation would be pretty useful. A mate just got out of the hospital after having his bike come down on his foot during a low speed high-side. 2 plates, 14 screws and a bone graft = something to be avoided...

Would the 'top' boots have saved it though? and how common is this in occurence?

Still rather tempted by the 1tonne boots so far, $135 is alot less than $300 that alot of the other ideas are possibly costing, though the army stock boots are very tempting. Anyone know rough prices on them?

[jono035]

Would the 'top' boots have saved it though? and how common is this in occurence?

Still rather tempted by the 1tonne boots so far, $135 is alot less than $300 that alot of the other ideas are possibly costing, though the army stock boots are very tempting. Anyone know rough prices on them?

No idea, will ask him what boots he was wearing once a little bit of time has gone by. I would imagine that falling off your bike in such a way that your foot ends up between the ground and the bike would be a common enough occurence to want to plan for it. I certainly don't think that expensive boots are going to be a panacea, but I'd sure has hell put more faith in them than standard workboots. The paratrooper boots sound good.

As with anything, it's your ankles, buy what you want but joint injuries can have serious impacts on you for the rest of your life.

[rapid van cleef]

do NOT wear boots with steel toe caps in for riding a bike. the potential for the steel cap to slice off your toes in a bad crash is huge.

[jono035]

do NOT wear boots with steel toe caps in for riding a bike. the potential for the steel cap to slice off your toes in a bad crash is huge.

I did some reading a while back into the whole toe-caps-cutting-off-your-toes thing after getting a pair for work and it seemed pretty clear back then that if it was a big enough weight to make the caps deform enough to cut your toes off, chances are they were toast anyway!

[scumdog]

I bought some harley davidson boots from wgtn motorcycles. They look like work boots.
Steel capped, good ankle protection & very hard wearing + very comfy to walk about in all day.. highly recomended.

3 years old & they still look brand new.

Sorta like him.

Steel-cap boots (cap in-built and covered ) with old ex army (don't ask which army..) gaiters, lasted for yonks, keep the breeze from whistlin' up ma britches and combined with waterproof leggings I have never had wet feetl

And with gaiters off (or even with them on if you can't be buggered) they're ok for walking around in.