Steel toe capped boots

[The Lukas]

I've always been told that it's a big wearing steel toe capped boots on a motorcycle. Why?

[bamberwell]

i always thought that if you had to have a dab whilst moving, they'd act like a guillotine....

[aeropilot]

The Lukas said:

I've always been told that it's a big wearing steel toe capped boots on a motorcycle. Why?

I believe, it's in case your foot gets 'trapped' somehow and the stiff toe section of the boot gets turned up too far, and the plate in the toe could cut the end of your foot off.

[Atomic Punk]

Yep on a bike

[VB]

Can you even buy steel capped boots now?

We switched ages ago (90s) to a sort of formed stiff card type material. Wear sandals if you like. Who gives a flip (flop)

[VB]

Can you even buy steel capped boots now?

We switched ages ago (90s) to a sort of formed stiff card type material. Wear sandals if you like. Who gives a flip (flop)

[JimGTxx]

The Lukas said:

I've always been told that it's a big wearing steel toe capped boots on a motorcycle. Why?

old wives tales, that is why.

for the same reasons people tell you not to wear belts, or rucksacks/backpacks, incase they get caught on some thing when you come off and you get ripped in half or your arms torn off.

as has been discussed before, most toe capped boots have some form of plastic compound in anyway, not steel.

For those that do, the likelyhood of damaging guillotining your toes has got to be miniscule.

In the event of a crash so bad that somehow manages to have enough impact to 'flip' a cap (imagine for a minute which way it would have to be 'hit' to do that - and how the sole would have to flex to 'chop') or crush it/bend your foot back on itself like that, the last thing you need to be worrying about is your toes as an awful lot worse is probably about to happen to other parts of you. I fail to see how it has become such a common place worry, it's quite clear to me that it is utter rubbish.

I would still imagine that there are far more plus points to having boots with 'hard' toe protection, than these 'old wives tales' would have you believe.


oh, I just googled it, as I was sure it had been debunked:-
http://mythbustersresults.com/episode42

[JimGTxx]

http://www.therevcounter.com/uk-motorbike-forum/59...

[BliarOut]

'Cos they get bloody freezing inside five miles

[JimGTxx]

BliarOut said:

'Cos they get bloody freezing inside five miles

now that is a valid point!

[bamberwell]

i'm a steel fabricator and every pair of boots i've had have steel caps in.... i know cos i wear through the fkers in a couple of months

[dave0010]

my boots have steal toe caps, I use them every day and night on the bike mainly because I cant be bothered to carry my alpinestar boots around all the time and because the boots themselves would offer better protection then trainers

[The Lukas]

Oooo a variety of opinions

But thank you

[TPS]

I use to ride to work every day in my steel toe capped boots and yes they were steel.
One morning i lent over a bit to far into a corner and my toe hit the road snapping my foot back.Now i always wear motorcycle boots that protect your ankle.

[Brite spark]

shoe laces are probably going to cause more probles than the steel toecaps (assuming workboots-not motorbike boots)

[Speed addicted]

My workboots are also steel, I don't think I'd wear them on the bike because
1, They do get bloody freezing
2. They're a bit clumpy for the controls on the bike
3. Having got the laces caught up in the gear selector once was plenty for me. It's not a nice feeling when you stop at the lights and your foot gets to the end of the peg and stops, and while you're trying to work out why the bike is slowly toppling over.
4. They're offshore, we're not allowed the bikes out here.

[watanabe]

I think another reason they are generally fround upon is that a lot of them (all the ones i've seen here (aust) have been like this) have an elasticised top which allows them to easily slip off in an accident.

[Vipers]

bamberwell said:

i'm a steel fabricator and every pair of boots i've had have steel caps in....

Do you mean steel caps when your riding, or working, if working, then its obvious why you wear them. We treated a guy the other work at the hospital, a 2 ton load fell from about 18 inches onto his boot, the steel cap saved his toes.

[daveknott5]

I heard it was because if you have a crash and the bike/another heavy object falls onto your foot, the steel toe cap will crush your toes and stay in the "crush" position i.e., not flex back to its starting position.........

Nasty

[BliarOut]

If there was enough force to do that to a steel toecap your toes would be long gone