Alpinestars No Good so Which Boot????

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Tailspin

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I just bought a pair of Alpinestars Tech3 Boots and they are far too stiff (Can't change gear or brake easily!) so I am going to sell them on (Bargain by the way!!). But, that still leaves me with the question of "Which Boot???"

I know a lot of guys wear Altbergs or Daytona's but I am looking for a full boot , waterproof and breathable that has a good level of protection (around ankles also!) and is for all year round use. Currently using a pair of Sidi Vertigo's from my SSport days! Very comfy but fancy something a little more suited to the 12GS.

Any Ideas??
 
Might be worth looking at the Heine Gericke boots as alot of people use them plus there waterproof and you can move in them
 
Off-road boots are a different proposition from touring boots or race boots. It is possible to get used to them and they will break in a bit through time. I find that I need to adopt a different style of changing down when wearing Moto-X boots. I lift my foot off the peg and tap the gear lever down, rather than changing down with just a flick of my ankle as I would in more flexible boots.

You've also got a couple of conflicting requirements. I can't think of one serious off-road boot which has a waterproof membrane. About the closest is these Vendramini boots...

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r4/vendramini-elephant/

...or Daytona Trans Open...

http://www.forthgear.co.uk/product/Trans_open_Gore-Tex_9411

Of those two, I've only tried the Daytonas and found the level of protection which they offer to be nowhere near that of a genuine off-road boot such as my Sidi Flexforce SRS...

http://www.infinitymotorcycles.com/product.asp?ProductID=343

....or even my Oxtar Space boots......

http://www.forthgear.co.uk/product/Space_8226

Further away from genuine off-road boots, closer to road boots and offering a waterproof membrane are the TCX (previously Oxtar) Infinity, Hein Gericke Rallye GTXII and the BMW Kalahari which are all essentially the same boot with detail differences and different prices.
 
Tailspin said:
I just bought a pair of Alpinestars Tech3 Boots and they are far too stiff (Can't change gear or brake easily!) so I am going to sell them on (Bargain by the way!!). But, that still leaves me with the question of "Which Boot???"


Any Ideas??
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Yes.....Persevere.

You 'just' bought them...all decent boots with any sort of protection will feel stiff initially.......if they feel silky soft and flexible, they're not going to protect your little pinkies are they ?? ;)


Walk around in them, up and down stairs and ride in them....they will feel cumbersome but they will wear in and more importantly, your head will become re-programmed into dealing with the new feel of the gear change and braking action.... then they will give you the protection you want....don't compromise that because they feel a bit stiff at first :thumb
 
What on earth makes you think Altberg and Daytona don't make full, waterproof, all year boots ???

Altberg are one of the very few manufacturers that make CE approved boots, so the police can wear them. All year, in any weather.......

And Daytona have a huge range on offer. My TravelStar GTX boots are still (too) warm and still fully waterproof after 3 years of daily use.
 
It was the additional requirements not the waterproofing and all year capability I was questioning as the Altbergs do not seem to offer the same level of protection ie. Shin and Ankle. Correct me if wrong???
 
Have a look at the BMW Santiago. I've just bought a pair of these to replace the preceding version and they are significantly more robust than the older boots.

The sole is thicker and stiffer and the ankle/shin protection is better too.

These are a good compromise between an all-out enduro boot and normal boots.

They are water-proof and you can wear them all day, even walk about comfortably without looking like an extra from Star Wars.

Sensible plain black too as opposed to the camp offerings most full-on enduro boots come in.

Typical BMW price but typical BMW two year warranty. (My old ones are still water-proof and comfy after four years and thousands of miles).
 
Just Bought some Alpinestars Tech 8 Which are very stiff but Heh thats how they are ! They will take a month to bed in or so and are coming to the Himalayas with me in september .The protection is awesome beautifully made but yes you have to persevere ,they WILL save your ankle in a spill .
 
Tailspin said:
It was the additional requirements not the waterproofing and all year capability I was questioning as the Altbergs do not seem to offer the same level of protection ie. Shin and Ankle. Correct me if wrong???
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Question - What kind of riding gear do you use, leather or textile? If like a lot of GS riders it's textile you've already made a compromise on protection in favour of comfort and convenience, so why is there an insistance on fully armoured boots. Heavy off road boots are made for heavy off road, motocross type riding, race boots are for racing, if you do neither then what's wrong with a boot made for the road?

The police wear Altberg's & notable full two piece leathers for protection & I'm sure they've considered all the options, to give the best performance v comfort for long days on the bike.

I'm an Altberg fan, great boots all year, never leaked, warm in winter & not too hot in summer. I've had had one 'off' at around 60mph whilst wearing them & apart from a scuffing of the toe they are still fine & more importantly so are my feet.

Only reason I can see for full off-road boots is fashion, so if that's your thing great & why not, but don't pretend it's for protection::mmmm
 
Answer - I believe that the most common serious injury for ROAD bikers is lower leg and ankle injuries (perhaps with collar bone a close second). These are very nasty because fractures don't heal well there. Good boots, with hard protection for the shin right up to the knee protector, may well prevent such a nasty fracture. This is far more important than preventing roadrash, which is all that leather will do. And anyway you'd most likely be better off with, say a good rukka textile suit with joint protectors and armacor, than standard leathers.

What the police use is absolutely no guide to what's best for anyone else. They are limited by cost, bureaucracy and other problems.

I don't know much about Altberg boots, but the ones I've seen don't go up the shin enough.
I've got sidi vertebra 2, which are not off road style, but have a very hard plastic side piece.
 
gasman said:
Answer - I believe that the most common serious injury for ROAD bikers is lower leg and ankle injuries (perhaps with collar bone a close second). These are very nasty because fractures don't heal well there. Good boots, with hard protection for the shin right up to the knee protector, may well prevent such a nasty fracture. This is far more important than preventing roadrash, which is all that leather will do. And anyway you'd most likely be better off with, say a good rukka textile suit with joint protectors and armacor, than standard leathers.

What the police use is absolutely no guide to what's best for anyone else. They are limited by cost, bureaucracy and other problems.

I don't know much about Altberg boots, but the ones I've seen don't go up the shin enough.
I've got sidi vertebra 2, which are not off road style, but have a very hard plastic side piece.
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Each to their own, I'm very happy with the protection my boots give me, full shin protection up to my knee armour & good ankle protection, if I need more then I'm sure I'll have more important things to worry about.

I suspect your thinking of the more hiking boot style of Altbergs which don't have the same level of protection for the lower leg, but the folk who use them seem to love them as they offer a good compromise. Having seen plenty folk wearing trainers or even 'flip-flops' during the recent hot weather any boot must be better.
 
jefformston said:
Only reason I can see for full off-road boots is fashion, so if that's your thing great & why not, but don't pretend it's for protection::mmmm
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That is a joke isn't it :confused:

Altbergs (and similar) may be comfy but protection wise they are a joke - scuff resistance yes but there is no shin protection and absolutley no torsional rigidity for ankle protection.

By all means wear them on the basis that comfort is more imporatnt than protection but to think that MX boots are just for fashion and not protection :mmmm

I'll stick to MX boots thanks (and have done for years now, regarless of type of bike owned!) - protection comes first for me :thumb2

Andres
 
Altbergs do not have a steel sole shank to prevent the foot being squashed in a side impact/crushing drop.
MX and Enduro boots do.

Apart from a broken rib from someone riding an HP2 off a sand dune :blush , the only broken bones we've had in Morocco have been caused directly by people not wearing adequate foot protection.



As for MX boots only being for fashion? I'm sure that may be true for some wannabees but the fact remains that feet in armoured boots are safer than those in floppy race or touring boots.....yes they take a little getting use to, but FFS your feet are pretty important :rolleyes:
 
Hello totally agree with Fanum,just a wee point I get my MX boots resoled with treaded soles,makes pushing it out of ditches easier as you have a chance of staying upright....regards
 
gasman said:
Answer - I believe that the most common serious injury for ROAD bikers is lower leg and ankle injuries (perhaps with collar bone a close second).
Click to expand...
The most common disabling motorcycle injury is to the ankle - thy are hard to fix. Collarbones on the other hand are just for crumple zone.

I wear SidiFlex Force II on and off road. Sure they look ridiculous, leak in the meanest of downpours, make gear-changing all but impossible, but they are very protective and make an agreeable squeaking noise when you walk in motorway service stations.
 
stolzy said:
I wear SidiFlex Force II on and off road. Sure they look ridiculous, leak in the meanest of downpours, make gear-changing all but impossible, but they are very protective and make an agreeable squeaking noise when you walk in motorway service stations.
Click to expand...

You don't need off-road boots for that - the Sidi Squeak comes from their whole range :D
 
BMW Santiago. Very well made and comfortable. Haven't tried them in the rain yet. Kind of expensive, however.
 
Forget those nasty old Alpinestars and get a comfy pair of Alpinestars.

You can wear them all day and still walk in trials boots! Try a few pairs of the Alpine Stars Tech boots on - then try a pair of their 'No Stop' Trial boots All the pose without the pain in your toes


20040_outside.jpg


White, Black, Red and I think they do em in blue too.


mermoto
 
Thanks guys for the info. I have never had motocross boots previously and I must admit I was pretty shocked at the lack of feel. Isn't mail order great, still live and learn...

I think I will probably look for a compromise boot such as the BMW Santiago if it does indeed have a decent amount of flexibility. Anyone know if it is a replica of an Oxtar (TCX) boot like other ranges?? Regarding protection, I do want a boot with a decent shin plate and the best level of ankle protection available for the style of boot I have chosen. Even when riding my CBR6rr I always had the boot that offered the best protection even though they were floppy race boots ;)

The Altberg boots are indeed a very nicely made product but I would not be confident to wear a boot with such low protection. Not had chance to check out the Daytona's fully yet, that's for later.

Is it about fashion? Not really it's about protection and I would argue that my textile gear is a hell of a lot safer than a lot of Leather combo's out there. The combination of appropriate materials, the way in which they are constructed and the thicknesses, treatments and qualities of said materials are more important than just buying something because it is "leather".

The reason though that I will probably not end up sticking with the full on MX boot is that I just dont feel I will gel with it. Oh and because at present I can still sell them on as new and get the Santiago. Not by mail order this time though :blast

Having said that, it's a bonus if they look nice! Is that fashion? :D;)
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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