No adventure sport should be undertaken without being appropriately prepared for it, especially if it’s Motocross biking. Motocross biking is a sport for those who have an appetite for unconventional riding thrill, but more importantly are looking for a gruelling and dirty experience.
Truly, Motocross riding is not for everyone, but if you are a Motocross enthusiast you would know too well to attempt a dirt ride, without donning the right gear for it. The essential gears for Motocross biking include a Helmet, Goggles, Chest protector, Gloves and Boots. Today we shall look closely at the best options available for you to pick out the Best Motocross Boots.
Quick Comparison: Top 3 Best Motocross Boots
Motocross Boots | |||
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Image | |||
Protection | Reinforced heel counter, a thick shin plate, a series of hardened, anti-abrasion fabrics | SmSingle shin plate, tapered vinyl gaiter, 4 PU molded bucklesall | StanReinforcements on the heel and around the ankle, metal shank reinforcements, injection molded plastic protective platesdard |
Weight | 11 pounds | 8 pounds | 6 pounds |
Adjustability | Alloy buckles | In step panels with wide toe box | 4-way buckle system, welt sole crafted from the Goodyear technology |
Quality | A+ | A | A+ |
Price | $$ | $ | $ |
My Rating |
Below, you'll find my more detailed reviews about the motocross boots, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
Read Also:
Snap Guide to The Best Snowmobile Boots
Finding The Best Motorcycle Boots For 2017
Thing To Consider Before Buying Motocross Boots
As a rider, you would want riding boots to give you protection, comfort and reliability. There, of course, are a lot of features to consider while choosing a motocross boot, but protection is assuredly the most important of them.
Comfort is the next aspect you would want to look at, as you don’t want to be stuck with a pair of boots that would take the enjoyment out of the ride. Finally, your boots ought to be reliable, as you would be spending a significant amount of money and you would want to invest in boots you could turn to at every time of need.
Some features you always need to check for in the boots you are planning to buy to ensure utmost maximum protection and comfort while riding:
Leg, Ankle And Feet Protection
Since Safety is your top most concern you must look for ample foot, shin and ankle protection. The best motocross boots come with reinforced layers of armour to safeguard all parts of your leg which is prone to damage. However, the boots with most protections is not necessarily the best, you would at the same time want to ensure that you have free movement of feet and does not render your leg inflexible.
Pre-determine The Ankle Type You Want
A Motocross rider is always a injury prone area and is always exposed to sudden impact. The best boots (like the ones suggested by us) provide sufficient flexibility which enables the rider to maintain control, but still offers protection to the joints. These boots have a hinged design which lends significant flexibility, while other boots feature only a solid ankle area for protection but do not do much for flexibility.
A Reliable Closing Mechanism
The best boots will ultimately be the ones which winds well around your leg and makes you feel secure. Be it, metal zippers, straps or buckles, they should be secure, snug and should not be of poor quality. Riders with unusually larger or narrower calves should ensure that the boot is adjustable to fit them well.
Boot Material And Weight
Because protection should be the prime feature of an ideal pair of motocross boots, the material used to ensure the protection is also an important consideration. As some motocross boots feature steel to reinforce the toe and heel areas, it results in great protection but at the same time adds a significant weight to the boots. Some lower priced boots may ease of the weight by using plastic armour, but again it reduces the protective quotient of the boots.
Considering the above requirements and some technical factors, we have filtered down to what we feel are the three best boots out there.
Top 3 Motocross Boots For You To Choose
Pros
Light weight but protective
Easy and firm buckling system
Tough enough for all tracks
Has a premium feel and look great
Highly Durable
Cons
Expensive in comparison to other boots available in the market
Not the ideal boot for ventilation
Gaerne’s GX-1 boot is a solid example of the quality products Gearne’s is known for. Made in Italy, GX-1 exhibits highest quality material and craftsmanship. At 42 cm (16.1 inches) high and weighing 1.74 kg each, the GX-1 boots are apt in size and significantly lighter than other GX models.
The GX-1 doesn’t disappoint on the aspect of protection; it has a reinforced heel counter, a robust shin plate, and a bunch of hardened, anti-abrasion fabrics. GX-1 provides Alloy buckles which once buckled makes the boot stiff enough for riding a motocross bike, but yet flexible enough for comfort in dual sport riding.
Most Useful Features
Light-alloy four buckle closure system
Wide toe box
Reinforced shin plate and heel counter
Genuine leather calf protection
Steel shank inside durable sole
Breathable internal fabric and padding
Pros
Very comfortable to wear particularly for those with unusual leg sizes
Great mud protection
Great ankle and shin protection
The 4 buckles help find the right fit
Highly Durable
Cons
Some users found the boots a little stiff to ride with
No liquid protection, water seeps in easy
Reported for a poor strap quality and difficult to buckle
Crafted with high quality materials the AXO Drone Boots are known for their weight, strength and stability. It has a single buckle shin plate which wraps around the shin and the in step to protect the front of the foot. The In step panels are wide enough to accommodate all sizes of legs and calves.
The AXO Drone features tapered vinyl gaiter which wraps the upper part of the boot to form a barrier against the dirt. It has four PU molded buckles which are replaceable which ensures flawless alignment. Also contains, durable synthetic material to resist wear and to help the boot hold its shape for a longer period. It further has thick leather covers on the inside of the boot for protection from heat.
For a complete description, watch this video:
Most Useful Features
At 8.1 pounds, it has a great weight to value proportion
Toe Box is wide for increased comfort
Steel Shanks provide comfort and protection
Dirt resistant vinyl and foam gaiter wraps
4 replaceable PU molded buckles
Pros
Fit perfectly on unusual sized legs
Great Value for money
Very tough and protective to the shin
Comfortable to ride long hours
Great protection against dirt and mud
Cons
The metal parts reportedly rusted
A little too tight and compact around the ankles
Buckles tend to get harder to open when they get dirty
O'Neal Rider Boots is perhaps the most respected name among the best motorcycle boots. For years the O’Neal boots have been known for its ability to provide adequate protection to your feet without compromising on the style. The four-way buckle system ensures you a well and compact fit and its special welt sole crafted from the Goodyear technology to ensure a stable and vibration free riding.
With several reinforcements on the heel and around the ankle the O’Neals makes for sufficient protection and support to all parts of your feet. The metal shank reinforcements along with the injection molded plastic protective plates give you confidence to face any kind of a terrain. It is light weight, keeps your feet dry and is adjustable to the size of your leg.
Learn more about the O’Neal Rider boots here:
Most Useful Features
Metal toe guard for protection to the sole against delaminating
Air mesh interior, sufficient heel support with foamy insoles for comfort of the rider
Durable Goodyear welt sole to properly balance and prevent any unstable rocking
Snap-Lock adjustable four buckle closure system for a breezy operation
Rear pull tab to provide an extra leverage
Synthetic leather heat shield to protect the rider against any possible heat injury
Metal shank insert reinforces to help shape the boot and lend support to the leg
My Pick For The Best
So now we know from the above how the Best Motocross Boots currently available in the market have to offer. But I agree, it gets confusing and therefore we must also take a look how all 3 of them size up against each other.
As may be apparent from the above, I, for one am quite sold on the O’Neal Rider Boots. All 3 of the boots above are great for the track, but I find O’Neal Riders to pack most features with the price every bit worth the goods
Motocross Boots | |||
---|---|---|---|
Image | |||
Protection | Reinforced heel counter, a thick shin plate, a series of hardened, anti-abrasion fabrics | SmSingle shin plate, tapered vinyl gaiter, 4 PU molded bucklesall | StanReinforcements on the heel and around the ankle, metal shank reinforcements, injection molded plastic protective platesdard |
Weight | 11 pounds | 8 pounds | 6 pounds |
Adjustability | Alloy buckles | In step panels with wide toe box | 4-way buckle system, welt sole crafted from the Goodyear technology |
Quality | A+ | A | A+ |
Price | $$ | $ | $ |
My Rating |
Conclusion
With so many choices available in the market, we understand that finding the right pair of boots as per riding your standards can get a little too technical. All of the above recommendations are the best available Motocross boots in the market today and can prove to be a great buy for a rider. It is best to suggest that of the three you may chose the boots best suited to how hardcore a rider you are.
Let me know which all you decide and your comments below! Happy Dirt riding!