A question for the group:
I and planning a 12 month trip around Australia and Asia. I plan to do a lot of riding, but also a lot of hiking and walking. I need a good all-round boot that are comfortable to walk long distances in. I have previously used regular army boots, but they wear out fast riding on dirt roads. I have seen some Harley Davidson boots that are in army style that look good, but not sure about comfort or wearability. Bringing a separate set of hiking boots in addition to bike boots is not an option.
What is everyone else using?

Thanks
Johan

I have a pair of Hog Lites by Altberg.
http://www.altberg.co.uk/motorcycle_boots2.htm

They are good for hiking / biking. Like hiking boots but with a bit more protection in ankles /toe and shin , plus extra leather on the gear change area.

they are a small company and boots take a few weeks to make but I love them.

obviously a motocross boot is better for serious off -road stuff but these a a good compromise.

dave.

Dunno if you can get these in the US, but here's a pair of very good army-style boots from Swedish quality shoemaker Lundhags ( http://www.lundhags.se/ ). The construction is unique in that they use a cellular plastic for the lower part of the boot, making them very waterproof. The shaft is leather. They're used by the Norwegian Navy SEAL team instead of the standard-issue combat boots. They're made for the Nordic climate, though, and may perhaps be a bit too heavy for the tropics.

What about the Canadian Viberg boots? I'm interested in these because I too want to take only _one_ pair of boots on my trip. They have Vibram soles

The site is www.workboot.com.

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Waz
http://www.garagenight.tv

I also like the idea of using one pair of boots for biking and walking (saves lots of space) and I've done this for years with great success. I also bought a pair of AltbergHogg Lites, a lightweight 3 season boot - they say it's an ideal boot for continental touring. I'm happy with then so far and they're a good walking boot - seem fine on the bike too, but I've not tried them out in really wet weather.

My brother is a bit of an 'action man' and has used Altberg Peacekeeper boots in extreme conditions, ranging from desert to artic - he loves them. They're also pretty cheap (£80 GBP) - they'll replace worn-out soles too, so your boots should last for ever...

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Fuzzy Duck
(I'm quackers about bikes)

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Fuzzy Duck
(I\'m quackers about bikes)

Thanks for replies. I checked out all all kinds, including some Canadian army boots someone suggested, but I finally settled on the Altberg Hogg Lite as they seem to offer the right degree of compromise between hiking and riding (They actually look quite comfortable to walk in!). They are on order now and I should recieve them any day. I'll provide feedback here after I've tried them out fully.

I was just wondering how long it took to order the hog lites. I'm in new york city and am planning a trip for April. Thanks

Hi Eddie

I had to wait a month I think, before I got mine. This was because the factory closed for the summer holiday. They also make the boots in batches I think - so I had to wait for my size/type to turn-up. I guess this could be frustrating for some people. However, I'd much prefer to support this kind of business, which is a small, quality enterprise, than those b&st%rds at Reebok, Nike, Gap, etc... (sorry to get political)

Get your order in now - I don't think you'll be sorry!



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Fuzzy Duck
(I'm quackers about bikes)

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Fuzzy Duck
(I\'m quackers about bikes)

for my upcoming ride around? south america i plan on climbing as many peaks as possible - glacier peaks- so i'm thinking of using my crampon compatable climbing boots to ride in as well. they'll be hot and heavy though and the stiff vibram sole is no good for much walking. anyone ridden with boots like this very far?

Personally I wouldn't use climbing boots for riding, you lose too much feel. Also they are so much thicker than a riding boot that you end up having to adjust the gear lever up, and then you have to lift your foot a yard or so to downshift. No thanks.

Also not the best for walking around in a hot climate...

At minimum, I use a good pair of riding boots, and a pair of runners for walking around, and you'll want to add your climbing boots to that.

Yes it's a lot of footwear, but worth it. If your feet are miserable so are you.

There's nothing so good as taking a pair of climbing boots off and switching to runners...

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Grant Johnson

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 07 April 2002).]

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Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

EDIT
WHOOPS ... JUST REALIZED THIS THREAD IS 15 YEARS OLD! SORRY GUYS! I'LL LEAVE MY COMMENT UP AS I JUST BOUGHT THE BOOTS BELOW A FEW MONTHS BACK ... THEY ARE GOOD ONES ... AND BETTER FOR WALKING THAN I COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED!

Wow! Thanks for chiming in Grant ... I was beginning to lose faith in our Hubbers here. IMO, everything you've said is spot on. The other important factor is that very few "hiking" boots will protect you when riding. Tibia and foot protection are critical. Most serious hikers/rock climbers I know use a quality, lightweight trainer as Grant suggests. So much better than a stiff, heavy hiking boot. Look at what the pros are wearing these days.

Old school Army boots are IMO, are not very good for riding or hiking. Find a place to stash your trainers, they'll fit anywhere, just not a big deal and HUGE pay off when your looking at a 10 hour hike on rough terrain and max safety when riding with good boots.

Good riding boots will not only save your Tibia/Fibula but good ones will also provide good foot and ankle protection. Mine aren't full Motocross boots but offer really good protection and are very good to walk in ... but I would NOT
do serious hiking in them:


Light, flexible, comfortable, stiff where they need to be and very protective.
TCX Track Evo, about $250. (I paid $170 USD on sale)

Sadly that wasn't my experience Molly.

4 years ago I had a low speed fall in loose sand whilst wearing runners. Damage - simple avulsion fracture of right fibula.

16 months ago I had a low speed fall on loose gravel whilst wearing BMW branded TCX Adventure boots. Damage - fibula broken in two places (top and bottom), syndesmosis as a result of ligament tear between fibula and tibia, 2 smaller fractures of the talus.

In essence, the boots, by holding my ankle rigid, transmitted more shock and forces along the length of the fibula.

So, the short answer for me is that it all depends on the situation.

Last year I spent 2 months riding around outback Australia and I wore the riding boots.

I also spent two months riding around Indonesia and either wore hiking boots or open sandals.

Horses for courses, eh!

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Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman

True, always depends on the situation and the way you fall or if the bike falls ON YOU or your leg or ankle get trapped and twisted. Dozens of scenarios play out here, not many of them good.

I can only go on my experiences with dozens of crashes over the last 30 year of aggressive off road riding and 8 years racing AMA Enduro. I wore mostly good Moto race boots, last being Sidi CrossFires'. Many have complained of knee injuries as a result of a "too stiff" boot, so what you say can be true and it's why many racers now wear knee braces.

But in my experience the boots always did more good than harm. But of course, YMMV and "Horses For Courses" is certainly true. I've had the entire weight of the bike land on my foot via the foot peg ... no pain or injury due to good boots.

The TCX shown above have been a nice compromise for me. Good comfort combined with good (not great) protection. The leather is MUCH stiffer than a typical road boot and the ankle is boxed as is the toe area. The Tibia protection is good too. It's not a real stiff boot so walking is good. But it IS a compromise ... but I can guarantee it's better than any hiking boot or Army boot for riding.


I've worn flip flops for short runs around town too. Cool and convenient. But man, there can be a price to pay if you screw up.

I remember my first trip riding Thailand noticing locals riding in flip flops and sandals. Cool! Girls in short skirts or shorts, no protective gear in sight.

Then some Aussie tourists came off their rental bike, did a short slide down the road. We went down to hospital to help Ferry them back to their Guest House. They weren't too bad, just some road rash, bit of embedded gravel. Lots of pain.

But man ... what we saw at the Emergency Hospital was frightening. Dozens of bloody locals awaiting care. Mostly foot, ankle and knee injuries. Usual road rash too but the foot injuries stood out to me ... with BONES showing. Very bloody. A staff person said this was a typical Friday night. Very bloody affair.

I looked like a real Noob tourist, but after that I wore my boots with my shorts!
It's SO HOT and HUMID it takes dedication to wear proper gear. I get that 100%. Just use caution riding!

Sorry to hear that farqhuar. Hope you have a good recovery. You're right though, it's all very relative. But I personally prefer fully armored bike boots. The full leather with no armor as in the picture below doesn't increase protection much more than full leather road boots that go above the ankle in my opinion. I've had an ankle injury with unarmored boots and it didn't take much effort at all. Had plenty of stacks with Crossfires and no leg injury at all (knock wood). Been trying harder too. Still, severity is very subjective. An awkward fall can cause a large injury.

Personally I don't understand why people find boot armor optional but it's commonly accepted that shoulder armor should be in every jacket. Never really felt that I "needed" that myself.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Like some others here I've ridden off road and can vouch for the additional foot and ankle protection that MX or similar boots give. It's something you're likely to need in case of a dab on rough ground or if the bike topples onto your foot. It's also true that sturdy boots can transfer an injury to higher up the leg or knee, but on balance I still think I'd go for protection of the foot/ankle.

Not MX boots though, as these are really too stiff to walk any distance comfortably, and usually aren't particularly waterproof. They also can be a bit of a struggle to get on (especially if like me your hips don't bend the way they used to).

So I guess we come back to the Sidis that would seem to me the best compromise - higher than the Altbergs for ankle protection but not as stiff or as many straps as MX boots. Sidi additionally appear to do "adventure" boots as well as the classic Courier design. Anyone, any more thoughts?

Links to the websites:

Motorcycle Boots - Classic Styling & High Performance Boots by Alt-Berg

SIDI Motorcycle Footwear and Accessories | Footwear