Boots for Africa south north trip

[dedalus]

Hi there,

Looking to buy some boots for my LUanda Barcelona motorbike ride, will travel in July most likely so will get quite a bit of rain I'm thinking particularly around Cameroon and Gabon. What do you recommend? waterproof but lightweight due to the heat. I've seen these gore tex, waterproof, and also vented, seem perhaps a bit too heavy, but I don't really know. http://www.tcxboots.com/ita/prodotti...p?prodotto=160

[mollydog]

TCX are excellent boots, I've had several of the Gore tex ones. But realize the boot you picked does not offer much protection, it's primarily a road boot, not off road.

Good waterproofness and SUPER comfortable to walk in ... but if your foot hits rock or bike falls on your foot or ankle, very little protection.

For off road I use the TCK Track Evo. It's a light duty off road boot, good also for walking. Not Gore Tex but waterproof. Quite good with A LOT more protection compared to the road boot you picked.

[twowheels03]

I'd rather of had a wet foot !!!!!!

[reggie3cl]

Sidi Adventures stop broken ankles when a 500lb bike lands and keep 'em dry...

[dedalus]

Thanks lads...i really hope your ankles and feet look better now I'll take a look at the TCX and Sidi you mention. Thanks again.

M.

[mollydog]

Above are my Track Evo TCX boots. Nice stiff leather, reinforced toe and heel and nice Tibia protection (critical).
Amazingly comfortable to walk in yet with excellent protection. Not a full Moto Cross boot ... but had these on for 10 hours a day and never suffered at all.
Taken a few hits and fell off a time or two. All good. I had Sidi Crossfires (full MX race boots) and these just aren't that far off ... but 20 times more comfortable to walk in and half the price. (I think I paid $220 for my TCX track evo's)

SIDI are expensive in USA, cheaper in Europe but not always as good as claimed. (read owner reports on the $500 Sidi ADV boots! :thumb down

[tmotten]

A recurring thread to which the answer is often the same. Personally I would only ride in offroad boots. Prefer the Sidi Crossfires personally because of the double hinge. Very comfortable to walk in because of that. Forget about what they feel like in the shop. Leather softens and hinges loosen (wear in). All leather boots are great for road and terrain where you don't expect to put your foot out, but to me this is rolling of dice. They're designed for slides down the road, not bending movements. Offroad or unknow terrain to me means that it makes more sense to cater for the worst.

[Arma]

I've got Sidi Adventures, great boot. I'm often tempted by a lighter boot, maybe Altberg, would be nice to be able to really hike in the same boot I ride in... But I keep coming back to safety.

They are rock solid, waterproof, safe and I can walk in them within reason. I think they'd be fine for a couple Km, but if I'm going to need to walk I just pack shoes. Multi purpose is great, but sometimes you just need the right tool for the job.

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[dedalus]

Thanks everyone I'll take a look at those in the coming days!

Manuel

[mtncrawler]

One more for the Sidi Adventure. I used their non-goretex version (Sidi Rain) for a few years, problem free really, eventually they started to lose there water-'proof-ness', so I upgraded. I do ride off-road with them, but nothing scary technical - not to say you can't get into trouble on innocent looking dirt road

I have to say though - I simultaneously had a pair of Sidi Crossfire TA's for more off-road/technical focused trips and I loved them. I felt very comfortable in them, solid, and regret selling them from time to time. I think if I were doing a heavier split of riding toward technical/off road terrain for a longer trip, I'd switch to these. I always carry shoes for walking about anyway - but the boots work OK for general getting around.

I think it comes down to a few things right? the type of roads/riding you'll be doing - weighing things like protection, general acceptance of risk, comfort requirements...etc.

[tmotten]

Agree with that last paragraph completely. Keep in mind that injuries usually occur in the middle of nowhere. Ask yourself if that's worth it by playing out a recovery scenario in your head with a broken ankle or lower leg. Particularly in Africa.
Look at minute 2.19 of the vid below on good stability vs not so good like the full leather boots.
https://youtu.be/XYof-jZUNfs

Most opt for full leather either because they accept the significant risk and consequence or out of ignorance to it. If you're not good off road with little experience on it you tend to have an increase risk when you do venture off road. How ever little bit you may think you do. A heavy laden bike only adds to the risk increase. To me it's a bit like choosing not to have any armor in your jacket. And not far off having a helmet.

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