Hello all,
im new to HU and am in the early stages of planning my first true long distance ride. im looking for much advice but right now wondering what type of footwear everyone chooses to wear? most of my riding will be on paved roads. thanks.
e

Personally I would not bother with the latest SIDI £300 super carbon fibre boot and invest in a good pair of Doctor Martins and some proofing wax - warm, waterproof (to a degree) strong comfortable (once broken in) oil, acid, brake fluid resistant and good for kicking chasing dogs!

If you are going through wet weather / snow / cold a lot then I think you cannot do better that Derri boots (rubberised lined knee high boots) I have ridden through the last 15 UK winters with them and they are unbeatable in my book. 100% waterproof. You might have to hunt them down on the internet. (you can get them specifically for mororcycle riding, look for the gear changing patch above the big toe area, dont' get the general purpose type as they are too chunky) you can get them at www.busters-accessories.co.uk

Also take some flip flops or sandals to wear in the evening as sweaty boots and not washing your feet = athletes foot.

I ride in gore-tex walking boots which are good but am thinking of buying some higher british army boots for off roading.
Matt

__________________
http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

[QUOTE=password]
If you are going through wet weather / snow / cold a lot then I think you cannot do better that Derri boots (rubberised lined knee high boots) I have ridden through the last 15 UK winters with them and they are unbeatable in my book. 100% waterproof. You might have to hunt them down on the internet. (you can get them specifically for mororcycle riding, look for the gear changing patch above the big toe area, dont' get the general purpose type as they are too chunky) you can get them at www.busters-accessories.co.uk

/QUOTE]
Derri Boots are 100% waterproof, BUT, in the event of a tumble they're as about as protective as a paper bag as I know from painful experience(Broken toes!!).
Derek.

__________________
Roads are for journeys.
-Not destinations.

Sorry to hear about your accident Del, hope the toes are better now. Granted the Derri Boot is not the strongest or most armoured in the world, but I think they are a viable option to take if the environment warrants them.

Dependant on the nature of your accident would any boot have saved your toes from breaking?

What are you wearing now when you ride?

Hope this finds you well.

My accident was a few years ago(but my second toe still bends to the right!). But any stronger boot would have prevented my injury, foot jammed between engine and kerb ! Nowadays I wear Hein Gericke TRG Rally boots, which I can heartily recommend. They have a Gore Tex inner, are comfy(once broken in), and give good protection to feet, ankles and shins.
Cheers Derek.

__________________
Roads are for journeys.
-Not destinations.

I think I will go for BMW Savanna boots.

__________________
"where the traveller goes, nobody knows ! "

ALT-BERG
do a good boot waterproof strong good for walking in to also made to to your foot size I like my ones

Altberg for me to. They only have one shop in the uk. They have traditional motorcycle boots and army/hiking motorbike boots. If you go to there shop they will measure your feet for size and then place the order to make them.

Mine took about six weeks to make, also when the soles wear out you can send them back to Altberg and they will refurbish them for you for a small cost. This is a great idea because you don't have to break in a new pair of boots, just get your old ones fixed up and away you go. When you wear them with jeans over the top of them they look just like an ordinary boot, so there is no need to take two pairs of footwear.

I use my old air force GP boots with zips laced into the front of them. They are high enough. pretty water proof. offer good support and are comfortable to walk in. I'll also be carrying a pair of canvas shoes and thongs (flip flops) for the non riding times.

__________________
Gone for a ride

My wife and I ride in AERO's Combat boots made by Sidi. This was an important decision for us because we are really concerned with safety. At 64, a broken toe can turn into a life long problem and put an end to a ride that could be our last.

Also, Combat Boots are waterproof and since we plan to be on the road for about a year and a half, I know we will be riding in some VERY wet conditions. So the decision was to suck it up on the price and buy the best motorcycle boot we could.

Finally, AREO's speed lacing and the easy on and off make life much easier on these old bodies. Check them out.

We will be on the road in just ten days! WOOF

__________________
On the road,

Jack & Janet

This only really applies to the Brits here but I can and will vouch for a boot company up, (to me!) in Yorkshire called Altberg. (They are on-line)
I had a pair for 10 years whislt in the military, (way and above any garbage that the Britsh forces issue!!!) and the were waterproof, breathable, never too hot, (desert) never too cold, (Bosnia winter) I parachute in them and ran up and down hills carrying heavy shit like a silly twat for days on end and they never let me down in any way whatsoever!
I have since grown up and left that wierd way of life to travel (my way!) and before I left I bought a new pair in a rather fetching shade of civilian brown.
I wore them in around the house for about, ohh 30 seconds before I did my first hike and true to form they have so far been just as good - only now I am allowed to take them off when I go to bed.
Check out their web-site as they do loads of different styles inc some bike boots which in all fairness have no style at all but I'd rather wear hiking boots anyway as you can't really climb mountains and stuff in Sidi racing boots! And they even do made to measure if you can get to North Yorks!
Believe it or not I'm not employed by Altberg and they probably wouldn't know me from Adam so there's no commission involved here; I just find it so rare these days to egt a decent product made in England and not Taiwan/China.....
Chris

Shitty death; didn't I drag that on? I never wanted to be this boring in my old age!!!

Been on the road to long Chris But I agreed with you about the boots

Just noticed your earlier post - great minds eh!