Quick! Emergency Xmas waterproof boots

[Warthog]

My Dad has just informed me that he might spring for (or partially spring for) some proper good motorbike boots for me for Christmas! I commute all year round in all weathers, so please can people let me know what boots they have actually tried for the long term and have been actually waterproof. I have a pair now that say waterproof and they just are not. Price range is probably £100 or more.

After some reading around I see Luckypants likes his Alpinestars SMX4 waterproof ones. This is the kind of good review I like. So what other boots are genuinely cool, comfy and waterproof?

[Nobbylad]

I have these and they have kept me dry in some of the worst rain you have EVER seen.

http://www.topgearsuperstore.com/-motorcycle-boots/tcx-boots/tcx-competizione-s-gtx-motorcycle-boots-waterproof-p-1797.html?osCsid=m40rgtja27krv0a74abiq2lu2kboeqt4

[Dave20046]

I have some awesome TCX goretex competizione boots. Really good boots especially if you have wider (normal shaped) feet. Really comfy. Not tested them long term though as I had an off a couple off in october and the bike isn't on the road yet.


edit: oh and they faired well impactwise in the crash (didn't test abrasion though as I bounced rather than slid). I hit one of them pretty hard somewhere between the bike car and tarmac and I didn't twist my ankle or anything.

[Dave20046]

snap ! :)

[Luckypants]

After some reading around I see Luckypants likes his Alpinestars SMX4 waterproof ones. This is the kind of good review I like. So what other boots are genuinely cool, comfy and waterproof?

They are good :D

[Bluepete]

These ones are mine ; http://www.hein-gericke.co.uk/shop/popup_image.php/pID/4075

Warm and toasty, totally waterproof, nice and high up the leg unlike some race reps, very secure closure too.

[SoulKiss]

Well once again I have to say Sidi Canyon Gore-tex

Not had wet feet in 6 months - and that includes the AR.

They are also subtle enough to get away with at work - and comfortable enough too.

Have a good sole for walking in too.

[Corf]

i bought a pair of relatively cheap bulsom (think that is how its spelt) ones form Hein geriecke for bout £80-£90. they are roomy enough for necessary thick socks and are def waterproof. they are not as good looking as the TCX ones recommended above and maybe lack a little bit in the protection dept but a good price.

think i read a mag review raving about the TCX ones recently so maybe worth a look

[Stig]

Only boots I have ever owned that stayed waterproof are Matterhorn’s

I have a pair that are now 15 years old, still more than serviceable and still very much waterproof. Not bike boots but then, most waterproof bike boots don’t exactly afford much in the way of protection.

http://www.tacboots.com/c-matterhorn-8inch-boots.html

[walkaboutandy]

After some reading around I see Luckypants likes his Alpinestars SMX4 waterproof ones. This is the kind of good review I like. So what other boots are genuinely cool, comfy and waterproof?
I have found that my SMX4's aren't very waterproof. Well, the left is more then the right. Its no surprise really as they have vents in the sides.

[Lozzo]

I have some awesome TCX goretex competizione boots. Really good boots especially if you have wider (normal shaped) feet. Really comfy. Not tested them long term though as I had an off a couple off in october and the bike isn't on the road yet.
.

I have the previous model made by Oxtar and they are very good. Anything with proper Goretex is the way to go.

[Lozzo]

most waterproof bike boots don’t exactly afford much in the way of protection.



All TCX/Oxtar boots are fully CE approved as Personal Protective Equipment for professional motorcyclists, which means they are the best you'll be able to buy. Even for their kind of money Daytona can't offer CE Approval

[scottjames]

i have got sidi black rain evo ad i thnk they are very good i wear them in really bad rain and dont really have any problems. only time they have been wet on the inside was when i was washing them and they fell over in the bucket. :(

[zsv650]

i have daytonas and they have been waterproof and dead comfy even when walking distances whats more their made of proper thick leather not this lorica crud most boot makers seem to prefer cause it's cheap.

[skeetly]

Not ALL smx4's have the goretex.
Be sure to get the right ones.

normal:
http://www.alpinestars.com/SMX_4_Boot/pd/np/111/p/222306.html

waterproof:
http://www.alpinestars.com/SMX_4_Waterproof_Boot/pd/np/111/p/224307.html

[Berlin]

i have got sidi black rain evo ad i thnk they are very good i wear them in really bad rain and dont really have any problems. only time they have been wet on the inside was when i was washing them and they fell over in the bucket. :(

+1!

Love them. best I've ever had but buy them a size bigger than your feet, they are small sized.

[vzzzbuxt]

hein gericke ones. cant remeber the model i usually pay about £120/130ish (LAST PAIR BOUGHT 9 MONTHS AGO) half mx style. im on my 3rd pair, and have always replaced due to adverse wear (i drag my left foot on motorways due to ankle injury) but they have always stood up to all weathers (and accidents).

if u can find them cheaper than retail sidi do some brilliant courier style all weather boots.

[Orpheus]

I too have the TCX gore-tex ones. Went for them over Sidi's mainly because they were a little cheaper and did look more protective (you cant 'roll' sideways on your ankle, if you see what i mean). I have been in very heavy rain in them but admittedly not for that long, but my feet were perfectly dry in them.

I find them quite comfy now, not brilliant for walking around in, buy then slippers are crap for riding in. I say now, when i first got them i found them a bit uncomfortable and restrictive, but they have definitely freed up a lot now. Bear in mind id never owned boots before these, so perhaps they are all like that.

definitely recommend overall

[Stig]

i have got sidi black rain evo ad i thnk they are very good i wear them in really bad rain and dont really have any problems. only time they have been wet on the inside was when i was washing them and they fell over in the bucket. :(

I've had these. They leaked after a couple of months of winter riding.

[hob]

I have these bad boys:

http://www.feridax.com/product/W-0a4b84741eac59f077e131722b3913f9/3/112/Sidi+Vertigo+Goretex+Black.html

Sidi vertigo (Goretex) not had any problems :)

[Gazza77]

I have the previous model made by Oxtar and they are very good. Anything with proper Goretex is the way to go.

+1. They are also very comfortable for walking around all day in, if you're off the bike at a race meet or something.

[RichT]

For winter I use a pair of Gaerne GSP's and have never had a problem, cost me around £120 I think. Never had a problem with these boots.

[Warthog]

Cheers for all the responses guys, apparently we are off to Hein Gericke in Haasrode so it'll be down to which of these they have in stock I guess! I will let you know what I end up getting and how they fair in UK weather. Those Vertigos look amazing but waay too pricey for me.

[SoulKiss]

Cheers for all the responses guys, apparently we are off to Hein Gericke in Haasrode so it'll be down to which of these they have in stock I guess! I will let you know what I end up getting and how they fair in UK weather. Those Vertigos look amazing but waay too pricey for me.

TBH the Vertigo build quality is not that hot.

I had the zip pull go on one of mine and the soles wore out pretty quickly - hence why IO went for something better suited to walking about in.

Dont get me wrong tho - the Vertigos are excellent while they last....

[Lozzo]

All Sidis have issues with the zips, the pulls breaking off is a common thing and has been for years. Why they haven't sorted it yet is beyond me.

[Lozzo]

i have daytonas and they have been waterproof and dead comfy even when walking distances whats more their made of proper thick leather not this lorica crud most boot makers seem to prefer cause it's cheap.

I won't buy Lorica boots. If Lorica was as good as the makers say it was then Rossi and all the rest would be wearing suits made from the stuff. I've seen the abrasion test reports on Lorica and it's less than impressive stuff. Leather is the only thing to have.

[ophic]

I've had these. They leaked after a couple of months of winter riding.
I had Sidi Black Rains too and they leaked like sieves. They are also abrasive round the heel and scuff the heel plates very badly. On the plus side, they are very very comfortable.

Got the HG Rallye GTX II boots now - very good, waterproof, etc. Quite happy with them so far.

[davepreston]

sorry to highjack but are there any ankle length waterproof boots you lot would recomend

[thedonal]

I've got a pair of Hein Gericke XCR's. They're winter boots (I wear 'em all year round)- so they're warm and waterproof. A good pair of hiking socks will also help warmth and aid nice cosy feet!

[Lozzo]

sorry to highjack but are there any ankle length waterproof boots you lot would recomend

Daytona do some with Goretex liners, but I wouldn't buy a short waterproof boot becasue you just know water will come in over the top.

[hob]

All Sidis have issues with the zips, the pulls breaking off is a common thing and has been for years. Why they haven't sorted it yet is beyond me.


I think people use the zips to "do up" and "undo" the boots, which is understandable but the manual does seem to hark on about not doing that.

If you sit down and compress the boot so that running the zip up/down encounters no lateral resistance from the leather I can't see it being an issue (there is a much greater stress on the zip if you pull them up to do them up).

Obviously walking around with them half zipped up etc will not help, they are not made by YKK which is a shame as all non ykk zips I have owned have failed :(

Not sure if treating the zips with care as per manual will eliminate the zip problem but I think that is Sidi's solution to the zipper issue.

[ophic]

I think people use the zips to "do up" and "undo" the boots, which is understandable but the manual does seem to hark on about not doing that...
I was careful with mine. The zip tags lasted longer than the waterproofing of the boot. Which in turn lasted longer than the paint on my heel plates :mad:

[thedonal]

sorry to highjack but are there any ankle length waterproof boots you lot would recomend

Yeah- HG XCR's are just longer than the ankles, rather than halfway up to yer knees, which many bike boots are. They're comfy and easy to walk around in.

[Warthog]

Woo, I am back from Belgium, and I managed to get my Dad to buy (admittedly with a lot of extra cash from me) some waterproof Alpinestars SMX4s! Thanks for all the recommendations, these look lovely and I can't wait to try them out.