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Your feet carry you literally everywhere. They help you navigate your world. And in terms of motorcycle, they interact with the bike’s shifter and rear brake, which are hella important to your overall motorcycling success. However, when you do fall—and you will—they’re one of the first things to impact the pavement, gravel, or dirt. As such, you absolutely need a good pair of motorcycle boots.
There’s just one problem, there are quite literally 2 million options available to you through any number of reputable dealers, manufacturers, or local stores. So, how do you weed through those products and find the best one for you? Easy, you start here with The Drive’s buying guide on the subject, where I use my years of riding know-how to do just that. Let’s dive in.
Summary List
- Best Overall: Alpinestars Sektor WP
- Best Budget: Forma Legacy Boots
- Best Premium: Dainese Axial D1 Air Boots
- Best Race: Alpinestars Supertech R Vented Boots
- Best Adventure: O’Neal Sierra WP Pro
- Best Shoe: Dainese York D-WP
Our Methodology
I’ve been riding motorcycles since I was 17, and in that time, I’ve experienced a ton of different brands and styles of motorcycle boot. I have opinions on the subject, style, brand, and efficacy of certain safety features. What I’ve done to pool this list is I’ve used that knowledge and experience to sort through the hundreds of options available to give you what I consider the best possible pool of boots.
However, as products change, and as brands wax and wane in terms of quality and consistency, this buying guide can change, too. As such, I reserve the right to modify this list and change my mind at any time. Because nothing lasts forever. The heat death of the universe will occur at some point, and these products will change too.
Best Motorcycle Boots: Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall: Alpinestars Sektor WP
Pros
- Waterproof membrane lining
- Cat 2 CE-certified to 89/686/ECC EU
- 3D ankle protection
- Extremely lightweight
- Metallic mesh vent for airflow
Cons
- Velcro straps and laces aren’t the best quality
The best overall motorcycle boots needed to be practical, affordable, and offer adequate protection. And the Alpinestars Sektor WPs fit the bill perfectly. These boots are very lightweight and comfy thanks to flex areas on the heel and instep, meaning you can happily wear them long after you’ve parked your bike. Combine this with the fact that they have a waterproof membrane lining, and you’ve got an extremely practical pair of motorcycle shoes.
Don’t let the waterproof membrane fool you into thinking these boots aren’t breathable, as a metallic mesh vent flows plenty of air while you’re on the move. Although these shoes finish just above your ankles, they’re Cat 2 CE-certified to 89/686/ECC EU, so you’ll still have plenty of protection. There’s 3D ankle protection and a TPR lateral ankle protector and slider. The only real downside is that the laces and velcro straps are the first things to wear out, but at this price point, I think that’s acceptable.
Best Budget: Forma Legacy Boots
Pros
- Style, style, style
- CE certified
- Full-grain leather upper
- TPU molded ankle protection
- Waterproof Drytex lining
Cons
- Stiff out of the box
I fully support wearing stylish boots while riding, in fact, I do it myself, but please buy ones that are intended for use with motorcycles, like the Forma Legacy Boots. These boots have CE-level protection thanks to ankle TPU molded plastic protection and an anti-shock midsole. But all this protection doesn’t mean they’re not comfortable. They feature soft padding with memory foam, a PP Mid Dual Flex midsole, a padded collar, and an anti-bacterial replaceable footbed with A.P.S. (air pump system).
So they’re safe and comfortable, but the overarching feature has to be how stylish these boots are with their full-grain leather upper construction and urban/city compound rubber sole. And, should the heavens open up, your toes will stay dry thanks to the waterproof and breathable Drytex lining. As you might expect with full-grain leather boots, these are stiff at first and require some breaking in.
Best Premium: Dainese Axial D1 Air Boots
Pros
- Certified boots to CE-Cat. II – EN 13634 Standard
- D-Axial system in carbon and aramid fiber
- D-Stone fabric
- Perforated microfiber panels
- More flexible than traditional out-boots
Cons
- Pricey
The Axial D1 Boots have been a staple of the racing scene since they launched around 10 years ago, and the latest Air model just builds on that legacy. These are up there with the most protective, if not the most protective, boots on the market. They feature the D-Axial system in carbon, which protects your ankle from twisting and impacts, and aramid fiber. The rest of the boot is made from D-Stone, which is a heavy-duty fabric that resists abrasion and tearing should your boots be dragged across the asphalt at 100 mph. All of these safety features mean that the Axial D1 Airs are certified to CE – Cat. II – EN 13634 Standard.
Although this model offers practically unrivaled protection, it still ensures that plenty of air flows through the boot thanks to perforated microfiber panels and a double jersey airgap liner. These boots are designed to go inside a Dinaese racing suit and are secured by velcro. You can now wear these boots inside another manufacturer’s race suit without destroying the inner mesh, as the velcro on the boot isn’t as strong as the previous version. Many riders find that the in-boot style is more practical and offers more flexibility while riding. Of course, the only downside with a premium product like this is that it comes with a suitably premium price tag.
Best Race: Alpinestars Supertech R Vented Boots
Pros
- Inner bootie for greater protection
- Extremely grippy and lightweight sole
- Replaceable shin and heel sliders and aluminum toe slider
- Tons of perforation and airflow
- Alpinestars will replace the sole
Cons
- Leather is too soft and rips too easily
I own the Alpinestars Supertech R Vented boots, and there isn’t another model I’d rather have protecting my feet on track. These boots use a separate bio-mechanical inner booty made by 3D mesh, which is equipped with a soft TPU reinforcement for additional impact protection and ankle padding, as well as greater stability when moving around on the bike. Keeping you safe on the exterior, you have a TPU shin plate and shifter, replaceable co-injected TPU/aluminum toe slider, and a new replaceable heel plate slider. So the protection on offer is top-tier, but these boots are more affordable than direct competitors.
What I couldn’t get over was the amount of grip on offer from this boot’s sole, which is constructed using a lightweight rubber compound. It’s so sticky that I was worried the sole would wear away too quickly, but Alpinestars offers free sole replacements, so this shouldn’t be an issue. Once you’re on the move, it’s like turning a fan on and pointing it toward your feet thanks to the microfiber construction and huge perforation zones.
These boots have protected me more than adequately during some awkward falls and have only revealed one weak point: the leather exterior. The leather is very soft and wears easily, and after a lot of grinding on a footpeg, mine has worn to the point that I can see the inner booty.
Best Adventure: O’Neal Sierra WP Pro
Pros
- Great value
- TPU protection practically all ‘round
- Upper made by full grain leather and suede microfiber
- Lined with a waterproof membrane
Cons
- Buckles and straps aren’t the most robust
This isn’t what many would consider the best adventure boot. You could spend more and get into a Forma, Gaerne, or Alpinestars. But you don’t have to, as this is a great adventure boot. Managing editor Jonathon Klein has put a ton of miles onto it, including a handful of times falling with them on. They’ve kept his feet and ankles perfectly safe. What’s kept them safe, specifically, is TPU protection practically all over the boot. And that covers internal and external TPU protection.
As any good adventure boot should be, this model is lined with a waterproof membrane. The exterior is constructed from a mixture of full-grain leather and suede microfiber. After any particularly long, dirty, sweaty excursions, you’ll be happy that it comes with a removable footbed with anti-sweat treatment. These boots are notably cheaper than most competitors, and unfortunately, that shows in the buckles and straps, which are usually the first things to go.
Best Shoe: Dainese York D-WP
Pros
- Comfy enough for everyday wear
- Stylish
- Waterproof D-WP interior
- Certified to CE-Cat. II – EN 13634 Standard
- Rigid inserts on ankles
Cons
- Pointy-toe styling won’t suit people with wide feet
If you want all-day comfort, top-tier protection, and a motorcycle shoe that’d pass for a sneaker to the untrained eye, get the Dainese York D-WP Shoes. Looks are subjective, but I think most would agree that these are some of the most stylish motorcycle shoes on the market. Thankfully, this style doesn’t come at the expense of protection, as the York D-WPs are certified to CE-Cat. II – EN 13634 Standard. They feature cowhide suede inserts and rigid inserts on the ankles.
A waterproof D-WP interior means you’ll stay bone dry regardless of how the clouds look. And on hotter days, the mesh liner allows your feet to breathe. The only problem some people might have with these shoes is their pointy-toe styling, which can be uncomfortable for those with wide feet.
Our Verdict
The best overall motorcycle boot, in my opinion, is the Alpinestars’ Sektor WP shoe. This option will work best for most people, is waterproof, and comes with the brand’s legendary dedication to safety and quality. However, all the other boots on this list would serve you well and keep your feet protected if and when you take a spill.
Features to Consider When Buying Men’s Motorcycle Boots
Here’s everything you need to consider when buying a new set of motorcycle boots.
Type
There are a host of types of motorcycle boots, including race-spec, adventure, everyday riding, summer and winter boots, and others. Pick the one that’s right for your specific type of riding.
Fit
You want a boot that fits snugly around your foot, so that if you are in an accident, your foot and ankle don’t have a lot of wiggle room to injure themselves while getting potentially tossed around. Make sure your boot doesn’t have a lot of room to jostle about when walking, but don’t too get too tight either.
Pricing
Men’s motorcycle boots can range in price depending on a host of factors, including style of boot, brand, and level of safety. But generally, you’re going to spend around $200 to $400 for a good quality set of boots. You can, however, spend more if you’re looking for the top-tier brand names.
FAQs
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.
A: Absolutely, as your feet transport you pretty much everywhere.
A: Depends on the type of boots and pants. If you’ve got a race boot and race pants/suit, your pants usually go into the boot. If you have adventure boots and pants, your pants are going over your boot.
A: A quality pair of motorcycle boots typically last about a decade. However, this depends on how well you take care of them, how often you ride, and the riding conditions. It also depends on the construction materials. After about a decade, plastics begin to degrade. However, leather boots that get resoled can last much longer.
A: No, not all motorcycle boots are waterproof. Front lacing and ventilation are major sources of leakage. Some boots account for this by adding a waterproof liner. Other boots move the opening to the side of the boots to reduce water getting into the boot.
