boots

[detdrbuzzard]

do you wear riding boots ? what kind and how are they?

[xxxbotchlaxxx]

I wear my skate shoes!  I honestly feel odd and clunky in real boots

[beardking]

I wear my Doc Martens, but I'd like to get a pair of these:
http://www.newenough.com/closeouts/bargain_basement/teknic/freestyle_motorcycle_boots.html

[MrF]

If I'm heading to work, it's my steel toed work boots.  I'll ride with tennis shoes on at times depending on where I'm heading, but most of the time I wear an old, ridiculously broken-in pair of Bates Durashocks:

[DesignFlaw06]

I have leather boots (not steel toed) that I normally ride with. Tennis shoes if it's warm out or I'm not going to work. If I'm wearing shorts (under my riding pants), I wear the tennis shoes. Looks wrong otherwise wearing big leather boots and khaki shorts. Not to mention my pasty white legs to offset them too.

[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.

I have Triumph Explorer I boots, which are OK.  I refuse to lace boots up twice a day, and zippers never work, so my options are limited.  The waterproof liner seems to leak a bit, and they are a bit loose on my narrow heel, but they are the bast I could find without ordering tons of boots and returning most of them.
They have been superceded by these Explorer II boots, but it's pretty much the same thing.
Oh yeah, i really try to avoid colorful logo-ridden boy-racer boots.

[Pizzmeister]

I wear the River Road Traditional Square-Toe Harness Boots.

http://www.riverroadgear.com/rrweb2.nsf/Products/D3540D31E49103988625735B0051D509?opendocument

I originally bought the River Road Double-Zipper Field Motorcycle Boots ( http://www.riverroadgear.com/rrweb2.nsf/Products/311E00319F5AD39F86256E2E007AE155?opendocument ) , but the toe area was so tall, I couldn't fit it under the gearshift lever without a lot of trouble, and I don't want to have to think about that when I'm riding.

[JWBrockman]

I just got a pair of these a couple weeks ago:
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/36/73/ITEM/Alpinestars-Ridge-Waterproof-Boots.aspx
I like them so far. They're pretty comfy for a stiff boot, the only problem I really have is the thickness of the toe. Shifting took a little getting used to, but it does have a stiff toe section so it is easier on the foot. I had been riding in a pair of slip-on ECCO boots that I'm sure provided zero protection.

I also have a pair of Hein-Gericke engineer boots that I bought before I really knew what I was buying, but I hate them. The fit is really weird, my toes are all squashed together, but my heel floats all over the place. So I kinda felt like they would just fly off if I ever crashed in them anyway. Maybe they would fit someone else better, but I basically tried them on once and threw them in the back of the closet. I should probably put them up on ebay just to get rid of them.

[gammer]

I wear my Doc Martens, but I'd like to get a pair of these:
http://www.newenough.com/closeouts/bargain_basement/teknic/freestyle_motorcycle_boots.html

I have these exact boots and I love 'em.

[beardking]

I wear my Doc Martens, but I'd like to get a pair of these:
http://www.newenough.com/closeouts/bargain_basement/teknic/freestyle_motorcycle_boots.html

I have these exact boots and I love 'em.

I wish I could say the same.  I finally found a place that sold them locally and was able to try them on.  Unfortunately they just didn't fit right.  If I got them in size 11 they were wide enough for my feet but too long, if I got them in 10 they were just right in length but way too tight in the width.  Still searching for a good pair of actualy motorcycle boots, although my Doc's did a good job of protecting my left foot when I went down last month.

[xxxbotchlaxxx]

I wear doc martens work bootshoes now because work gave them to me for free.  They are good leather boots, but they are shoe style so no ankle protection 



these are the ones

[Hondo]

I wear Tourmaster Solution waterproof boots for street riding -

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=82&cat=7

[CraigF]

I wear Tourmaster Solution waterproof boots for street riding -

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=82&cat=7

I was just looking at those last night on NewEnough.   They look good.  How do they fit?

[Sideways]

I wear my skate shoes!  I honestly feel odd and clunky in real boots

that's what's up son! I have been riding on and off for like 14 years and always wore my skate shoes or work boots if im goin to work, but I just the other day bought some icon armor boots and I could get used to 'em,

[Hondo]

I wear Tourmaster Solution waterproof boots for street riding -

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=82&cat=7

I was just looking at those last night on NewEnough.   They look good.  How do they fit?

They fit great and are truly waterproof & very comfortable.

[Sideways]

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

[CraigF]

I wear Tourmaster Solution waterproof boots for street riding -

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=82&cat=7

I was just looking at those last night on NewEnough.   They look good.  How do they fit?

They fit great and are truly waterproof & very comfortable.

I'm still considering these boots.  Are the sizes accurate?  I can't find them locally, and I'd prefer not to order them and end up with the wrong size. 

I wear a 10.5 in most shoes, but I wear 11 in Addidas.  Trying on boots today I found that most US10/EU44 fit me the best.   

I tried Alpinestars Ridge (EU43 fit me in this one) and TCX/Oxtar Matrix II in EU44 was very comfortable.   The BMW dealer also had one pair of Street Sneekers 2 in EU44 that felt like a slipper.  I'm ruling those out because 1) they aren't water proof and 2) they aren't very protective.

The Tour Master Solution WP looks very similar to the TCX Matrix II for 1/2 the price. 

[DonD]

I wear Tourmaster Solution waterproof boots for street riding -

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=82&cat=7

Love my Solutions too, very comfy on and off the bike and WATERPROOF! Also wear Deadora Express, very very comfy on and off the bike and WATERPROOF!!

[DaHawk]

Im going to get a pair of these, I dont ride long distances where I may be in the rain or bad elements usually and I also need something with some style on campus or work all day. http://www.shoebuy.com/bed-stu-tracker-3/208322/457079  Even got a bottle opener so I can ride wasted, jk.

[CraigF]

Hondo or DonD,

I guess I wasn't too clear in what I asked  --I need help with sizing.  Do these sizes run close to typical sneakers?  I'm pretty close to placing an order and would really like to get the right size the first time.

[detdrbuzzard]

i ended up getting two pair of boots sorry no pics. got a pair of tourmaster response sc short cut boots and a pair of diadora though i don't remember the model name. the tourmaster are wider but both are comfortable and with a dr schroll insole i can wear them and walk in them most of the day

[FAITHBIKER]

My boots are a little unorthodox, but I'm from MI and happened to be in Texas, so had to pick up some of these.  They are very comfortable and have lots of sole protection and toe protection, however lacking in ankle protection. They are Ariat, good old stockman pair of boots. 

[fishmeister]

i take a 10 1/2 and had to buy 11s on the tourmasters. and can barely get by the instep. good boots feel flat footed walking....not much arch and heel padding.

[Puppysnake]

With dress shoes, I wear a size 11 1/2 - 11 3/4, depending on the brand. I ordered a pair of size 12 Aerostich Combat Touring boots a few weeks ago, the overall fit was okay except (as is often the problem with me) it was too tight over the instep, even with the buckle loose. I sent them back and ordered a pair in 12.5. They were better over my instep, but the overall fit was too big. They're not available in wide sizes (plus the leather felt like it would take longer than my old Army boots to break in), so I sent them back for a refund. They just wouldn't fit me right.

After reading this thread, I ordered a pair of Tourmaster Solutions in size 12, and they arrived today. I like them. The leather is stiff, but not overly so, and it feels like they'll break in rather quickly. There is a bit of a hard spot on the right ankle bone, but I'm thinking it'll improve as the leather softens up. Also a bit hard on top of the big toe of each foot, but that's typical of new leather boots. I think it will also get better with time. I've broken in plenty of new boots after ten years in the Army to be familiar with this process.

The instep isn't too tight, if feels good. The overall fit is just a hair on the large side, but I prefer it that way. I can't stand it when my feet feel cramped. They're only available in whole sizes, so I'm pretty sure if I went down to an 11, they'd be too tight. So I'll stick with these.

From the reviews I've read online, some people have a hard time getting their foot through the hole into the boot. I don't have that problem, maybe because the boot is just a bit large on my foot. It's just a bit of a squeeze going through, but once my foot is through the hole and into the boot, the fit is good and the slightly smallish hole makes for a good fit around the ankle.

The sole has plenty of grip, and they fit fine under my everyday jeans (although I'll probably ride with my pants tucked in the boots). They have some flex and feel like they'll be okay for shifting (haven't ridden in them yet). Also the top can't be tightened completely snug around your leg, so there is a gap at the top front. This makes moving my foot around even easier as it shifts a bit, but not enough to feel too loose, and so far they feel good walking around in them. I'm going to keep them and give them time to break in, I think those couple of hard spots will be okay by then. I think it's a good boot for the price. I removed the large pull from the zippers. I don't find it necessary to open/close the zipper, and they just add unnecessary bulk under the flap.

Here are some pics (the white stitching doesn't contrast as brightly against the black leather as it appears in the pictures, that's an effect of the camera flash. I think it's an attractive boot overall)...

[happycommuter]

I don't find it necessary to open/close the zipper, and they just add unnecessary bulk under the flap.

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.