Discussion
Hi everyone,
OK, the old A-stars boots aren't lasting at all, plus that nice NEC show is coming up soon ... If you were going to buy the best/most protective pair of new boots, what would it be?
I see that some BMW, Oxtar and Hein Gericke boots now have CE approval. Anybody any idea what this actually means? I know the CE approved leathers (BKS, Crowtree, etc) have to be very good to meet CE approval. So do you think it would be worth plumbing for CE approved boots?
Choices on my mind include:
- Sidi Vertigo Corsa boots - a shiny new replacement for Sidi Vertebra boots, which always did well in the magazine tests.
- Daytona Sport GTX boots (if I can afford 'em!): A full inner boot, so should be tough, although didn't come near the top of the last Ride magazine test on safety. GoreTex.
- Oxtar TCS Evo RX boots - a new race boot that's CE approved, so should be tough.
- BMW Transition boots: a protective exo-skeleton thingy and CE approved, so should be tough. GoreTex, but no toe sliders.
- Hein Gericke do a race boot with GoreTex that's CE approved, although it doesn't have all the ankle stabilisation that external spines, exo-skeletons, etc appear to offer.
Whaddya think?
OK, the old A-stars boots aren't lasting at all, plus that nice NEC show is coming up soon ... If you were going to buy the best/most protective pair of new boots, what would it be?
I see that some BMW, Oxtar and Hein Gericke boots now have CE approval. Anybody any idea what this actually means? I know the CE approved leathers (BKS, Crowtree, etc) have to be very good to meet CE approval. So do you think it would be worth plumbing for CE approved boots?
Choices on my mind include:
- Sidi Vertigo Corsa boots - a shiny new replacement for Sidi Vertebra boots, which always did well in the magazine tests.
- Daytona Sport GTX boots (if I can afford 'em!): A full inner boot, so should be tough, although didn't come near the top of the last Ride magazine test on safety. GoreTex.
- Oxtar TCS Evo RX boots - a new race boot that's CE approved, so should be tough.
- BMW Transition boots: a protective exo-skeleton thingy and CE approved, so should be tough. GoreTex, but no toe sliders.
- Hein Gericke do a race boot with GoreTex that's CE approved, although it doesn't have all the ankle stabilisation that external spines, exo-skeletons, etc appear to offer.
Whaddya think?
Mark
the best boots you can buy are the Daytona security evos. They're about 300 quid though (if you buy direct from Germany) or about 450 (from memory) if you buy in the UK. I have several friends who have smashed their ankles/feet racing and have been told that another smash could mean they will never walk properly - they only wear the evos now. They also look very trick - if you know what you're looking at.
Check out what most top riders wear (who race in the UK, rather than world level sponsored riders, who are paid to wear sidi, astars, etc) and you'll see a large number of them wear daytonas.
Or check out what the irish road racing fraternity wear - that'll give you some clue as to what offers the best protection!
Cheers
the best boots you can buy are the Daytona security evos. They're about 300 quid though (if you buy direct from Germany) or about 450 (from memory) if you buy in the UK. I have several friends who have smashed their ankles/feet racing and have been told that another smash could mean they will never walk properly - they only wear the evos now. They also look very trick - if you know what you're looking at.
Check out what most top riders wear (who race in the UK, rather than world level sponsored riders, who are paid to wear sidi, astars, etc) and you'll see a large number of them wear daytonas.
Or check out what the irish road racing fraternity wear - that'll give you some clue as to what offers the best protection!
Cheers
Personally, I use these, even though I ride a sports bike. I'd put them up against the very best race boots anytime:
http://host113.ipowerweb.com/~metricbi/MBSS/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=&xm=on&product=SID_RAP
Sidi Raptor Evos
Very tough indeed and they don't cost the earth. You can get 'em in the UK for about £160 - £180
Okay, no toe sliders but I don't find I need 'em. The boots protect more of the leg than the usual race boots do and they look soooo cool!
SP
http://host113.ipowerweb.com/~metricbi/MBSS/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=&xm=on&product=SID_RAP
Sidi Raptor Evos
Very tough indeed and they don't cost the earth. You can get 'em in the UK for about £160 - £180
Okay, no toe sliders but I don't find I need 'em. The boots protect more of the leg than the usual race boots do and they look soooo cool!
SP
SirPsycho said:
Personally, I use these, even though I ride a sports bike. I'd put them up against the very best race boots anytime:
http://host113.ipowerweb.com/~metricbi/MBSS/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=&xm=on&product=SID_RAP
Sidi Raptor Evos
Must admit they look cool but on the picture there dosnt seem to be any protection for the ankle. is there any?
I will get some Daytona's next as the inner boot does seem to offer more proctection all round very expensive though.
In a magazine ages ago I read that Joe rocket were developing boots that were basicaly the same as daytona's but probably cheeper. I havnt seen them around anywhere though.
pesty said:
Must admit they look cool but on the picture there dosnt seem to be any protection for the ankle. is there any?
I will get some Daytona's next as the inner boot does seem to offer more proctection all round very expensive though.
In a magazine ages ago I read that Joe rocket were developing boots that were basicaly the same as daytona's but probably cheeper. I havnt seen them around anywhere though.
They're MX boots ... I think MXers are a little more susceptible to ankle injuries, or at least they would be if they didn't wear stuff like this. When new, the ankles hardly bend ... you can just about operate the the gear change & rear brake. They get better as you break them in. If you have a look at a pair, you'll realise that they provide more ankle protection than road boots. I used to have a pair of AXOs (also MX boots) and they were really strong too, but not quite as nice looking. I once had my bike go over on a patch of diesel (front wheel slid), and my leg was caught under the bike ... it hardly marked the boot and I could bearly feel the bike on my leg at all. I was absolutely fine. In summary then ... a big YES, they provide the very best ankle protection IMHO and as "twit" said they are higher, more waterproof and warmer.
Hi again,
Thanks for the comments and suggestions, everyone.
Hmm, I looked close-up at a pair of the Daytona Security Evo boots in a shop for the first time. The kevlar inner boot looks as tough as, well, old boots. Any idea how to buy them direct from Germany?
The price would be a helluva budget stretch. Also, I ride year round and even in summer find waterproof boots handy.
I used off-road boots on a recent trail riding hol. I was certainly well protected in my inevitable 'off', but I don't know whether they'd offer more protection than a boot with an inner shell (like the Daytona Evos) or an exo-skeleton.
T-C, if you're reading this, it would be great to get your expert thoughts.
Thanks for the comments and suggestions, everyone.
Hmm, I looked close-up at a pair of the Daytona Security Evo boots in a shop for the first time. The kevlar inner boot looks as tough as, well, old boots. Any idea how to buy them direct from Germany?
The price would be a helluva budget stretch. Also, I ride year round and even in summer find waterproof boots handy.
I used off-road boots on a recent trail riding hol. I was certainly well protected in my inevitable 'off', but I don't know whether they'd offer more protection than a boot with an inner shell (like the Daytona Evos) or an exo-skeleton.
T-C, if you're reading this, it would be great to get your expert thoughts.
IMO MX boots are a bit of an overkill on the road, they are designed to take really heavy mud and shite abuse and last, they offer a bit more higher leg and shin protection but also have some fetures of a road/race boot missing like the steel plate/bar down the instep that protect the sole of the foot from flat impact (i.e a kerb). I always use the boots designed for the job, that is MX boots off road (actually trail boots because they have tread on the soles, MX boots are ridged for foot down sliding and you can't walk up a muddy slope in them) and road race boots for errrrr road and racing in my case Sidi Vertebra because I have fat feet and Alpinestars are very narrow, I also think Daytonas are overpriced and don't offer that much more for the money, when you consider a good pair of Gore Tex socks are £20 in Blacks.
just got back from me julies , there is definately a chill in the air now , winter is coming 
I have a pair of Security Evo's, wouldnt wear anything else!
On a further note of who wears them all of the irish police riders wear them as uniform.
A simple test is to try and screw the boot up into a ball, if you can then try and imagine your foot and ankle in there. Not a nice thought.
Ive come off on mine 3 or 4 times, only low-sides but gave me the confidence that if a high-side was to occur, my ankles may last the test.
On a further note of who wears them all of the irish police riders wear them as uniform.
A simple test is to try and screw the boot up into a ball, if you can then try and imagine your foot and ankle in there. Not a nice thought.
Ive come off on mine 3 or 4 times, only low-sides but gave me the confidence that if a high-side was to occur, my ankles may last the test.
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