One of the most important pieces of gear for any motorcycle rider is a nice pair of boots. When you ride, your feet are always in the thick of it, right above the road. Having a tough, high quality pair of boots is crucial not only for your comfort, but for protecting you from the various hazards of riding your bike. These concerns become even more important if you aren’t just riding your bike around town.
If you tend to go long distances or go off-road, then you certainly don’t want to be caught in a sub-par pair of boots. Even otherwise sturdy work boots are usually not designed for the stresses of riding, so if you haven’t yet invested in a proper pair for your bike, then there is no time like the present.
Today, we are going to look at five great options for boots geared toward the more adventurous motorcycle rider. We have selected these pairs primarily based on their materials, price, comfort, and design, and we will go through all the features that make them great options for your next pair of boots.
Table of Contents
COMPARISON CHART
IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
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1. Alpinestars Toucan Gore-Tex Men’s Weatherproof Motorcycle Touring Boots
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2. Forma Adventure Boots
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3. Rev’ it Expedition H2O
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4. Sidi Crossfire 3 Boots
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5. Klim Adventure GTX
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1. Alpinestars Toucan Gore-Tex Men’s Weatherproof Motorcycle Touring Boots
Specification
MATERIAL | Leather, Gore-Tex |
SIZE | Men’s 7-13, full sizes |
WEIGHT | Approximately 7 pounds |
STRAP | Velcro |
These Gore-Tex boots from Alpinestars are an excellent all around choice for a durable, well-designed touring motorcycle boot. One of the biggest advantages of these boots right out of the box is their comfort. Because of the rugged, heavy duty nature of touring motorcycle boots, it can be difficult to break in a new pair without significant discomfort. These boots have great flexibility at the ankle, allowing you to walk around in them right away and avoid a painful break-in period. They are also waterproof thanks to a Gore-Tex membrane, which is essential for long rides to prevent your feet from becoming soaked and uncomfortable in the rain. These boots are very well-built all around, and they are available at a reasonable price for the quality you are getting.
PROS
- Comfortable
- Durable
- Great features
CONS
- A bit expensive
- No color choices
- A bit bulky
Where To Buy
2. Forma Adventure Boots
Specification
MATERIAL | Leather, Drytex |
SIZE | European sizes 38-49 |
WEIGHT | Approximately 4.41 pounds |
STRAP | Velcro |
This pair of boots is designed specifically for off-roading, although they can also be used as a road boot for touring. Like the previous boots, these have a pretty comfortable fit, setting them apart from many other off-roading boots. They are waterproof as well, using a Drytex lining. This material is great for providing effective waterproofing while also allowing for breathability, which is crucial for off roading, especially in warmer climates. Another great aspect of these boots is their appearance. The upper is full-grain leather, and they come in a brown, aged finish that looks fantastic. While these boots do sacrifice some amount of protection in favor of flexibility and less weight, the plastic shin guard is heavy and durable, and they are reinforced at the heel, ankle, and toe. If you are a moderate ADV rider, then these boots are perfect.
While they are marketed as off-road boots, these boots can be a great choice for road riding or light to moderate ADV riding. One of the most attractive reasons to give these a try is their low price, which makes them perfect for riders on a budget who still need a quality boot.
PROS
- Affordable
- Stylish
- Suited for both touring and off roading
CONS
- Protection leaves something to be desired for extreme riders
- Some reports of problems with waterproofing
- Strap could be more durable
Where To Buy
3. Rev’ it Expedition H2O
Specification
MATERIAL | Leather, rubber, TPU |
SIZE | European sizes 41, 42, 45 |
WEIGHT | |
STRAP | Velcro, tightening knob |
The Rev’ it Expedition H20 boots are a bit of a dip into the higher-end side of motorcycle boots. To make up for their price, they offer a great design and some useful features. These boots are designed for off-road riding, and have a heavy-duty design to match. Despite their bulky appearance, the boots have a hinge near the ankle which makes foot movement fairly easy. As for the upper, it is constructed from nubuck leather coated with Rev’ it’s proprietary Hydratex waterproof coating. Another cool feature of this boot is the ease with which you can put on or remove them. The BOA system allows wearers to simply peel back the velcro and loosen or tighten a knob to adjust the fit, making these seemingly bulky boots easy to get into. More so than the two boots previously listed, these are truly meant for off-road riding, and they have the durability for the job. The shin guard and overall shell of the boots are extremely tough, and should provide enough protection for most ADV riders.
If your primary concern is great protection for off-road riding, then these boots should do a great job. Their thick shell and high height keeps your feet, ankles, and shins safe while in rough terrain, and the peel-back shell and tightening knob make for a really clever design that will save you a lot of time putting on and taking off your boots. If you can fit these into your budget and you are an avid off-road rider, you will be getting some very strong boots.
PROS
- Easy to remove
- Provide great protection
- Come in two colors
CONS
- Expensive
- Waterproofing leaves something to be desired
- Some components wear down quickly
Where To Buy
4. Sidi Crossfire 3 Boots
Specification
MATERIAL | Laminated technomicro material, rubber, nylon |
SIZE | Men’s 8.5, 9.5, 11.5 |
WEIGHT | Approximately 8.82 pounds |
STRAP | Buckles |
Next up is an excellent off-roading boot that differs from the previous picks in a few significant ways. Unlike all the others, this boot is not waterproof. While that could be a downside if you tend to ride frequently in wetter climates or seasons, it allows for a super durable boot that doesn’t make any sacrifices in the name of waterproofing. As a bonus, it also allows your feet to breathe a little. The biggest selling point for these boots, though, is their uniquely replaceable components. Nearly every piece of these boots is bolted on and thus removable, meaning you will be able to continue to use them and replace parts as needed for years longer than most other boots. Their price point is fairly high, but if you want a long-term investment and tend to test the limits of your riding boots, they will almost certainly pay for themselves in the long run. They also come in a great range of colors.
Even with its slimmer design, this boot is incredibly durable and perfect for off-road riding. Another great feature is the adjustability of the boot’s leg. The two-piece calf plate, along with the series of locking buckles up the leg of the boot make it fully adjustable for people with larger calves. And while the price point seems high on these, the fully removable pieces really make them worth it if you can manage the cost up front. All around, these are a great pair of adventure boots.
PROS
- Fully replaceable parts
- Great protection
- Large selection of colors
CONS
- Expensive
- Limited sizes available
- Not waterproof
Where To Buy
5. Klim Adventure GTX
Specification
MATERIAL | Gore-Tex, leather, rubber, TPU |
SIZE | Men’s 7-14, full sizes |
WEIGHT | |
STRAP | Buckles |
Finally we have the Klim Adventure GTX, another pair of boots primarily geared toward adventure riders. They feature waterproof Gore-Tex material to keep your feet dry, as well as an all-around durable construction that combines leather, rubber, and TPU to give good protection. Like the Rev’ it Expedition boots, these also use the BOA system for tightening the fit, making them fairly easy to take off. They do also have a bit of flexibility around the heel area to prevent them from being too stiff.
If you need some solid all-around adventure boots and you need them to be waterproof, then these are an option to consider. The Gore-Tex ensures that you are getting great, guaranteed water protection rather than a simple coating, and the BOA system is a big plus for saving time taking off your boots as well as getting a nice snug fit with ease. While these have a few vulnerable spots, they are good for the average adventure rider.
PROS
- Waterproof
- BOA system tightening
- Durable materials
CONS
- Toe is bulky
- Protection has a few vulnerable spots
- A bit expensive
Where To Buy
Conclusion
Boots for cross-country touring or off-road adventure riding are incredibly important, and often not cheap. That’s why it is so important to pick the right ones. If you want the best all-around waterproof boots for the price, you cannot go wrong with the Alpinestars Toucan Gore-Tex Boots. They are high quality without being too crazy expensive, and provide great protection and water-proofing. So get some new boots on your feet and get out there!