What are people wearing on their feet.

[goodwoodweirdo]

I'm looking for a decent all-round boot, something safe to wear but also possible to walk in.... I like the idea of a high motor cross boot as it gives protection to my calf's which fall victim to my metal boxes. I've seen the Diadora Stone2 in brown, however retails at €240 ....

Do motocross boots loosen and make walking possible ? where the hell can you store them on the bike if you change boots ....

Currently using a hard hiking boot, at least I get one part right - the walking ....

Salut Matt

ps. why are most boots crazy colors !!

[Matt Cartney]

I have the same dilema (as I think do many people) and am currently wearing mountaineering boots which are not great for riding in. Am thinking along the lines of these now:

http://www.geargarrison.co.uk/shop/p...roducts_id=235

Cheap too.

Matt

[PatOnTrip]

Look for the cheapest motocross boot in the AlpineStar lineup (Tech-4). Forget the top one like Tech-8 or 10. There is too much plastic in them and for sure you can't walk.

As for the Tech-4, most of the boot is made from leather and after the break-in period become soft enough for walking. Add a good sole in them and you'll be OK. With this setup I have no problem walking for 2-3hours.

Pat

[BruceP]

Altebergs , Hogg all weather.

http://www.altberg.co.uk

Dry, comfy.

I even walked up Snowden in them :-)

[Wheelie]

Check out this thread http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...highlight=nike


On our recent trip to Africa I used the Nike Air Zoom Tallac PRO XCR, a really high tech light weight hiking boot.



My wife wore a pair of Timberland Cadions, which I found an even better choice as they were sturdier.



Either choice:
Cool
Extremely lightweight
Sturdy
Water proof breathable membrane
Acceptable ankle coverage
Roomy: enough so that I can layer up with socks in cold weather, or if my feet get wet (don't need to wait for boots to dry out).

These boots do compromise safety somewhat, and more or less so depending on how and where you ride. But, with these you will only need to bring this one pair of boots and a pair of hiking sandles to be fully covered for an RTW. For extra safety you might want to go for strap on knee/shin guards that can be strapped on to the outside of the pants. Persoanlly I don't ride so hardcore that I feel the extra safety is worth the extra hassle and discomfort.

Virtually all my riding gear has on/off bike versatility. For a slight reduction in safety I get a vast increase in comfort, versatility and convenience. Being able to enjoy a long lunch at a nice restaurant without having to change clothes or be mistaken for an interstellar space traveller is truely a great benefit, as is being able to ride to a scenic site and take hike in it, comfortably in ones riding gear. Another benefit is that you don't need to pack as much stuff.

In the end it is about biking philosophy and risk aversion.

[Jake]

Got to say Altburg Hogg boots, use them to ride in all the time as they were designed from military combat boots and hiking boots and adapted for bike riding they are perfect Have also done some big hikes in Norway as well as went ice climbing etc while up there, the Hogg boots were fine for everything. They are great all rounders and the quality is superb and they are Black, waterproof, re-buildable and repairable and cost at the factory custom fitted and sized built to order about £125.00 I think they are a bit more on Altburgs website.

[Bill Ryder]

I kind of enjoy my clunky low tech moto cross boots. They give great support to my foot that was permanently damaged from having a fully loaded bike smash it into the ground and slide for a long ways at 90kph. all the gear all the time.

[Laromonster]

This is what i wear

the hinged ankle makes them comfortable for short walks yet provide good protection from ankle twists and roll overs.
They do get a bit hot but a thin pair of coolmax socks help.
They are not waterproof

[flashy_cj]

Have been on the road for three weeks now and both my wife and myself are well pleased with our Combat boots. They are waterproof and breathable, almost no breakin time and they look ok in a pair of off-bike pants. They are pricey but worth the investment. Its like a helmet for the feet. Hurt the head and it really interfeers with the riding, hurt the feet or any lower bone structure and and it really messes up walking.

[Von Ryan]

Altberg boots and x socks

[Flyingdoctor]

I've had my Altbergs for two years and they've been the best boots I've

tried. After 8 hours in Norwegian rain my feet were the only dry part left.

I've run and walked plenty of miles in boots and these are as comfortable

as any. They didn't have to be broken in either. Like slippers.

It seems anyone who's tried them loves them. Enough said.

[narly]

Here's my two cents after dropping my loaded klr650 and having my foot trapped under it.
The fancy leather, or even the military boots won't cut it if you drop (or crash) your bike. I've done this particular stupidity with two bikes (60k laydown and slow speed drop) and still have feet because I was wearing backpacking boots. Some of my friends also having done the asphalt inspection program (crash), and were wearing military or light riding boots. They came out much worse. My last dump would have resulting in a bad crush injury. As it was, I took some damage.
My criteria for a boot is that I can still hike good distance (have a bike break down on you and you will quickly and painfully find out why) and still ride comfortably in them.
My particular boot at the moment is a Gronnel heavy duty backpacking boot. It is the same boot I wear for ground search and rescue. That should tell you a bit about what extreme demands I place on my boots.
I have worn (out) Danner recons (2 pair. Soles gone in 3 months), Richile (two pairs fell apart like tissue paper), Zamberland, and Gronnel.
The last two were backpacking boots that stood up to the guff I give them.
For me, my feet are always plan "c".
Plan "A" is what expect to happen, plan "B" is what usually happens, and plan "C" is when everything goes to hell and you have to walk out. Plan "C" is a "must not fail" plan that you know you can count on. Live long enought and you will use plan "C" sometime.
Have the essentials you need to walk out of hell, including good boots, and have them with you at all times when travelling.

Peace,
Narly

[bombarde]

My shoe size is 13-5E (U.S.) and from what I've learned, nearly all motorcycle-specific footwear is aimed at medium width (D in the U.S.).

So what to do...

I'm partial to steel or plastic toe protection, and yes, I know about people who've been damaged by steel toes in their shoes. Personally, my toes are not broken because I was wearing steel last time the bike went down. The leather covering the steel is gone and the black toenails did take about 8 months to disappear though.

There are many online retailers of tactical police and military footwear and while it's still very difficult to find 13-5E, extra-wide sizes are available in some product lines and these work for me.

I like laces and side zippers on my boots. It makes the fit much more exact and comfortable with waterproof construction also an option on some styles. The usual oil resistant materials are available.

They all take a bit of breaking in, but are quite comfortable on the bike and for walking.

[klaus]

I am wearing a pair of hiking boots, too....just very convenient. A good place to order from is in my opinion Sierra Trading Post in the States. They've got lots of stuff that can be used for motorcycling, too. So far no negative experiences.