How to buy motorcycle boots: protection, size, membrane
First decide on your riding style
Motorcycle footwear of different types is hardly interchangeable. Off-road boots are tall and stiff, with plastic inserts and buckles; they protect the shin, but are awkward for walking. Touring (adventure) boots are stiff but still let you walk. Sports boots fix the ankle firmly, but tire you in the city. Short motorcycle shoes suit the city and summer: they are light, but cover less.
The more you walk and the colder the weather, the more the comfort of the sole and the membrane matter. For a daily commute, take touring or city models.
Protection and membrane
- Ankle and shin protection: stiff inserts at the sides and supports against twisting of the foot.
- CE certification: look for the mark under the relevant standard for motorcycle footwear.
- A toe overlay and a sole for gear changing that does not slip on the pedal.
- Membrane (Gore-Tex, Drystar): keeps water out, but in the heat the boots are hotter.
- Upper: leather lasts longer, synthetic is lighter, textile breathes better.
What to put in your request
- Type of footwear — off-road, touring, sport, short.
- Size — EU or foot length in cm; take it with thick socks in mind.
- Protection — ankle, shin, CE.
- Membrane — needed or not.
- Material — leather, synthetic, textile.
- Men's or women's last.
- Brand, for example TCX.
- New or used, delivery city and budget.
Example: “I am looking for women's touring motorcycle boots, 39 EU, with ankle protection and a Gore-Tex membrane, leather, preferably TCX. New. Delivery to Tampines, budget up to $240.”
How to compare offers
The size charts of brands differ, so ask for the insole length in centimetres. The option to exchange if the boots do not fit matters here as much as the price. For used ones, check the sole, the clasps, the buckles and whether the protection has been dented in falls. New boots should be broken in at home before the first ride, because stiff leather rubs at first.
Look at the sole too: one that is too thick and coarse stops you feeling the gear lever, and one that is too thin does not protect your foot when you walk. Trying them on with the socks you ride in is good practice, and on the bike if possible. The buckles and laces should close easily with gloves on.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You write your request on BlaBlaPrice once, and sellers of riding gear answer in chat: the model, the price, the size in stock, delivery. The platform compares the answers and shows the best one for your request first, with reviews of the seller next to it. Your phone number is hidden. More: how it works.
To go with the boots, pick motorcycle trousers or motorcycle gloves, and for an overview see motorcycle gear.
