riding boots

[boo68]

Originally Posted by boo68

I just ordered these, picking them up Saturday, I will let you know how they are. I ordered because they were recommended by other ladies on the forum. I am only 5'3"ish.. so I am hoping with my new comfort seat and the boots I will be able to still put the balls of my feet down, as opposed to my tip toes.

I will keep you posted.

Boo

Well I finally got my boots, and gave them a good test. Rode for an hour then walked around for about 5 hours, then rode back home for another hour.. VERY COMFY! Nice to walk in.. the only thing is they are a bit snug in the calf, but I have muscular legs, and they do have a stretchy panel so once I wore them for a while they 'broke' in to my calves.

Deb

[Little Red]

I wear a nice stiff pair of Gaerne all-season touring boots. The model is called the Explorer: they come up just above my mid-shin (I'm 5'10"), they're waterproof, and they have NO ZIPPERS and NO VELCRO.

Once you've owned a few pairs of otherwise-decent riding boots, you'll understand why I'm so hyped about no zippers and no velcro: there's nothing to fail.

When/if one of the ski-boot-style metal clamps decides to die, it looks like I could use elastic or some metal wire to rig up another one. Maybe it'll never be an issue: I've owned these boots for over a year and they're still perfect.

One thing about them: you add the waterproofing. The first time I wore them, I assumed they'd been silicone-treated at the factory. Mistake. Boots full of water. I was disappointed. But when they dried, I sprayed them with silicone spray and I've never gotten damp since.

[msgirle]

I have these but they only go up mid calf...they are a bit stiff and not that comfortable to walk in so I actually wear my Nike hiking boots! LOL! They're more comfortable to walk in and add a little height. I'm still on my tippy toes and am considering shaving down the seat a little but we'll see.

Originally Posted by bikerider

What about these ICON boots. Has ladies actually worn these when riding?

[Roadstergal]

If you're on your tippy toes - put your left foot down flat and put your right foot on the rear brake at a stop. Far more stable.

Hiking boots don't have a lot of ankle protection. I have a test for when I buy a pair of boots - I hold the sole in one hand and the upper in the other, and try to bend it back and forth. If the boot bends with just my hands, it's not going to do much good when the weight of the bike falls on your ankle and tries to bend it in a way it was never meant to.

I haven't found a pair of women-specific boots yet that pass. I have a pair of Sidi Stingers for dirt riding and first-gen Alpinestars Supertechs for road (the second-gen Supertech Rs don't pass).

[Crystal]

Originally Posted by bikerider

What about these ICON boots. Has ladies actually worn these when riding?

So when I first went to buy boots I looked at these and sales guy and told him there was no way they were practical. I was more about safety then looking good, however he brought up a good point. He said there was a woman who came in and bought them and she was about my height, she came back weeks later and explained how much she loved them because of the heel and added height. I bought them and have to tell you I love them. The heel helps with the height issue and they are super comfortable.

[Roadstergal]

Moto and gear salespeople will say anything to make a sale. The Bombshell boots won't do too much good in an accident, hate to say. There's no bracing, no impact protection, and the leather is thin.

There's a myth out there that having both feet flat on the ground is necessary for riding. If it's your first bike, I can see getting something low (and light and cheap) to build your confidence, but it just isn't necessary once you get up to speed (so to speak). As I mentioned above - just put your left foot flat on the ground and keep your right on the rear brake. That technique has let me ride every bike I've tried without issues.

A little leg strength helps, too; riding is a physical activity, and it requires a certain level of fitness to do well.

Keep those Icons for clubbing, and get real boots that will protect you.


Just in case you think I'm coming to this from an Amazonian 6-foot perspective, I'm 5'1" and slight.

[Roadstergal]

Oh - just as another data point, I recently wrote to the gal who's taking racing to the big boys - Melissa Paris - and asked what she was wearing, since, as I've mentioned, finding nonsuck boots for women has been a somewhat fruitless project of mine. She's wearing Daytonas - not the half-assed Ladystars, but the Security Evo.

Unfortunately, they don't make them in smaller sizes, so no go for the smaller-footed of us. But if they fit, they'd be on my short list.

(She recently moved to those from Puma V2 race boots, which funnily enough were the boots my hubby wore before moving to the god-I-wish-they-made-them-in-my-size Vertigo Corsa.

For the '09 lineup, Sidi made the Vertigos in women's sizes - the Vertigo Lei. Nice to know that they've finally acknowledged that women, y'know, ride motos, but why make a women's version of one-generation-ago boots and call them 'new?' Especially when they're the lower-end boot rather than the Vertigo Corsa. )

[Crystal]

Originally Posted by Roadstergal

Moto and gear salespeople will say anything to make a sale.

Oddly enough I was trying to purchase more exspensive boots, he recommended these, which were cheaper.

I'm not in the need for being flat footed either. But not touching being able to touch the ground when you come to a stop can be rough...

[Roadstergal]

Maybe he has a fetish and just wanted to see you in 'em.

[Crystal]

Originally Posted by Roadstergal

Maybe he has a fetish and just wanted to see you in 'em.

Haha....god I hope not.