Riding Boots - any bad ones?

[Bundybusa]

I'm looking at buying my first pair of riding boots (it hasn't taken me very long - I'm almost 40). I know they are a very "personal" decision like helmets, but are there any brands/types that anyone has had a bad experience with i.e. falling apart, wearing/fading badly etc?

I can then rule these out and narrow the list down.

Preferably I would like full shin boots to provide maximum protection, but would also like them to be comfortable and not look out of place if I was to wear them out to the pub when away on a ride.

Thanks

Michael

[Heidi1]

I believe you get what you pay for. I messed around with cheap boots for the first half of my riding career, and they were always bastards to walk in and poor quality. I'm now in Alpine Stars and LOVE them. I wore them all around the country and I was comfortable all day on the bike and then could wear them into the pub at night (unless I was in my double-plugger 'sandals'). My Alpine stars have done a lot of kms, but they still look and feel brand new.

My suggestion would be go try everything you can find on, everyone's foot is different.

[Missy_Moo]

Not wearing any!

I got a nice reminder what a messed up leg can look like last tour. I'm hoping he gets to keep it, he was a nice kid, just stupid mistake.

[Volvi]

I swear by Gaerne (italy) fit like a glove but not cheap.

[09Fatboy]

i swear by my $30 aldi boots , still going strong 2 years later.

[Bundybusa]

The local store here in Bundy only has a couple of different sorts, let alone sizes. I will be in Sydney mid February. What is the biggest and best bike shop to have a look at (hopefully close to the city - I'llhave to bus it there).

[CeeJay07]

You would have to look at Bikebiz (they had a pretty good range when i was there a few months ago).....and MCAS (google them to view range and location...they both have a couple of locations)....Sydneysiders might have the good wood on a shop I'm not thinking of though. My 2 bobs worth.

[jamesallan]

Hey the current model Berik's are working for and slightly cheaper than other full leather boots.

[BLACKZOOK]

+1 to what Heidi said, bike boots can be worn comfortably anywhere. My alpinestars are gold. All quality boots give u the protection needed on the bike it comes down 2 what is comfortable 4 u. Try what u can afford if it is sturdy and has toe, shin and ankle protection buy it.

Carbon this, fleuro that is fine if that is what u are after. Big bucks is not always best.

[Greeny_SA]

Like all bike gear you pay for the brand name, same as the sneaker market Adidas/puma/Reebok etc .The bigger the name, the bigger the price, but not necessarily the Quality. There is better stuff than the brand name's at much more believable price's . Look at every thing you can, Rossi come's to mind as an example, SA I think, but there are many others Check out USA E bay Field sheer there are heaps of them even in Aust.

[Bundybusa]

Thanks for all the advice. I'll be staying in the CBD (Bond Street), so I might pack a pair of socks and head to MCAS in Wentworth Avenue - seems close enough - surely I couldn't get too lost? Sydney isn't very big, is it?

[2wheelfreak]

lol, cbd sydney is easy to navigate around.........if you've spent most of your life there.

Print out google maps before you leave.

I rate my Alpinestars highly as well, love them!
I also have a pair of Rjays speed 2's for commuting to work, they look kinda like hi-top basketball boots, have a hard mid-sole (a must for me with my rear sets) & they are comfortable enough to wear for 12 hours at work.

[TempOzzy]

I've got a pair of Alpinestars that I couldn't be happier with. I've spent quite a few full days in them, including a lot of walking and they still feel great. They look like a smart pair of black boots under the legs of jeans etc. I'll buy another pair when they wear out or fall apart, but I'm still waiting after 8 years or so. They are a sports/touring boot with full armour, but no toe sliders. Who really needs them on the street?

[2wheelfreak]

I occasionally touch down with the toe sliders on the bus, used to touch down with them all the time on the little vtr250 I used to ride a few years back (rode the wheels off that thing to keep up with my mates) My alpine GP3's are great, although wouldn't want to walk any great distance in them.

[Leviathan]

I had a pair of Sidi Vertigo boots. Very comfortable and good to walk around in after they were broken in. The only thing I could fault them on was that they squeaked as the back of the boot compressed then relaxed as you walked.
I'll go and try on some Alpinestars before buying the Sidi's again.