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In a hurry?
- Best sports bootAlpinestars SMX-6 v38.6Check price
- Best for touringAlpinestars Web Gore-Tex8.5Check price
- Most protective adventure bootForma Terra Evo8.5Check price
- Best for adventureForma Adventure Low8.5Check price
- AlternativeTCX Baja Gore-Tex8.4Check price
- Best for the cityTCX Street 3 WP8.4Check price
- AlternativeAlpinestars CR-X Drystar8.3Check price
- Best for summerAlpinestars Faster-38.1Check price
In a crash, your feet and ankles take a beating: trapped under the bike, scraped along the tarmac or twisted as you put a foot down. Ordinary trainers do not protect against any of that. Here is what to look for and the eight models we recommend.
Are motorcycle boots a legal requirement in the UK?
No. UK law does not require specific footwear for everyday riding, but the Highway Code recommends strong boots along with gloves and suitable clothing. In practice, proper motorcycle footwear is one of the best-value pieces of protection you can buy.
What EN 13634 on the label means
Motorcycle footwear sold as protective equipment in Europe and the UK is certified to EN 13634 (current version 2017). On the label you will see a motorcycle pictogram and four numbers:
- Height: 1 = ankle height (shoe or short boot); 2 = tall boot covering the shin.
- Impact abrasion resistance: 1 or 2.
- Impact cut resistance: 1 or 2.
- Transverse rigidity: 1 or 2. How well the sole resists being crushed sideways, for example if the bike lands on your foot.
For the last three, 2 is better than 1. Each test is separate: a riding shoe can be “1” for height and “2” for abrasion.
Tall boot, mid-height or riding shoe
- Tall boot (sports or touring): protects ankle and shin. The safest choice for fast roads, touring and track days. The downside: walking in them is awkward.
- Mid-height (adventure): a good balance. Protects the ankle and lets you walk at stops.
- Riding shoe: the most comfortable for commuting and walking all day. Protects ankle and toe, but not the shin.
Simple rule: the faster and further you ride, the taller the boot.
Waterproof or vented?
- Waterproof (Gore-Tex, Drystar, T-DRY, Drytex…): essential if you ride all year or tour. Good membranes let sweat escape.
- Vented: for hot summer days.
In the UK, if you can only have one pair, make it waterproof.
Getting the size right
- Try them on in the afternoon, when your feet are slightly swollen, with the socks you ride in.
- Your heel should not lift when you walk or go up on your toes.
- Leave a finger’s width in front of your toes.
- Every brand sizes differently: some in this guide tend to run small (we say so on their pages).
Our ranking
Alpinestars SMX-6 v3
The benchmark sports boot: track-level protection with just enough comfort for road riding too.
- Certification
- EN 13634:2017, tall boot
- Use
- Sport, road and track
- Height
- Tall
- Material
- Microfibre with flexible TPU zones
Ideal for: Riders on sports bikes or nakeds who want maximum ankle and shin protection.
The most protective in our comparison. If you ride a sports bike or a naked quickly, this is your boot.
Alpinestars Web Gore-Tex
A leather touring boot with Gore-Tex: properly waterproof, comfortable for hours and built to last.
- Certification
- CE · EN 13634
- Use
- Touring, all year round
- Height
- Tall
- Material
- Full-grain oiled leather
Ideal for: Riders who tour a lot and never want wet feet again.
The touring boot: leather, Gore-Tex and all-day comfort. Dry feet whatever the weather.
Forma Terra Evo
Forma's tall adventure boot: Level 2 in all four certification tests, waterproof and with buckles.
- Certification
- EN 13634:2017 · 2-2-2-2 WR
- Use
- Adventure, trail and light off-road
- Height
- Tall
- Material
- Full-grain oiled leather
Ideal for: Adventure riders who go off the tarmac and want the protection of a tall boot.
The most protective adventure boot: Level 2 in all four EN 13634 tests, waterproof and with aluminium buckles.
Forma Adventure Low
The most versatile adventure boot: off-road-style protection and nearly hiking-boot walkability.
- Certification
- CE · EN 13634
- Use
- Adventure, trail and touring
- Height
- Mid-height
- Material
- Leather with a vintage finish
Ideal for: Riders on adventure bikes who mix tarmac, gravel and plenty of walking.
The most versatile for adventure riding: protective, waterproof and easy to walk in at stops.
TCX Baja Gore-Tex
A Gore-Tex adventure boot that walks like a hiking boot: properly waterproof, with Level 2 for abrasion, cut and rigidity.
- Certification
- EN 13634:2015 (Level 2 for abrasion, cut and rigidity)
- Use
- Adventure and trail
- Height
- Mid-height
- Material
- Full-grain leather
Ideal for: Adventure tourers who walk a lot at stops and want dry feet.
A Gore-Tex adventure boot that walks like a hiking boot. An alternative to the Forma Adventure Low.
TCX Street 3 WP
Looks like an ordinary trainer, protects like certified motorcycle footwear. The one you wear every day without thinking.
- Certification
- CE Category II · EN 13634
- Use
- City and everyday riding
- Height
- Ankle
- Material
- Full-grain leather
Ideal for: Commuters who want certified footwear that does not look like motorcycle gear.
Our favourite for commuting: looks like a normal trainer, certified and waterproof.
Alpinestars CR-X Drystar
A riding shoe that walks like a running shoe, with a Drystar membrane for the rain.
- Certification
- EN 13634:2017
- Use
- City and road
- Height
- Ankle
- Material
- Technical textile
Ideal for: Riders who walk a lot and want a waterproof, certified sporty shoe.
The sporty alternative to the TCX: waterproof and very comfortable to walk in.
Alpinestars Faster-3
A light, vented sports shoe: the certified option for hot weather without spending much.
- Certification
- EN 13634:2017
- Use
- City and road in warm weather
- Height
- Ankle
- Material
- Microfibre and synthetic suede
Ideal for: Riders who want cool, certified footwear for summer and the city on a tight budget.
The most affordable certified option, light and cool for summer.
FAQ
Are walking boots good enough?
Better than trainers, but they are not designed for a motorcycle crash: no specific ankle protection, laces that can snag, and a sole not made for the controls.
When should I replace my boots?
When the sole loses grip, the membrane stops being waterproof, or after a heavy crash that has damaged the protection. Looked after, leather boots last many years.
Need the rest of your kit? See our motorcycle glove guide.