Are "Casual Boots" actually any good?

[Mr. Dazzle]

What it says on the tin!

I was quite surprised by how highly kevlar biking jeans rate in abrasion and impact compared to some leathers etc (maybe just shit leathers!).

Is there a similar story with 'Casual Boots' for motorcycles. I fancy some, mostly 'cause I don't enjoy walking around in MC boots when I get where I'm going. But I don't enjoy fucked angles and missing toes either, you know? Are there actually any which are any good? I'm talking about stuff which claims to be biking specific here.

I notice some of the sort of 'pad' of rubbery stuff over your ankle-sticky-out-bit. Does that do anything?

[Cousin Jack]

I doubt it. AFAIK the real advantage of boot, motorcycle boots, ski boots, any boots, is to support and stiffen the ankle so that your leg breaks a bit higher up. Broken legs heal well, fucked ankles cause problems for years.

[Dodgy69]

A decent pair of walking boots are fine for bike. I used my old work boots on my travels and I took big boots for the very wet bits, think I put them on twice. Waterproof walker's even better.

I've got a pair of brown short bike boots but they're a bit rough now and not Waterproof. Just get some comfy waterproof walker's, dead comfy in a nice colour.

[Horse]

I doubt it. AFAIK the real advantage of boot, motorcycle boots, ski boots, any boots, is to support and stiffen the ankle so that your leg breaks a bit higher up. Broken legs heal well, fucked ankles cause problems for years.

Being dimensionally challenged in the inner leg Vs seat height measurements, I found that good boots aided tippy toe bike support when stopped.

To achieve that support needed fairly rigid soles, with robust construction up over the ankle and shin.

However, I found that Daytona (GTX?) provided all that but were still comfortable for walking around. And were waterproof too. [And, at the time, about £15 cheaper than the CE version issue to some police, so presumably not too far different in construction]


Edit: but with the caveat that my bikes always had touring tuppaware so, when parked, I could stow the oversuit in one and boots in the other, and put on ordinary footwear.

[KungFooBob]

These look ok...

[Mr. Dazzle]

Yeah I shoulda been more specific...

Is there any reason you'd buy "biking" boots over just decent normal boots? Waterproofing ain't an issue, far too much chrome on the Bonnie to contemplate riding it in the rain!

[Cousin Jack]

A mate is a bike tour guide and does mega miles
He swears by military surplus boots.

[v8-powered]

I rode daily for a year or so in work boots (DeWalt Titanium), only issue I had was that the anti-slip on the soles chewed the life out of the foot peg rubbers. Other than that they were great in all weather's.

[Noggin]

These look ok...

These made me laugh cos I've seen a lot of folks here (well, mostly in Grenoble but a couple in the valley here) in trainers but with a 'protective' pad strapped over the left toes. Very important to protect your trainer from the bike!!


They even do them in different colours!

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I doubt it. AFAIK the real advantage of boot, motorcycle boots, ski boots, any boots, is to support and stiffen the ankle so that your leg breaks a bit higher up. Broken legs heal well, fucked ankles cause problems for years.

Being dimensionally challenged in the inner leg Vs seat height measurements, I found that good boots aided tippy toe bike support when stopped.

To achieve that support needed fairly rigid soles, with robust construction up over the ankle and shin.

However, I found that Daytona (GTX?) provided all that but were still comfortable for walking around. And were waterproof too. [And, at the time, about £15 cheaper than the CE version issue to some police, so presumably not too far different in construction]


Edit: but with the caveat that my bikes always had touring tuppaware so, when parked, I could stow the oversuit in one and boots in the other, and put on ordinary footwear.

I've got a pair of Daytona Carvers that are superb, they're proper bike boots but are as easy to walk in as a pair of normal shoes, downside is that they're not cheap and nobody imports them to the UK, so you have to pay import duty on them.

[weeksy]

I have short boots, they're sturdy and lovely... they're comfy too.... They are a bit warm.

I've never crashed in them to know how they'd hold up...

But lets face it, crashing and the after-effects are 90% luck anyway. I've had crashes in jeans and trainers and been fine... i've had crashes fully kitted up and not been fine... there's no logic to it.

[Noggin]

I have short boots, they're sturdy and lovely... they're comfy too.... They are a bit warm.

I've never crashed in them to know how they'd hold up...

But lets face it, crashing and the after-effects are 90% luck anyway. I've had crashes in jeans and trainers and been fine... i've had crashes fully kitted up and not been fine... there's no logic to it.

This is why, although I would always suggest full gear to anyone that asks for advice/opinion, I will ride in what I'm comfortable in. Uncomfortable gear is distracting! And there are so many variables to a crash and its outcome that we just can't choose!!

I have ridden in non bike footwear but it scares me a bit so I know I couldn't ride far like that (I rode a few kms from one garage in resort to another!). But then I've got boots that I am ok walking around in (not Daytona - AplineStar) - not actually sure why they are so comfy mind!! LOL

[Mr. Dazzle]

I once made the mistake of riding the Bonnie, a very short distance, in trainers.

Riding is fine, it's the starting which is the problem

[Demannu]

I now have a pair of furygan v4 d30 boots. Waterproof, breathable, ce rated and most importantly, damned comfortable off the bike.
I have a pair of a* for fast/track days, and I sound like an arthritic stormtrooper when I walk, and coincidentally that's not very far either. However, I know which pair I'd rather crash in! (and I have)

[Noggin]

I once made the mistake of riding the Bonnie, a very short distance, in trainers.

Riding is fine, it's the starting which is the problem

Even though I tucked in my laces, I was still scared they'd catch on something and make me fall off when I stopped!!

[MrLongbeard]

I use CE marked A* casual boots after wearing work boots for years, they are waterproof, seem sturdy enough and comfy enough to walk about all day.

[Cousin Jack]

Even though I tucked in my laces, I was still scared they'd catch on something and make me fall off when I stopped!!

Been there, done that.

[v8-powered]

Even though I tucked in my laces, I was still scared they'd catch on something and make me fall off when I stopped!!

Been there, done that.

Yep, me too

[Noggin]

It's why I'm so nervous - read it too many times on the various incarnations of the forum!!

[Skub]

Any footwear on a bike is just fine,as long as you don't need to crash while wearing it. I can't see something which is less than a full sized motorcycle boot being anything other than a comfort/safety compromise. But then,everything is to some degree.