boots

[Puppysnake]

Interesting.  You just keep the zipper undone and rely on the velcro?  I pretty much dismiss any boot with zippers as they never fit my cankle.  Never thought to just not use them.

No. What I meant is I don't find the large zipper pull necessary to open/close the zipper, so I removed it. The metal zipper tab works fine without the large pull they add to it.

[Tretnine]

http://www.bikebandit.com/product/9650

Engineer boots, FTW

[Soupskin]

These...

[farrelly]

I usually ride in my sneakers or my doc martens.  What are boots actually protecting?  When you say ankle protection, do you mean from road rash during a fall?

I know that i had to wear above the ankle boots for the msf course, but they never explained why.

[happycommuter]

Dangit, the advantages of real bike boots are ankle protection (not just coverage), thin soles for ease of shifting, and soles that slide on the pavement instead of catching and sending you tumbling into BrokeBoneville.

Pricier boots will brace your foot against damaging unnatural movements, but the above safety benefits are desirable enough for those who wish to remain on two feet.

Seriously, get the bike rolling at a walking pace and lightly graze a sneaker or lug sole to the pavement.  Chances are it will not be a comforting feeling as your foot yanks back.  Imagine higher speed with full weight.

[ninskrillz]

ive got a pair of vintage Corbin zip up boots that are currently getting a new sole. will have them back tomorrow.

[niteman]

Currently riding in Doc Marten 8 eyelet boots. Good sturdy leather work boot, unfortunately no ankle protection though.

[NetCaptive]

I wear these, the zipper is great.  Also, it's hard to find anything in size 15, so you take what you can get.

http://www.workinggear.com/gc/customer/product.php?productid=48197&search=global_search

[LuminousPube]

I wear a pair of TCX and they are great.  Gets a little toasty when you have to walk somewhere.  But great even in wind and heavy rain.

[wingman]

I was told by a riding instructor that I should not wear steel toed boots because if they catch the pavement they will cause more harm than good. Anyone else hear anything like that?

[fishmeister]

            Maybe, most riding boots are steel toeless.

[Wahrsuul]

They are over all pretty good,I'd reccomend 'em. I have wide feet and I wear a size 10 and the length is good, they also have laces, a zipper and buckles, so between all that they're pretty adjustable.
for walking around, so far they are kind of stiff and i think they need some breaking in.

 They work great on the bike though.

they did have a yellow logo in the armor on the back which I thought looked dumb, so I masked it off and black-primered it to make em look noice

How heavy/stiff are the Icons?  I like the look and considered getting a set, but the "Paul's Comments" on the New Enough site have me concerned.  Are they hard to shift with?  Walk in?  In my case, the yellow logo would be a bonus:)

[bentman]

I was told by a riding instructor that I should not wear steel toed boots because if they catch the pavement they will cause more harm than good. Anyone else hear anything like that?

I wouldn't see why they would "catch" anymore that regular boots.  I wear steel toed shoes (work required) and the only problem I have is that the toe box is taller and doesn't always allow the shifter to drop all the way back after an upshift.  This results in no shift the next time!  I have to make a concerted effort to lower my toe between shifts.  Last night I adjusted the shifter up just a little, but haven't ridden yet so I don't know if this will help.

Dan

[Burgi]

I don't have these but they are going pretty cheap, especially for ICON
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/36/2178/CITEM/Icon-Motorhead-Boots-Closeouts.aspx?SiteID=em_May_06_PST_Main_Icon_Motorhead&WT.mc_ID=35714&WT.i_e_dcsvid=1579097708
I've got a pair of Honda textile boots and a pair of Red Wing work boots. I think the Red Wings would survive anything, comfortable but real heavy if I have much walking to do.

[Sideways]

How heavy/stiff are the Icons?  I like the look and considered getting a set, but the "Paul's Comments" on the New Enough site have me concerned.  Are they hard to shift with?  Walk in?  In my case, the yellow logo would be a bonus:)

I'm glad you asked, I should have posted about this a while ago, I kinda think these boots suck now, they're ok for riding I guess and possibly karate kicking someone but they're VERY stiff, they should be broken in by now but don't feel like it.
 
Feels like ski boots.
 They make a lot of noise when you walk.
 They shift just fine, they are big though so some people might need to adjust their shift lever, i didn't though.
They look pretty extreme too, luckily I'm sexy enough to pull it off

 on the plus side they are very sturdy.
 I wouldn't recommend them anymore, overall.
I would look for a boot that feels better walking around in.

[Moedad]

I have these Red Wing 2245 work boots, only I got mine back in the early 90s when they weren't $170 a pair, sheesh! They seem to do the job. I dropped a bike and pinned my left foot with no damage to my foot/ankle and only some "character" scuffs on the boot. Mine are redder than these too.

[snuff217]

I usually wear a pair of CAT steel toe work boots

[mwallette]

Dangit, the advantages of real bike boots are ankle protection (not just coverage), thin soles for ease of shifting, and soles that slide on the pavement instead of catching and sending you tumbling into BrokeBoneville.

Pricier boots will brace your foot against damaging unnatural movements, but the above safety benefits are desirable enough for those who wish to remain on two feet.

Seriously, get the bike rolling at a walking pace and lightly graze a sneaker or lug sole to the pavement.  Chances are it will not be a comforting feeling as your foot yanks back.  Imagine higher speed with full weight.

I've been thinking about the Icon Field Armor boots that...ummm, Sideways, I think it was...mentioned above, but the tread looks really similar to the tread on the hiking boots I'm wearing now (Vasque Clarion GTX, if it makes any difference).  Is there something different about the tread design on the Field Armor boots that would keep this from happening, or are they likely to be just as bad as my hiking boots?

Edit: Saw Sideways' last post about the boots being too stiff for day-to-day wear.  Too bad -- I commute on my 'Hawk and the Field Armor boots would be fine where I work.

[Custom82Hawk]

i wear a cheap pair of boots from walmart.  i got some slide ons i'm wearing now with my jeans, but i have another pair that are over the ankle lace ups.  both steel toes.  i was wearing the lace ups when i had my accident with the deer, and the leather on the toes scuffed through to some kinda red stuff (in the leather, not my flesh) on the steel toe, but other than that they were great.  i call em my deer boots and still wear them.  my feet and ankles weren't hurt in the accident, and considering how scuffed up they were, i know my feet took some hits in my attempt at learning how to fly

[Hangster]

I've been riding 3 hours every night now to practice riding on main roads in traffic and the freeways , these are what i wear and love them , the only thing that bugs me is that they make a squeak noise when you walk around in them  (but i'm guessing with time that will fade away , in any case they are real comfy and the Velcro in front does an awesome job of keeping the laces secure ...... up on these shoes..http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/36/13094/ITEM/Shift-Racing-Fuel-Street-Shoes.aspx

[Vermontster]

Hangster, do the boots still squeak after a summer of riding and walking?

[Hangster]

Hangster, do the boots still squeak after a summer of riding and walking?

Not so much any more , i guess they just needed to be broken in ..Be aware though they don't make them in half sizes , i wear 10 1/2 so i bought 11 and they fit perfectly

[Vermontster]

Thanks. Those look like comfortable boots, at a good price, and something I could wear at work.

[Sideways]

UPDATE on the ICON boots;

It took a whole season to break them in, but now I totally like them. I just unbuckle the side buckles when I want to walk around.

[Captainkirk]

I have a set of steel-toed engineer boots (Wal-Mart; $40.00) that I wear for riding. Not so much on the Hawk any more; for some reason, I have trouble catching second gear quite often (but only on the Hawk!?) I'm wary about riding with lace-ups, even with shaft drive....you still have a spinning wheel behind you.
Can't see where steel would cause problems with catching the ground, but an interesting thought.
However, for those of you who were wondering. ankle protection is highly recommended by MSF instructors, and gym shoes frowned upon (they made us wear boots).