"Tactical" boots

[stefrrr]

So I saw some uniform "tactical" boots at Sears. They're 6" black police-type uniform boots. Anyone here use them in any brand?

Because they're "tactical," will my riding improve?  

[stefrrr]

How about Gaerne boots? Any experience with these? I was looking at the "movie" and "panarama," I think...

I'm looking for a good all-around riding boot, waterproof would be just lovely. I can wear men's boots if they go down to a men's six, which some of them do. The Gaerne boots for women don't have a contact patch on the toe, so I'm looking at the men's ones that do.

[rselin]

I'm not a woman, but I've had two pairs of Sidi boots I've been really happy with.  Their Tepor lining is waterproof.  Maybe something like this is what you're looking for?

http://www.superbikeitalia.com/shop/details.asp?id=141&iCat=40

[jschmidt]

So I saw some uniform "tactical" boots at Sears. They're 6" black police-type uniform boots. Anyone here use them in any brand?

Because they're "tactical," will my riding improve?  

Wearing tactical underwear makes you better in bed, so I suppose so.  

Have I mentioned the tactical bra. It has a pyro charge clasp.

[shawn and gwyn]

i couldnt find any actual motorcycle boots  that fit me... wide foot.  so i use a pair of herman survivors.. 40 bucks at walmart..  leather and nylon construction, and waterproof... they fit great.. the ones i have are 8" tops.

check somthing like that out..

shawn

[stefrrr]

Wearing tactical underwear makes you better in bed, so I suppose so.  

Have I mentioned the tactical bra. It has a pyro charge clasp.

Is that available at Victoria's Secret?

i couldnt find any actual motorcycle boots  that fit me... wide foot.  so i use a pair of herman survivors.. 40 bucks at walmart..  leather and nylon construction, and waterproof... they fit great.. the ones i have are 8" tops.

check somthing like that out..

shawn

I think that's similar to what I was looking at - I get an employee discount at Sears. Do you know how they might perform in a wreck? I sprained both my ankles a few years ago, and I want to keep that from happening again.  

[highside]

I think that's similar to what I was looking at - I get an employee discount at Sears. Do you know how they might perform in a wreck? I sprained both my ankles a few years ago, and I want to keep that from happening again.  

Actual motorcycle boots will do a lot more to keep it from happening again in an actual motorcycle crash, that is what they are for.

Motorcycle boots are expensive because they incorporate this sort of protection, does that give you an idea of why these "tactical" boots are cheap?

If these are the $50 variety of high-top tactical boot (they have various labels, but i think they are made by only one or two third world companies and are rebranded stateside),  then they arent even any good for their intended purpose. I used to have to wear over-the-ankle boots like this for work and boots of this nature don't last for more than 6 months to a year under normal use (just walking and standing), even good tactical boots cost a couple hundred bucks, these are made for security guards that make $8/hour who cannot afford a decent pair of boots. They might be better than tennis shoes, but not by much.

[stefrrr]

If these are the $50 variety of high-top tactical boot (they have various labels, but i think they are made by only one or two third world companies and are rebranded stateside),  then they arent even any good for their intended purpose. I used to have to wear over-the-ankle boots like this for work and boots of this nature don't last for more than 6 months to a year under normal use (just walking and standing), even good tactical boots cost a couple hundred bucks, these are made for security guards that make $8/hour who cannot afford a decent pair of boots. They might be better than tennis shoes, but not by much.

That was pretty much what I expected - thanks for the advice, minus the condescending tone.

[highside]

That was pretty much what I expected - thanks for the advice, minus the condescending tone.

It was not meant to be condescending.

All but one of the posts that preceded mine were either bad advice, or childish crotchsniffing. I provide an actual answere to your question complete with my reasoning and real world experience, all the while treating you like an adult, and that's the post that you complain about being condescending. I'll bear that in mind should you ask another question for which I have valid advice.

You can afford a motorcycle, you have pre-existing injuries to both of your ankles, an expressed concern for re-injuring them, you belong (and have belonged for some time) to a forum that has *ample* available information regarding equipment, and then you ask if a $50 pair of combat boots is suitable gear. My mother did say that there is no such thing as a stupid question but then again she lied about the Easter Bunny (he does NOT lay the lay the chocolate eggs himself).

[servicerifle]

I'm going to withhold my comments about the above post.

The "High Tec" and similar brands are better than tennis shoes, and probably ok for the noob, but I don't think they're worth your money considering you say you scrape your pegs on occasion.  I assumed you had real riding boots by now, don't you?  If not, how about the Daytona Lady Stars?  Yeah, I know they're expensive.

[highside]

The "High Tec" and similar brands are better than tennis shoes, and probably ok for the noob

Better than tennis shoes, yes. I don't really understand the "ok for noobs" sentiment though. Are new riders LESS likely to crash and hurt themselves than experienced riders? That seems a little counterintuitive to me. If anyone needs top notch gear it is people that don't really know what they are doing.

[servicerifle]

Speeds are slower, and the chances of a "catastrophic" accident are hopefully lower, as they are usually having most problems in a parking lot, rather than in an 80 mph sweeper.  Just my opinion.

[FuturaPilot]

I really, really like my SIDI Canyon, now with Gore-Tex!  Got them here:

http://www.derbycycles.com/cgi-bin/eShop/index.cgi?cart_id=5662449.81798&pid=3528&product=Sidi&count=1

Might be able to find them cheaper on the net but this guy is great to deal with, even though it says Sympatex they are now Gore-Tex.
JCIII

[jschmidt]

It was not meant to be condescending.

All but one of the posts that preceded mine were either bad advice, or childish crotchsniffing. I provide an actual answere to your question complete with my reasoning and real world experience, all the while treating you like an adult, and that's the post that you complain about being condescending. I'll bear that in mind should you ask another question for which I have valid advice.

You can afford a motorcycle, you have pre-existing injuries to both of your ankles, an expressed concern for re-injuring them, you belong (and have belonged for some time) to a forum that has *ample* available information regarding equipment, and then you ask if a $50 pair of combat boots is suitable gear. My mother did say that there is no such thing as a stupid question but then again she lied about the Easter Bunny (he does NOT lay the lay the chocolate eggs himself).

But you didn't mean to be condescending, right?  

Stef: A nice heavy pair of boots will give you 80% of motorcycle specific boots when it comes to protection. Read up on some of the features of motorcycle boots at newenough.com and look for boots that seem to address those features in some way. The things to watch out for if you're going generic are:
1. Tall toe boxes (or steel toe boxes) that make it hard to get under this shifter.
2. Boots that are not flexible enough at the ankle.
3. 3/4 boots that have an ankle cutout instead of ankle coverage.
4. Laces that are likely to foul on anything.

Our not-condescending friend is right about one thing; nothing beats motorcycle boots for riding. It's good to know, though, that most everything -- except for maybe ski boots and ice skates -- beats them for walking.

Me? I thought it was a good question. When I'm riding, I wear motorcycle specific boots. When I'm riding to teach a riding class, I wear boots that provide adequate protection and still allow me to walk the seven parking-lot miles that the class requires.

And no, you can't get those at Victoria's Secret. You have to go to The Crazy Russian's Tactical Bazaar and Swap Meet.  

[stefrrr]

The "High Tec" and similar brands are better than tennis shoes, and probably ok for the noob, but I don't think they're worth your money considering you say you scrape your pegs on occasion.  I assumed you had real riding boots by now, don't you?  If not, how about the Daytona Lady Stars?  Yeah, I know they're expensive.

I haven't gotten "real" boots yet for a couple of reasons - most motorcycle boots I can't actually get my foot into because of weakened ankles. I also have a high instep which makes the ones I can literally painful. I've been wearing leather work boots but I would like something better. If a boot is going to zip, the zipper absolutely must angle forward, otherwise I won't be able to get my foot into it.
I've kind of been looking at lace-ups because I don't have to try to insert my foot into a barely-big enough space, plus they have a more adjustable fit than a solid piece of stiff leather. Alpinestars makes a pair that lace up with a flap that covers the laces. They look almost exactly like the "tactical" boots.  
I like the looks of them, and laces are a big plus for the reasons I mentioned above.

Another complication is that the quality, features, and practicality of the majority of women's riding boots are not impressive, so I'm looking for men's boots that go down to european 39/wm8/mn6.

I'm also looking at Gaerne boots - some friends of mine rave about them. The dealership has agreed to order them just so that I have tried them on.

Oh, yeah - I'm a poor college student. I'm not paying more than $200.

Stef: A nice heavy pair of boots will give you 80% of motorcycle specific boots when it comes to protection. Read up on some of the features of motorcycle boots at newenough.com and look for boots that seem to address those features in some way. The things to watch out for if you're going generic are:
1. Tall toe boxes (or steel toe boxes) that make it hard to get under this shifter.
2. Boots that are not flexible enough at the ankle.
3. 3/4 boots that have an ankle cutout instead of ankle coverage.
4. Laces that are likely to foul on anything.

Our not-condescending friend is right about one thing; nothing beats motorcycle boots for riding. It's good to know, though, that most everything -- except for maybe ski boots and ice skates -- beats them for walking.

Me? I thought it was a good question. When I'm riding, I wear motorcycle specific boots. When I'm riding to teach a riding class, I wear boots that provide adequate protection and still allow me to walk the seven parking-lot miles that the class requires.

Thank you for the straightforward answer. I think that the boots that I was looking at are guilty of #3. I guess I'll just have to wait for the Gaernes to come in so I can try them out. I honestly can't remember which ones they were, but they zip up. I ordered them a few weeks ago, but I was kind of looking for a backup. I'd like to try on those alpinestars, but I live in the hills, and no place around here carries boots in stock. I've tried cycleworld, but they don't carry boots in the right size, unless they're womens, and I'm not impressed with most women's boots. Another brand I was looking at was Kochman - I tried on a pair at sherides in Suches, but I can't find them anywhere else, and they're not listed on their website any more.

Damn, I'm picky.  

And no, you can't get those at Victoria's Secret. You have to go to The Crazy Russian's Tactical Bazaar and Swap Meet.  

How do I get on the mailing list?  

[jschmidt]

How do I get on the mailing list?  

I asked Ivan and he asked Demetry who asked Sergey. Ivan said Demetry said that Sergey said, "If he tell her, you must kill him! Then you must kill her."

I thought about it... Sorry.  

[Vladimir]

I haven't gotten "real" boots yet for a couple of reasons - most motorcycle boots I can't actually get my foot into because of weakened ankles. I also have a high instep which makes the ones I can literally painful. I've been wearing leather work boots but I would like something better. If a boot is going to zip, the zipper absolutely must angle forward, otherwise I won't be able to get my foot into it.

You might take a look at the Alpinestar "Ridge" motorcycle boot.  That's what I wear and despite a loss of flexibility in my right ankle after reconstructive surgery, I can get them on fairly easily. They go down to a Men's US size 6 and close up with velcro, not laces or zippers. New Enough currently has them for $109.95 with free shipping!

http://www.newenough.com/boots/waterproof_sport_street_touring_boots/alpinestars/ridge_motorcycle_boots.html

[jschmidt]

Speaking of weak ankles, whenever I get a student with this problem -- even if they want a sportbike, I recommend they consider retrofitting a heel&toe shift lever. It solves a lot of problems.

[servicerifle]

She could go with forward controls, too.

Aw, hell, go all the way and get a "full dresser" which I think is kinda like saying a "chest of drawers?"

 

[jschmidt]

She could go with forward controls, too.

Aw, hell, go all the way and get a "full dresser" which I think is kinda like saying a "chest of drawers?"

 

You dog! I'm reminded of when I was growing up and the people in my lower-middle class neighborhood who made light of my one-armed neighbor's steering wheel spinner.