Boots (motocross or trial boots)
 

Hi guys,

I am concidering in buying new boots.... do you advice motocross or trial boots (like the Sidi Discovery?)




[This message has been edited by mau-asam (edited 19 June 2003).]

Hi, depends where your going and what your plans are for the off road stuff. I thought I would get away with normal touring boots on a trip to Marocco last year - the soles came off both boots while riding / falling off in soft sand. Its no fun riding off piste with bodge tape holding your boots together.

PK

I traveled all South America in Alpinestars MX boots and am doing it again (in Axo boots this time as the old ones are REALLY worn). They suck to walk around in and are way too bulky to put in luggage so ya gotta wear them when riding. But they sure are nice when you crash. I ride a lot of dirt and also go for plastic knee pads and elbow gaurds. When its really hot (Brazil), I wear shorts, thin silk shirt, MX boots, knee gaurds, elbow gaurds, and helmet of course. The pointy things that get ground off in acrash are protected without having to wear jacket and pants, which are too hot.
If you go with MX boots, get pants that have really big cuffs, so that they go over the boots. This helps with rain and doesnt look as odd as giant MX boots when off the bike.


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Back on the road again.

sogear.com

It depends on the trip.

While travelling i use army boots, cose the are good for walking to.
For a week enduro riding MX boots.

I wear a pair of Sidi Courier to get the best of both worlds - haven't done loads of off roading in them but the bits i've done they meet the match spot on - also stopped me from ripping my ankle off a few times when I have caught my foot on blocks, rocks, etc, in my drive.... (don't ask).

Hope this helps.

Tony.

Look at the Gaerne Trial boots. Good quality, but not so good for walking. But your going hiking are you? http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif Ive had mine for about 8 years, used them for road, offroad, trial, and mx.. and I still use them.. take a look..

ktm fahrer

I use wesco work boots. They are heavy leather lace type. The wild land firefighters use these a lot and they hold up well. I like to have something I can hike in just in case. I have had mine for 3-4 years now and they are still going strong.

http://www.westcoastshoe.com/wesco/

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John

Hi mates,

I will do a trip like 20.000k´s on tracks (no tar if possible).
The bike will be the Honda XR650R.

Now I have the choice between these boots:
1.) Hein Gericke T1R
2.) Hein Gericke rallye gtx 2
3.) Fox Forma Pro

Which pair of boots would you suggest?

cheers,
gmanski

Don,t know about the specific boots on your list , but here's my general tips:
Had a pair of Styl-Martin trials boots for 10 years. Totally brilliant, waterproof, O.K. to walk in, saved me a broken leg in head on with an Audi in Germany. Now have a pair of Oxtar Dunes MX boots, after reading good reviews on HUBB. Totally rubbish. Very hard to make waterproof, heavy rain always gets in, murder to walk in, Cheap construction (too much plastic pretending to be leather). Hopefully excellent protection. Wish I,d bought the pair of Styl-Martins I saw in first shop. Most of the time I wear army surplus goretex mountain boots. Never had cold or wet feet, but uncomfortable in temp over 25C. Obviously no shin protection. If your,e going off road, get trials boots, if no maybee risk ankle boots, don,t buy MX .

I used Sidi Flex Force for my recent trip to Morocco, and they are brilliant. As much protection as a full on motocross boot, but with a hinged ankle so you can walk around in them, and change gear / use the back brake properly.

The newer boot is dcalled the crossfire. Here's a few comments from others:

Sidi Crossfire SRS - ThumperTalk

Not cheap, but I like my ankles...

Thanks for the detailed answers!

HI, i use sidi couriers on road, off road,, and trials,last along time and you can walk in them.

Ankles, feet, lower legs !!

These are the most commonly broken bones on a bikers body and very fragile.

Break these and your trip could be over and you could have a limp for life.

Get the best, most protective boots you can buy for overland travel, especially offroad stuff... They have saved my ankles too many times to count.

Don't worry about mobility, you dont wear bike boots to climb mountains. Carry a pair of multipurpose footwear for other occasions. Pacsafe your boots to your bike if you want to take a walk to do some site seeing on route.

Motocross boots are the way forward if your bike pegs/gear lever can accomodate them.

Gaerne Balance Oiled Boot.
I have had a pair of the Gaerne's for about a year and the are a good combination of protection and comfort.
They are OK for walking a couple of miles and great for riding.
They say they are waterproof and so far that is right but I have only had them in the rain a few hours.

Gaerne trials boots
 

Trials boots offer great protection, waterproof for slogging thru sections(Trials talk) and you can walk with a normal gait.

Altbergs, Altberg Bootmakers - Manufacturers of walking, military, police and motorcycle boots. Richmond, North Yorkshire , I've been wearing mine for over 10 years now. Crash tested.

These Altberg Bootmakers - Richmond, North Yorkshire


Ridden across the states, round a great deal of Eupope and hiked up Snowden and around the Lassen Volcanic park.

Basically they cover all types of use, especially handy for just getting off the bike an walking.

Oh, yes, did play around doing motocross with them for 1 day as well :-)

I've seen these before and been tempted myself for commuting but I've always been put off by the fact that they look like they lack any protection & support for any serious long distance overlanding.

Of course, they are multi functional and I hear they are fantastically durable and well made but do they have reinforced areas ? Anti crush plates ? ankle supports etc ???

Im still reckoning you just can't beat motocross boots in this department.

Quad/ATV boots.
 

I've been using Thor Quadrant ATV boots for since April and find them and excellent boot.


Touch wood they're waterproof, have enough flex to walk in, a decent sole so you don't slip over, and for me they'll just about fit inside a trouser leg (but then I have thin ankles). Touch wood again, I can't tell you about crash protection as I've not experienced it, but they seem sturdily padded in the right places. No doubt not quite as good as MX shelled boots, but I reckon a decent compromise.

I did find the sole would grip too much on my toothed footpegs, so I swapped the footpegs, it's one small thing to consider for any sole with a decent tread patter I guess.

They're not the only make, I guess as quadding gets ever more popular more manufacturers get on board, so it might be worth a look in a quad shop if you have any nearby.

Get the Sidi Discovery's - they are great!!! :thumbup1:
Very comfortable to walk in for hours, but with great protection and they are waterproof to boot (sorry about the pun!:oops2:)
I would recommend them highly for an trip, whether on road or off.

Cheers,
Tricky

boots
 

Just change my goretex trial boots for a sidi crossfire srs and they are greattttttttttttttt