Traction: Look for an oil resistant sole. Cowboy boots and other 'fashion footwear' is generally a no-no as they will usually lack the sole tread you would want to be supporting the weight of a motorcycle on.

Support: Over the ankle for the slight support and heat shielding. While I prefer the more generic slip-on leather harness or engineer work-boot, lots of people prefer laces, and laced boots do provide better support ...just remember to tuck them in as they tend to get wrapped around pegs, shifters, pedals, and other equally bad things.

I didn't give much thought to armor and ankle protection ...

 

Ditto on the oil resistant soles. It's amazing how slick some of the streets can be even if they look really clean.

I used to wear lace up boots that I got at Wal-Mart for like $25 or so. Oil resistant soles and very tough boots. They wore out on the inside pretty fast though.

I now have a pair of Harley-Davidson classic riding boots that are extremely comfortable and weren't terribly expensive. I can wear them all day even when I'm on my feet the whole time. Harley also has some more fashionable boots that are very cool, but naturally, they can get pretty expensive, pretty quick.

Jason

 

Ditto on the oil resistant soles. It's amazing how slick some of the streets can be even if they look really clean.

Even worse, gas stations.
Seen a few guys pull up to the pump and put their foot down, only to have it slide and they drop the bike.

 

I know u said not intrested in the sports bike boots but if u do decide to get a pair stay clear of alpine s-mx's alot of people swear by them but i have broken both boots they werent made for someone that rides everyday just for the weekend riders i reckon, in alpines defence they did repair both boots free of charge and no complaints very stress free return / repairing. Good Luck with ya footwear

 

The world's best motorcycle boots are made by Dayton and they are pricey.
http://www.daytonboots.com/index_category_frame.cfm?categoryid=16

 

I purchased these from Sidi Boots about 3 months ago and I really like them. They were $170

http://www.motonation.com/assets/500/00000283.jpg

 

The world's best motorcycle boots are made by Dayton and they are pricey.
http://www.daytonboots.com/index_category_frame.cfm?categoryid=16

Those are some BEAUTIFUL boots, but they are a little bit out of my price range.

Lots of good replies, but I'm not hearing that there is any particular thing that sets motorcycle boots off from normal boots. What's to stop me from just going down to boot country, and getting some hiking boots?

 

The first thing a boot needs to do is protect your ankle bone from abrasion.
Leather uppers take care of that.
The second thing is prevent you from slipping.
Oil-resistant soles take care of that.

Some people prefer the added protection of steel toes.

That's about all that common street boots do for you, and yes, you can get them from Boot Barn.

The next level would be something with increased ankle support... not to the degree of offroad boots, but nearly the same level of protection. The problem with these specialty boots is you really don't want to wear them in the office or around the mall... same as with a set of full race leathers.

 

At some point you and/or your bike will be attacked by a vicious dog(s) as I was a couple of days ago. The first dog bit my front tire then the second one chomped on my left ankle. I was glad I was wearing bullhide boots as my ankle remained protected and unscathed while tooth marks were left in the boots.

 

When I rode alot, when I first got a motorcycle I was in the active duty Air Force. Combat boots worked great for me, tan or black. Whoever mentioned tucking in laces is also absolutely correct as Murphy with find a way to hook them to something that will mess you up.

The nice thing about combat boots is that they last forever, are comfortable, are oil resistant, and any military surplus store will sell you a set fairly cheaply.

 

Okay, those are some good criteria Rich, looks like the classic engineer boots I had my eye on would work wonderfully.

When I rode alot, when I first got a motorcycle I was in the active duty Air Force. Combat boots worked great for me, tan or black. Whoever mentioned tucking in laces is also absolutely correct as Murphy with find a way to hook them to something that will mess you up.

The nice thing about combat boots is that they last forever, are comfortable, are oil resistant, and any military surplus store will sell you a set fairly cheaply.

I've got a couple of wal-mart combat boot knock-offs. They've been working really well, but I also plan on using them to go caving, at which point they'll come back covered in mud and gunk. However, I've been very pleased with them, other than the laces, which my cat LOVES to play with. Drives me nuts. :biggrin:

 

I've heard that you shouldn't use steel toes for riding boots.

My BMW boots have built-in armor on the sides that protect the ankles in case a bike falls over on them. They also have Gortex on the inside to keep the wet out. They're pricey, but very nice boots.

 

I know what you mean about the sportbike boots. Very functional but not my thing.

I bought a pair of HD boots and really like them. Good protection, good soles and comfortable. The only minus is that it is heavy.

http://www.harley-davidson.com/mcm/...02284009&ASSORTMENT<>ast_id=2534374302284009&bmUID=1152908523000&bmLocale=en_CA

 

The world's best motorcycle boots are made by Dayton and they are pricey.
http://www.daytonboots.com/index_category_frame.cfm?categoryid=16

Wow, and i thought my Frye's were expensive. But they do have the oil resistant soles. And you can get plenty of traction with them. As the soles are grippy like a tennis shoe.

 

I've heard that you shouldn't use steel toes for riding boots.

There are a lot of myths and paranoia about steel toes.

Fact is, if you have an impact hard enough to collapse a steel toe cup, it is going to completely obliterate your foot no matter what.

A lot of people don't like them for working in since they are heavier... I've got a pair of steel-toed tennis shoes and they probably weigh 15 pounds. When someone doesn't like a particular piece of safety equipment, they start coming up with excuses for why it ISN'T really safe and the myths begin as other workers repeat the fallacy.

 

I got mine at http://www.chippewabootshop.com/chippewa_mens_boots_top_sellers.htm

and I love them...comfy, oil resistant, not too pricey..

 

My Sidis are lighter than tennis shoes, have the ankle protection on both sides, and Kevlar instead of steel for heel and toes.

 

Has anyone seen the video of some squid stunting on a rocket bike doing wheelies, when he lands he slips off the front of the pegs and his foot gets broken off? Off. As in a stump with a foot hanging by his achilles tendon. I'd imagine that's the kind of thing the sport boots are designed to try and prevent. phew, made me pay attention to my footing after I saw that.

 

I've heard that you shouldn't use steel toes for riding boots.

My BMW boots have built-in armor on the sides that protect the ankles in case a bike falls over on them. They also have Gortex on the inside to keep the wet out. They're pricey, but very nice boots.

Julie, I'm always finding myself reading about all your cool gear - I bet if you added up the value of all our accessories, they're worth more than my bike!

 

You also want to make sure the sole isn't too thick - I learned using a pair of North Face hiking boots, but they were so thick that they kept getting caught under the shifter - not enough clearance.

I ended up picking up a pair of above-the-ankle sketcher lace-up boots for about $55. They're black, tough, slip-resistant, and do the trick.

 

My husband and I have purchased boots from http://www.leatherup.com/ GREAT prices! I think everyone already covered the "what makes motorcycle boots different?" When I took the MSF course, the instructors would not let you do the riding part of the class unless you had ankle protection. They were not fussy about the students wearing something classed a motorcycle boot. They were more interested in protection.

 

Julie, I'm always finding myself reading about all your cool gear - I bet if you added up the value of all our accessories, they're worth more than my bike!

You know, these boots are the first thing I've spent any real money on. I hate to pay big $$. I got my winter jacket from a friend who was a Bellstaff rep and gave me a great price; my mesh jacket was on sale for $89 at the local dealer. Paid less than $200 for my new helmet (and I was prepared to pay whatever was necessary to get a good one). I got my other boots at Famous Footwear for $45 on sale. LOL But when I started shopping for replacement boots, I just couldn't find anything that fit me. So I ponied up the money for the BMW boots ($300-yikes). Just about killed me to do it. But my husband has BMW jacket, pants, boots, gloves, plus a bunch of other stuff (his helmet cost $350), and he doesn't seem to mind paying the $$. He keeps telling me to get the best quality stuff and not worry about the cost, but that's hard for me to do.

 

Saw a good one today.
A semi-older woman (could have been 55, could have been a very hard 35 years, could have used a cheeseburger or three) pulled through the intersection I was working at riding a Harley, wearing nothing but a leather bikini and helmet, with a pair of black 6" stilletto CFM pumps... I mean ZERO protection for the artwork on her thigh

So she pulls into the strip mall behind my truck, and of course we're watching her. She pulls up to a shoe repair place and goes inside. She's in there for maybe 20 minutes, and comes out wearing an identical pair of RED pumps.

Ya, she needed the heels to reach the ground at a stoplight, but they DO make riding boots with 6" heels!

 

Think I'll pass on riding in heels. Probably blow my rep.

 

Saw a good one today.
A semi-older woman (could have been 55, could have been a very hard 35 years, could have used a cheeseburger or three) pulled through the intersection I was working at riding a Harley, wearing nothing but a leather bikini and helmet, with a pair of black 6" stilletto CFM pumps... I mean ZERO protection for the artwork on her thigh

So she pulls into the strip mall behind my truck, and of course we're watching her. She pulls up to a shoe repair place and goes inside. She's in there for maybe 20 minutes, and comes out wearing an identical pair of RED pumps.

Ya, she needed the heels to reach the ground at a stoplight, but they DO make riding boots with 6" heels!

That's got to be one of the most bizarre stories I've heard in a while. Too bad you didn't get any pictures! I wore a pair of shorts to the gym once and was scolded for not wearing enough protection. Can't imagine what I'd have to endure if I wore a bikini and stiletto heels.