Finding the right riding gear can be a challenge, and it can add up! To ride safely, you need a helmet, gloves, a jacket, and boots. Many riders will try and save costs by looking for cheaper alternatives to traditional motorcycle gear. This search might lead to timberland boots, which cover the ankle and look sturdy. But, can you ride in them?
Timberland boots are not the same as riding boots. They are made of less durable materials without proper abrasion and impact resistance. While better than sneakers or sandals, timberland boots will not replace a sturdy pair of motorcycle boots.
I’m not saying you absolutely cannot wear timberland boots. Just know that they aren’t riding boots and won’t offer the same protections as a good pair of riding boots. Keep reading to find out what kind of investment is worth it in terms of foot protection.
Should you wear timberland boots to ride a motorcycle?
Timberland boots are better than nothing, sure. These are, after all, boots that cover the ankle and can be tightly laced to protect your ankle. Because they are taller, they do offer more protection than, say, sneakers.
However, timberland boots just aren’t as protective as a real riding boot. While some styles of timberland boot are made with leather, most are thin and focused more on fashion than safety.
A good riding boot needs to be able to withstand impact and hold up when scraped against concrete. Even the timberland boots that are designed as work boots just don’t hold up as well and can come off or come apart if you go down.
Riding boots typically have areas of reinforcement to protect you while you ride and if you fall. They may have extra padding around the ankle, on the top of the foot, and over the toes. Without these extra layers of protection, you’re more vulnerable to a serious injury.
Another danger with wearing timberland boots to ride is that they have laces. Most riders choose to avoid shoes with laces. After all, there are a lot of moving parts on a bike, and the last thing you want is for your shoelaces to get too familiar with those parts.
In addition, very few models of timberland boots are waterproof. While you might not ride in the rain often, there’s always the chance that you could get caught in a downpour, and your boots need to hold up.
Finally, a new pair of timberland boots is often stiff and needs breaking in. If you don’t break in the shoe, it can be hard to shift and you may not have as much control over your motorcycle as you should.
Ultimately, if you decide to wear timberland boots, do so knowing that they are not a riding boot and will not offer the same protection if the worst should happen.
Why is leather so important for motorcycle riding?
If you’ve been searching for motorcycle boots for a while now, you’ve probably noticed that leather keeps coming up. While not all motorcycle boots are made of leather, most have at least a central element of hard, durable leather.
Leather is a prime choice for motorcycle riding because it can hold up against the wear and tear of riding. It is difficult to cut through, stays on well, and won’t disintegrate if rubbed against concrete. In short, it will protect your foot and ankle if you crash.
In addition to looking for good leather on a motorcycle boot, you should be looking for boots that have added layers of protection. This may come in the form of additional leather padding, plastic, metal, or other materials like gore-tex.
This extra protection will save your toes, ankle, and shin. Many riders who have gone down without proper motorcycle boots will tell you they wish they had invested in proper boots.
In addition to the padding, it’s important that motorcycle boots have a rubber sole that is oil-resistant. Leather soles won’t have the same grip or durability.
Finally, you want motorcycle boots with a slight heel to help you keep your foot solidly on the foot peg, and you may look for boots with extra toe reinforcement, though there is some debate on whether or not steel toes are a good idea.
Are motorcycle boots worth the cost?
According to Motorcycle Legal Foundation, in cases of motorcyclists needing treatment after a crash, almost 50% of those are leg injuries.
This makes sense if you think about it. When you ride, your feet are the closest body part to the ground. Depending on the circumstances of the crash, your feet are likely to be the first thing to hit the ground.
A foot injury can range a lot in severity. You could get road rash, sprain an ankle, sever toes, or even lose your foot. The risk can be incredibly high and with lasting results.
Now, wearing the proper gear isn’t guaranteed to save your foot. Accidents can happen that are so bad that even the best motorcycle boot won’t save you. After all, look at motorcycle racing. These riders are covered in proper gear, yet it’s common for crashes to result in broken ankles, femurs, and hips.
However, wearing the right boots can make a serious impact in a less severe accident. If you go down at low speeds, you want boots that will withstand scraping the ground, protect you from burns, and keep you from getting cut as you fall.
You don’t have to look far to find stories of riders who know their injuries would have been much worse without boots, or who could have saved themselves a serious injury had they been wearing the right boots.
In short, yes, motorcycle boots are worth the cost.
There is a range in the price of motorcycle boots, and you can easily find a pair for around $100, which is much cheaper than the hospital bills from a serious foot injury. If you value the use of your foot, I’d recommend investing in some proper riding boots.
What type of boot is best for motorcycle riding?
Now that you’re thinking about foot safety, how do you know which type of boot to purchase? As I’ve mentioned already, nothing can quite compare to a designated motorcycle riding boot. This will have additional padding, abrasion resistance, durability, and crash protection.
Within the world of motorcycle boots, though, you aren’t limited to just one style. If you’re eyeing timberland boots because you value fashion over function, you might want to look at different styles of harness boots.
There are also plenty of shorter boots, which still cover the ankle but are a little less conspicuous than other types of motorcycle riding boots such as touring boots or motocross boots which offer more protection but really only work on the motorcycle.
Remember, though, that it’s definitely possible to have a pair of motorcycle boots which you can change out of once you arrive at your destination. If you mostly ride to work, you can keep a pair of shoes under your desk to change into once you get to work.
This may sound like a hassle, but the safety improvement is worth it, and many riders soon get used to changing shoes after a ride. Keep your timberlands for the days when you aren’t riding and protect your feet and ankles.
