The Best Motocross Boots For Ultimate Protection – When preparing for a wilderness expedition, don’t leave anything to chance in terms of equipment, because your safety and security often depend on it. Trying to save some money on gear can be foolish if it risks compromising your safety.
Riding on the road since the seventies, I’ve owned every brand of motocross boot imaginable. I have also experienced the importance of protective footwear. In my twenties, I was badly injured in a dirt bike crash, and in those days motocross boots were less durable than today’s entry-level adventure boots, let alone offer that level of protection. that modern MX boots provide. Suffering open fractures, I was close to amputation, and it took 18 months and five surgeries with lots of titanium, grafts and transplants to save and rebuild my leg and ankle.
The Best Motocross Boots For Ultimate Protection
I share this story because I always cringe when I encounter adventure riders wearing touring boots or, even worse, hiking boots or tennies. Because of my experiences, I will not compromise on the quality of my footwear or the protection it offers. And it shouldn’t be, especially considering statistics show that ankle/lower leg fractures are the most common injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents.
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Many adventure riders prefer hiking or touring boots to MX boots because they find the latter too big and heavy for walking off the bike. However, if the motto “Dress for the slide (crash), not for the ride” rings true for you, and off-road/ADV riding is your game, you should consider MX boots for maximum protection.
For years, I bought a new pair for a 10,000 mile off-road marathon last summer. Although I can’t think of a better boot than that
, I decided to try something new. After comparing the top-end boots of all the major brands, I finished
The patented hinge system that extends lateral support while mimicking the natural flexion of the ankle, allowing me to wear the
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10 hours every day for almost three months without having to take them off, even during lunch breaks. The hinges greatly facilitate walking and allow natural movement while shifting or braking in the stand-up position. They also protect the ankle from overextending and prevent compression during shock absorption.
Great at protecting the lower leg, ankle and foot in a fall, as the leather boot is covered in an almost indestructible, tough, thermoplastic armor that looks bomb-proof. In combination with knee braces, the
The ultimate boot for off-road and adventure riding? In my opinion, yes! is it perfect almost. The only shortcoming I found was the buckle system. The four buckles lock the adjustable straps, but securing them in the locked position is often hit and miss. If I failed to pay attention to the telltale “click” of the buckles snapping into the locked position, they would open later—a closure problem that’s fairly common among brands. After a while, I was able to perform a trivial task to make sure the buckles stayed locked, which consisted of hammering them with the side of my fist into the locked position. This is only a small flaw for a boot that would otherwise be perfect. With the
Like tires for our feet, adventure boots are as numerous and varied as the rubber we put on our tires. While skilled technical riders lean towards…
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Serious riders and adventure trainers say if you’re going off-pavement, especially on rough terrain where you’re likely to go down, this is critical to wear…Unless you’re just riding off-road or racing track, every motorcycle boot has a compromise. Walkability and comfort do not correlate with maximum protection. But it’s possible to find riding shoes that are protective, relatively easy to walk in, and don’t look out of place. That trifecta is the bull’s-eye of this list.
We skew this list toward adventure (a.k.a. ADV) motorcycle boots. With some overlap, we also consider city commutes with details like pant cuff compatibility, for those quick trips to the grocery store.
Finally, don’t be tempted to ride in a pair of sneakers. We know if gear is uncomfortable or difficult to use, it’s more likely to get dusty. So we’ve found motorcycle boots that we absolutely love and hope you will too.
To learn more about motorcycle boots and how to shop for the right pair check out our comprehensive buyers guide, FAQ, and comparison chart below. If not, scroll through to see all our recommendations.
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The TCX Drifter ($370) is an improvement on the Terrain 3, which is already excellent. After testing both, we noticed the additional reinforcements of the Drifter. Specifically, there’s a new pad at the top of the boot where your forefoot makes contact with the shifter. The inner part of the boot, where it meets the heat of the pig, has a larger zone of heat-resistant fabric. TCX wears the shin but looks low-key with a black-on-black logo. There’s new reinforcement along the medial and lateral ankle and a super-strong Achilles socket to protect your heel.
Despite all that, the boot is quite light. With hiking boot-style lugs, it’s easier to get traction if you’re pushing your bike through a section of deep dirt. Speaking of slop, the Drifter isn’t waterproof, but we didn’t find it brutally hot. We took these boots out on steamy test rides and motocross sections where the going was as slow as molasses.
We love that the newer buckles are sturdier, and the stronger cam means they stay closed. Plus, the buckles are fully adjustable. But the adjusters don’t move under strain, so you won’t need to fiddle with them once you’ve set the fit.
There is a gentle taper at the top of the boot and an accordion-like gusset. The cuff closes tightly on the pants to prevent water from seeping into the boot when you ride in the rain. It’s not a city kick, but there’s good forward ankle flexion. Once you break them in, they are reasonably walkable for a tall, CE Level 2 moto boot.
Ce Level 2 Armor
Why is this boot not the awarded ADV specific boot? The Alpinestars Corozal has a slightly meatier lateral ankle clasp, which prevents forward lean like the Drifter. Corozal is more protective but tougher all around. For us, the best overall boot has to be a bit easier to wear in all kinds of applications: the TCX Drifter.
Like Danner in this roundup, the REV’IT! The Everest GTX ($360) is super comfortable but more protective than a casual hightop. Everest passes CE regulations for slide safety and crush-resistant. (See the Buying Guide section below for all the deets on how the European Union evaluates footwear for riding.)
But here’s the thing: It’s also the easiest boot on this list to wear every day. You’ll wear the Everest with jeans in the rain because they’re comfortable, regardless of whether you plan to ride that day.
There is a large flex zone in front of the ankle, so the Everest GTX is very easy to walk on. The forefoot also offers plenty of flex. These boots are as wearable as a light hiker and are also close to furry. These slippers have a very stiff outsole, so they have purchase on the pegs and also when you push your KTM into your garage and out of the rain.
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Negatives? The Everest GTX gets a lower CE rating for slide protection, probably because the overall build is a bit lighter than the other boots. However, this pair is very reinforced, passing the Level 2 mark for lateral crush resistance, which is important in case you fall off your motorcycle and it falls on you. There is reinforcement above the big toe and in the ankle box. The Achilles shell is very tough, as is the durable shin protector.
However, the REV’IT! The Everest GTX made our list because they are so easy to wear. The Gore-tex works as advertised, so our feet didn’t get wet even when riding in sopping conditions. (Although, a taller boot works better for riding through standing water.) And they’re super easy to slide on or off. An inner ankle zipper opens for smooth entry. Burlier boots require ski-boot-level work to get on, and the Everest glides better than high-tops.
If your goal is to tackle dirt roads, mud, and rugged routes but also have an everyday boot for highway routes and commuting, your boot of choice has to veer towards protection against solubility. That’s why our top pick for an ADV boot is the CE Level 2-rated Alpinestars Corozal ($340).
This boot looks similar to the TCX Drifter, as they are cut from the same cloth. The Corozal, however, gets a meatier protective zone around the ankle. The lowest strap is reinforced to prevent lateral movement that could cause you to twist an ankle while dismounting your bike.
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No other toe box is as insurmountable as Sidi’s on this list, but Alpinestars’ is pretty bold. However, the toe box is forgiving enough to walk on. The grippy outsole offers plenty of traction, which