The Best Motorcycle Boots | Motorbike Boots Buyer's Guide

Choosing the best motorcycle boots isn’t easy but is very important. Not only do you have to consider your budget and the features that are most important (protection, style, comfort etc) you also have to take into account the type of riding you want them for: are you a long-distance touring rider or maybe an adventure rider who needs some off-road ruggedness? Are you a sports bike fan wanting the best racy boots for road or track? Or do you want something you can use on and off bike around town that looks good, is comfortable but also offers some protection for those short hops?

Here at Visordown, we're constantly motorbike kit. We review motorcycle boots of all types after putting in the hard miles in all conditions to help you make an informed decision. This list includes some of the best motorcycle boots we have tested, and some that we haven’t but have heard compellingly high ratings for.

We'll be updating this list as time goes on and as new bike boots are released and tested.

The best motorcycle boots for year-round touring/adventure

These motorcycle boots are designed and developed to perform over vast distances and through all types of weather. As such they’re often not the cheapest but they are packed with features, offer the ultimate in weather and crash protection, in some cases on and off-road, yet also deliver plenty of comfort, sophistication and durability. Here’s our pick of three of the best.

Spada Raider

We’ve been testing these boots from Spada for a good chunk of the year and thousands of miles and have been reasonably impressed. They’re a rugged, full-length, adventure-style touring boot in leather and nubuck that comes with useful features, handy clip fasteners, a waterproof hipora lining and moulded gear change pad. 

They are also CE certified, there is a reinforced toe and heel, a storm flap to reduce water ingress and a touring-style sole. Suitable for touring or adventure bikes we found them to be reasonably comfortable (after a bit of breaking in) mostly waterproof and ruggedly built. Best of all, though, at £149.99, they’re good value.

Forma Adventure

One of the best-rated and most popular adventure style motorcycle boots available, the Forma Adventure are vintage style, lightweight, full leather adventure boots with a waterproof liner and TP ankle protectors. Stylish both for adventure and touring riders, owners rate them highly for their comfort, quality, waterproofing, adjustability through their buckles and high-leg design which offers good protection. They’re also reasonably priced, with an RRP of £234.99 although we’ve often seen this significantly discounted.

 

Oxford Hunter Twin Zip

This is one of the most highly rated and affordable waterproof motorcycle touring boots currently available.

The CE-approved Oxford Hunter twin zip is a straightforward, traditional touring boot made from microfibre that has been designed for comfort and protection in all conditions. The adjustable twin zipper opening allows quick and easy fitting, it’s reinforced with protective elements such as ankle protectors. 

There are a PU-reinforced toe and heel counters and a PU footbed shank plus the combination of its full-length design, internal membrane and waterproof twin-zip opening system offers confidence that your feet will stay dry even in the most extreme weather conditions. 

 

The best motorcycle boots for sports riding

If you’re less of a touring or adventure bike rider and more of a sports one, your requirements for motorcycle boots are naturally different.  Although protection and, sometimes, waterproofing are still important, when tucked into a sports crouch things like lightweight, slim fit, ventilation and feel are important, too – not to mention a sportier, snazzier style. Here are our picks:

RST TracTech Evo 3

A best-seller, one of the highest-rated sports bike boots on the market, that comes with waterproofing AND a price that, currently is £159.99, the TracTech Evo 3 boot from RST is understandably a great buy.

It’s a stylish sports boot made from abrasion-resistant microfibre, bristles with features including TPU external protection and calf expansion panels for added flexibility, has a waterproof and breathable membrane, a hinged ankle to prevent overextension, a hard-wearing gear shift protection pad, anti-slip, multi-density sole for added grip, a nylon boot shank for enhanced durability, traditional zip closure with hook and loop flap and a replaceable hard-wearing toe slider

Read our RST TracTech Evo boots review here.

 

SiDi Performer GoreTex

Another high-performance, waterproof sports boot that’s very highly rated but this time from the upper end of the market from well-respected Italian brand Sidi.

The Performer Gore-Tex is a waterproof and breathable boot with front and rear venting to improve airflow. It’s made from ‘Technomicro’, a microfibre material, with a calf area in soft polyurethane protected with mesh, has external metatarsus protection, a shaped and fixed shin plate with lower air channels, replaceable nylon toe slider and internal inner and outer ankle protective caps. It’s double stitched in all high-stress areas; there’s a traditional zip and hook and loop flap closure and an elastic panel adjacent to this on the calf. 

Inside, there is a waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex membrane, it’s Teflon mesh lined and there’s a Cambrelle liner for maximum comfort. The sole, meanwhile, is in nylon with a removable arch support pad. It’s one of the pricier options here with an RRP of £279.99.

Alpinestars SMX-6 V2 Drystar

This is one of the best-selling and most highly rated waterproof sports boots available from arguably the most envied and prestigious name in the business.

The SMX-6 V2 Drystar are waterproof performance boots with TPU protectors and easy side entry. The main construction is in microfibre for durability and abrasion resistance and also includes innovative front and rear bellow zones for flexibility. There’s a TPU lateral ankle brace support between the calf, shin and ankle for shock protection, mesh air vents on the shin plate, a TPU-injected shin guard, calf protector, heel counter, shift pad, ankle brace and toe sliders, a double density ankle protector on the medial side plus a replaceable toe slider with easy screw fixings. 

Interior-wise, the insole features shank reinforcement, there is Alpinestar’s ‘Drystar’ waterproof and breathable membrane, internal ‘toe box’ protection, a breathable textile lining with suede anti-slide and a removable, anatomic footbed with EVA and Lycra. The sole, meanwhile, is Alpinestars’ compound rubber sole for improved grip, water dispersion and durability. The RRP is £269.99.

The best motorcycle boots for commuter/urban use

Of course, not all motorcycling is about travelling long distances or even going everywhere at speed. If you’re a commuter or youngster heading out onto two wheels for the first time your requirements are almost certainly different again, going less for a snug sports fit or adaptable year-round features, and more for urban style and great value – and, again, there’s a big selection of motorcycle boots to choose from. Here are some of the best…

Furygan Stockton D30

We’ve been testing these casual-look ventilated urban boots with D3O ankle protection from famous French brand Furygan for a while now and have been impressed. They're very comfortable, you can walk around in them for a fair bit before your feet start to hurt and the armour is decent for a boot of this type. At £139.99 they’re reasonable value, too, although they have shown signs of wear a bit quicker than we’d have liked.

Lightweight, breathable and with a ventilated tongue, they have high-tenacity polyester construction that is reinforced at the heel and toes. There is an abrasion-resistant gear shift protector, a removable insole and a rugged non-slip rubber sole.

Read our Furygan Stockton boots review.
 

TCX Blend II
 

If you’re after a more vintage style urban boot, rather than a trainer style one, plus also one that’s available in men's and women’s sizes, we’ve tested these Blend II boots from TCX and have liked what we found.

They’re a full-grain leather urban boot with a waterproof ‘T-Dry’ membrane and ‘Groundtrax’ rubber sole. There are rear reflective inserts for high visibility, a lace-up closure,  an integrated gear section pad, reinforcements at the ankle, toe and heel, an Ortholite footbed with long-term cushioning and high levels of breathability. They come in black, too, at £199.99.

Read our TCX Blend II riding boot review.

Vanucci VUB-1

We’ve also been testing these stylish, trainer-style motorcycle boots from the trendy but respected German motorcycle brand Vanucci. The CE-approved VUB-1s have a textile mix outer with an eye-catching Michelin tread pattern rubber sole. The outer material has ‘knitted-in’ optics to ensure a perfect fit. There is a gear shift pad, a loop at the heel to facilitate easy entry, an anatomically shaped, removable Ortholite insole and it comes in a variety of colour ways, all for £150.33. They’re great for those wanting a casual, sporty, urban style, yet offer the protection and comfort you want when cruising through town and country.

Read our Vanucci VUB-1 boots review.