Boots with good protection?

[Inquizator]

Hey all, after my crash in my MSF course in which I bruised my left foot up and fractured a bone in it, I am looking into some real motorcycling boots. Here is the thread with more details on the crash. And here is a picture of the bruising on the inside of my left foot (after 4 days):

Anyways, I want some boots that I'll be comfortable walking around in, but that also offer good protection. A lot of boots I see talk about ankle and toe protection, but what about the side of the foot where I got all my bruising? And what about the top of the foot where my fracture is?

I'm just looking for more information about what kind of armor these boots actually have and where (specifically wondering about those areas where I got injured). I'd also like suggestions on boots that provide good protection, are comfortable to walk in, and $150 or less would be nice.

Thanks

[Bachstrad37]

Youch - looks painful.

I wear these:



PIA to break in, but very protective from the looks of its construction. You'll find most boots are a compromise of protection vs. comfort.

[scan]

There has been many threads already regarding boots. I think that is why you have a lack of answers to this post. Using the search feature of this board I was able to quickly find the following threads -

http://totalmotorcycle.com/BBS/viewtopi ... ight=boots

http://totalmotorcycle.com/BBS/viewtopi ... ight=boots

http://totalmotorcycle.com/BBS/viewtopi ... ight=boots

That was just a quick sampling. If you do an exhaustive search there have been at least 10 threads if not more with a similar question as yours.

I hope you receive the following link with the humor in which it was intended -
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting.php

[Inquizator]

Bachstrad37: Where exactly do those have armor? Do the have armor on the top of the foot and/or the sides? Also, how comfortable/uncomfortable are they? I wouldn't expect them to feel like tennis shoes, but can you walk around in them for a while without it being a problem? Thanks for your input, be good to hear from someone with personal experience.

There has been many threads already regarding boots. I think that is why you have a lack of answers to this post. Using the search feature of this board I was able to quickly find the following threads

Yes, I've actually already read through all of those threads, and more, on this forum and others. And, while I do honestly appreciate your attempt to help, I'm not sure you completely read all of my questions:

That was just a quick sampling. If you do an exhaustive search there have been at least 10 threads if not more with a similar question as yours.

I didn't find any that answered these questions in my original post:

A lot of boots I see talk about ankle and toe protection, but what about the side of the foot where I got all my bruising? And what about the top of the foot where my fracture is?

I'm just looking for more information about what kind of armor these boots actually have and where (specifically wondering about those areas where I got injured).

Nor did I see any analysis of protection versus walking comfort for very many boots:

I'd also like suggestions on boots that provide good protection, are comfortable to walk in, and $150 or less would be nice.

It seemed often if one aspect was mention the other was ignored (or assummed to be not very good).

Does that make my questions more clear? I have no experience with motorcycle boots and don't really understand where exactly the armor commonly is and what type of armor it is. I want to know what is on the side of the foot (inside and outside) and what about the top?

Also, while I did do a search for all threads mentioning boots in this products reviews & opinions forum, I did not search the overall forum. It's a pain in the butt browsing through a ton of pages with a broken mouse hand... hehe. So, please, if I missed something in my search, please just let me know.


Thanks for the help.

[Mintbread]

If you intend on being so particular about your requirements then the internet is not the place you should be looking. Go out to a few bike shops and have a look at and try on a bunch of different styles. You will then know where the armour is on particular boots and you will also find out how comfortable they are to walk in.

Subjective opinions from strangers will not help you at all.

[Inquizator]

If you intend on being so particular about your requirements then the internet is not the place you should be looking. Go out to a few bike shops and have a look at and try on a bunch of different styles. You will then know where the armour is on particular boots and you will also find out how comfortable they are to walk in.

Subjective opinions from strangers will not help you at all.

Well there's only one bike shop in my area with much in the way of boots, and they don't have many or hardly any of the boots I've been looking at. I was hoping to get a decent basic idea of what to look for and have maybe a short list of the types of boots I'm looking at before I hobbled into the shop. Want to get the most out of my visit, cause I don't want to have to go multiple times.

And, subjective opinions are just fine with me. If even just a few people would share what boots they have or have had experience in, where the armor is, and how comfortable they are to walk in; that would help a lot and is exactly what I'm looking for.

[scan]

You do have rough requirements though anyway. You want comfortable for walking you said but good protection. As mentioned in another reply, these usually are against each other. The more comforable to walk in, the less protection they would offer, generally. The most protective boot would not be very good for walking, again generally.

You mentioned top of the foot and side of the foot armor. That would make a boot stiffer again, and less comfortable and more protective.

And finally you said less that $150. I'm sure you've looked around at the selection out there, and that is pretty much the cheapest boot you could find at all.

You are asking for a lot, and I know we have a lot of conversations about boots here. From what I could see the other threads talked about the topic in many directions. The only missing was your foot and the low price you want for something very specialized. I read your post.

[Inquizator]

I still don't think what I'm looking for is very clear. Obviously I'm aware that protection and comfort are a trade off, and obviously I'm aware that $150 is a low price for good boots. Maybe if I asked specific questions about specific boots?

http://www.newenough.com/setup_vision_boots_page.htm
These seem like they'd offer pretty good protection, am I correct? Anyone know what they might have on the side and top of the foot? Anyone know just how uncomfortable these would be for normal walking?

http://www.newenough.com/setup_gran_pri ... s_page.htm
At the top end of my price range. Again, similar to above, they seem to offer good protection and features. How uncomfortable for walking might they be? And is setup a decent brand or something to stay away from?

http://www.newenough.com/alpinestars_bl ... s_page.htm
http://www.newenough.com/alpinestars_ri ... s_page.htm
What kind of protection do these have? How comfortable to walk in are they?

http://www.newenough.com/icon_field_arm ... rivate.htm
The ICON Field Armor boots Bachstrad37 mentioned. Where is the armor in them? How uncomfortable are they?

http://www.newenough.com/icon_motorhead ... rivate.htm
http://www.newenough.com/icon_standard_ ... rivate.htm
I understand that both of these are going to offer less protection than the others, but likely be more comfortable. How comfortable are they actually? What kind of protection do they have? What kind of protection do they lack?


http://www.newenough.com/joe_rocket_orbit_boot_page.htm
Again, same questions basically as the two ICON boots just above.

Well, there's a list of 8 decent looking boots that are within my price range. And that's not even shopping around outside of newenough. None do my local bike shop carry except maybe the joe rocket orbit boots. So, what I'm asking for is for anyone with experience with any of the aforementioned boots to let me know how they are. Where the armor is, how they feel for riding, how they feel for walking, the quality, etc.

I guess my mistake was not making it clear what I needed. I need to make it as easy as possible for other people to help me if I want them to spend their time doing so. Hopefully this clears it up? Also, I do plan on looking for reviews on these boots and such, but often the reviews either ignore the lack of protection and focus on the comfort or ignore the lack of walking comfort and focus on the protection. I'm looking for a better idea on where this trade-off lies and how it shows up in relation to specific boots.

Thanks for trying to help.

[Bachstrad37]

Good protective boots have armor for your shins, ankle bone, heel, and around the toe box. Armor is usually built of high density injected plastic or thick reinforced leather.

I chose the injected plastic in my boot as I believe it addresses the crush critical better than leather. It forms a more rigid barrier than leather. The trade-off is its ability to be flexible. In fact, my Icon boots is pretty darn stiff and it took a good 2 months of daily riding to break them in to where I no longer had blisters. On a scale of stiffness (downhill ski boots being a 10, and slippers be a 1), I'd rank my Icon an 8. When I first wore them, I ranked it a 9.5 in stiffness. But now, an 8 after they've broken in.

There are lots of options out there. But for the most part, it's either a plastic boot with some leather strewn in there, or it's a leather boot. Leather generally is more walker friendly. The softer and thinner the leather, the easier they are to break in. Most leather boots are not crush friendly. They generally are good for abrasion protection and comfort.
They lack layers of reinforcement.

I would never buy a boot without trying them on. Best advice to give you is to go wherever you need to go and try on all the boots you can get your hands on. It'll be well worth it.

[hooligan13]

if you want protection and comfort maybe you should try a pair of steel toed work boots??? Just a suggestion as they are the only thing i ever wear for riding. Saved my toe big time once as a car in front of me kicked up a piece of lumber and it struck me right on the toe,Happy to say there was no damage other than the "almost "heart attack I had when i saw it coming!!!!