It’s been good to get some feedback from my last Blog on gloves. Like gloves, boots are a very personnel piece of kit and it all depends on what you want from them. On average you should be looking at spending anything from £90-£300.
For the past 18 years I have been wearing Sidi boots and in my opinion the best you can buy and fantastic value for the money. Typical Italian quality and comfy from the moment you put them on.
It all depends on your budget and what you need or expect from them. At the high end of the market and a fabulous race tec boot is the Sidi Vortice with top end parts like shine plates, toe sliders, calf tensioners, shock absorber heel cups, air ventilation system, instep tensioners and ankle support braces to mention a few. If you want more and have the money why not go the full hog and get the new Sidi ST Boot.
My personnel favourite is the Sidi Vertigo, it has all the replaceable parts and air vents with none of the fancy straps just a good honest well fitting boot that does what it says on the box. If you have been reading my Blogs you will have noticed that I have hit the tarmac on the odd occasion. In 2001 I had a major off, the doc who put me back together said it was my race boot that saved my left ankle even though it still needed pinning. I dread to think what would have been the end result if I had bought a cheaper boot. Sidi boots are easy to put on, that may sound silly but some other boots are a nightmare, my sons boots have pull cords inside them with big waterproof flaps and so on. He screams at them and he hates the zip just to add insult. I can change the ankle and the calf fit, I can change them on the move with my gloves on, I don’t recommend it but it shows how user friendly they are. I change my toe sliders on a regular basis and very quickly. Sidi even do boots to match your leathers or your bike the choice is yours.
Sidi do boots for all occasions from racing to touring to moto cross and Gortex for wet weather riding. They even do a great range in push bike shoes. Sidi also do a short boot for the commuter, a boot you can wear on the bike and with your suit for your next meeting. See, you can always rely on the Italians to produce great styles and performance all in one package.
Buying bike boots isn’t like buying a pair of shoes, no kidding Sherlock !! There are hundreds of makes to choose from and at different price ranges. It’s important not to rush or be impatient when you make your purchase. It’s not just about comfort and walking around the shop for two minutes.
As daft as it sounds you need to make a rough plan of action and more importantly, stick to it. Like all good plans they only last the first few seconds of contact. You do need to be flexible but not at the cost of your safety or pocket.
Rough Plan.
1. What do you need from your boots?
2. Do they need to be water proof?
3. Are they just for summer riding?
4. What is the budget?
5. What make do you want?
If you go to buy the boots you want (Sidi Vertigo) don’t settle for another make because they don’t have your size. Wait until they come in or go else were. Or you will end up with a pair of boots that you haven’t researched, don’t do up the way you like or provide the protection you waned. 4 months down the line you do get the boots you wanted because your first pair have really p****d you off. £200 down the drain and all because you didn’t stick to your plane.
There are so many makes of boots that all provide different levels of protection and quality like Sidi, RST, Weise, TCX, Spada to Alpinestars, you must do your home work. The best place to start is http://motorbikeboots.org.uk/ a great site with lots of info on all the best boots available.
Remember to take your time a good pair of boots will last you a few years and if you rush in and buy the wrong ones at £*** it can be very expensive.
Good luck.
"All men die, not all men really live"
Ed.
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