doc martins

[AndyBrad]

Ok another question.

Ive got some lovely bmw boots. There very comfy but the leather is soft and supple on them. Im just wondering if anyone used doc martins? And if they would be any use on a bike? Or would they fall apart in an off? Or am i better sticking with biking boots?

[Spiderman]

I used Docs years back when there wasn't as much choice as there is now. I find the soles twist too much and obviously the lack of waterproofing is an issue too.
Personally i'd say stick with bike boots, there are so many good brands out there now that the prices are quite keen too.

[dizzyblonde]

Matt has always used Doc martin steelies. He was going to the GM in a pair of knee high ones. I decided it was about time he got some proper gear and won some Alpinestars ones on ebay.
I used to wear German Para boots before I could afford to get proper gear.

[Spiderman]

Steel toe caps always seemed like a good idea to me till they tested them on Mythbusters :shock:

[embee]

Be very careful with anything that has laces on a bike. It's all too easy for them to snag on the footrest when you try to put your foot down........oops.

Steel toe cap/safety footwear are not intended to provide protection on a bike. Having steel toe caps (and insoles come to that) in industrial safety footwear is the worst thing............apart from not having them...............

[Ed]

My Sisi Vetebras are wearing out on the soles - uppers are OK, can't find anywhere to get them fixed. To replace new - about £160 - £170.

So, as a test, I've bought some much cheaper lace up things, the Chinese copy of Magnum Hi-Legs. Used them first time today, initial impressions are that they are probably too flexible. Will use a bit more and report back. On the laces catching thing, surely as long as you tuck them well in then it isn't an issue?

[custard]

My Sisi Vetebras are wearing out on the soles

are these for peoples that are scared to go fast? :p

[Luckypants]

I wouldn't use anything but decent bike boots. Good ones will have ankle armour and a non-crush sole to help stop crush injuries if bike lands on your foot, other armour to protect from impacts, something to help prevent twist injuries, nothing to snag the bike, water proof and warm. Can't think of any other boots that would do all that.

FWIW in both big offs I have had, I damaged my left foot / ankle. In both cases A&E told me the injury would have been much worse without the good kit I was wearing, so much so that in the first my foot could have been severed!

Bike boots may not be cheap, but anything else is a false economy IMHO.

[the_lone_wolf]

Be very careful with anything that has laces on a bike. It's all too easy for them to snag on the footrest when you try to put your foot down........oops.

I'd be concerned about the laces getting snagged in the chain drive somewhere too:smt105

[Owenski]

I wear my safety boots for Uni on thursdays but Im very aware of it. Wouldnt want to make a habbit out of it. Steel Sole, Toe and Ankle but they just arent bike boots.

Not for me mate, not as a long term solution I'd stick to the bike boots. If someone crushes the bike from the side, I'd favour my bike boots over my safety boots anytime.

[the_lone_wolf]

I like my Sidi Crossfires:

http://www.dirtbikebitz.com/images/products/boots/CrossF_BlaBla.jpg

Or as the family calls them, my "Terminator Boots"

:cool:

[Ed]

Hey I only got them as an experiment and I have other uses for them anyway. As said, this morning's ride to work - flexible sole - felt odd. Guess I'll have to fork out outrageous Sidi (or Sisi:D) prices:rolleyes:

[ArtyLady]

I like my Sidi Crossfires:

http://www.dirtbikebitz.com/images/products/boots/CrossF_BlaBla.jpg

Or as the family calls them, my "Terminator Boots"

:cool:

Ooooh I like them! are they expensive?

[SoulKiss]

Ooooh I like them! are they expensive?

Cant find them anwhere for less than about £225

I like them too tho :P

Was between a pair of those and my Sidi Canyons a year and a bit ago - the Canyons won due to being cheaper (2/3rds the price) and Goretex...

[the_lone_wolf]

Ooooh I like them! are they expensive?

Extremely:(

They squeak like a bugger as well

Plus they weigh ~2kg each so you'll kick your pillion seat for weeks until you lift them over every time

And restrict your ankle movement to the point that you can only move your foot up and down in line with your leg by ~30 degrees each way

But god-DAMN they look cool;)

They also give considerably more protection than normal road boots, they make my Sidi Evos feel like trainers

[the_lone_wolf]

I wouldn't recommend the Crossfires for road bikes, unless you have Tibilais Anteriors like hydraulic rams you'll never be able to change up...;)

[boot]

I have Oxtar TCX Infinity boots. I weekday commute and weekend jolly in them, al year round. Have had them for over a year now and they don't look more than a couple of weeks old.

Have on a couple of occasions worn a sturdy pair of Aigle walking boots and felt rather unprotected.

I'd strongly recommend against wearing anything other than bike boots.

[Ed]

...and as you're called 'boot' you should know:p

[WetCreda73]

Yes the links are all up and runningSorry that they were off line for a while. I have been talking to DOC in Canterbury and they say that whilst the update the site the link may still occasionally go down.Hope you all find them usefull.Paul

[yorkie_chris]

Steel toe caps always seemed like a good idea to me till they tested them on Mythbusters :shock:

Where they found that they would cut your toes off in an accident that would have cut your toes off anyway? And that in all other cases they were fine.


Nothing wrong with riding in doc martens, para boots etc. They're just not as protective as proper boots. I've fallen off in paras and they've got plenty abrasion resistance, but the bike landing on my foot twisted my foot a bit which probably wouldn't have been as bad with the heavily reinforced sidi vertbras or oxtar TCXs.