Commuting by motorcycle can be very rewarding or it can be an absolute nightmare. Having the right gear for all-day comfort is absolutely necessary, and that can be difficult when you factor in safety and cost. In fact, good gas mileage is arguably the biggest draw to commuting, so dropping a huge amount of cash on gear invalidates one of the best cases for riding.
There are many factors to keep in mind when you are looking for good motorcycle boots for commuting. I’ll try to get into detail a little bit further, but let me answer the question for those who don’t have the time to read the whole article first.
What are the best boots for commuting?
The best motorcycle boots for commuting are these gore-tex waterproof Alpinestars boots (Amazon). The best commuting shoes are the Speed and Strenght Moto Shoes (Amazon).
So, when looking for the best riding shoes or boots for commuters, there are three conditions that they need to meet to qualify. The first and most important is safety, followed by convenience and cost.
Commuting Footwear Safety
I remember all the words of warning that members of my family had for me when I first got a bike, and, while many of them were true, the right gear can go a long way towards reducing the risk to an acceptable level. With the number of boots and shoes made especially for motorcycles on the market, one can usually find something that suits their daily life.
Question is, which level of safety is needed for commuting? You could wrap your feet in MotoGP-like motorcycle boots full of shock absorbing material and hard protective brackets. However, you need these boots to be comfortable as well. You’ll be wearing your boots five days a week, at least on the bike. So you should look into the perfect balance between safety on one side, and comfort/convenience on the other.
Cost of a Waterproof Motorcycle Boot
One of the draws to commuting via motorcycle is the cost. Motorcycles can be very cheap on gas and that can be very attractive to those that struggle financially. Motorcycle gear, on the other hand, is not inexpensive at all. Boots can easily get above $200, and for many, the added investment is not worth the cost.
However, there are affordable options. My two recommended commuting boots are both gore-tex and affordable, making them the perfect pick. You’ll read what I’m talking about in the next paragraph.
Convenience is Important when Commuting
This is really where we get into the commuting side of things. The question here is “will I be able to wear these not only while riding, but all day?” If the answer is no, you may want to consider another solution. Many people ride in one set, then change when they get to work.
These are the Best Motorcycle Boots and Shoes for Commuting
There are just too many variables to identify which shoe is the best for commuting. The reason for this is that people just tend to have their own taste and needs. For commuters, if their work has a personal storage area, such as lockers, it opens the possibility to change into more comfortable shoes upon arrival. Some riders don’t have that option, and that narrows what is available to them down quite a bit. To help you decide, I was able to narrow the types of shoes down to three categories.
Full Motorcycle Boots (Safety)
Your first option is to go with full motorcycle boots. These are by far the safest option. They are designed to prevent injury and to offer comfort and support for riding, however, they are not good to wear all day. You can ride your bike to work, and switch there. This means that the appearance isn’t important during work. You can wear bigger boots for extra safety, switching them for some fine leather shoes when arriving at work.
Depending on your job, you can either take your shoes with you, or keep a pair at the office. I used to commute to work and I had a pair of shoes in the office. I don’t have any panniers (I ride a naked bike), so this was the best option for me. Taking your shiny shoes with you might be an good option when you have storage space in your motorcycle. This will allow you to go to clients as well, and you can wear different shoes on different days.
The commuting shoes still have to be convenient though. They’ll have to be waterproof, because nothing is as bad as wearing wet socks at work! Your best pick would be the Alpinestars Roam 2 boots (check price at Amazon). They are affordable, waterproof and very comfortable.
Do you want to go for (slightly less safe) lower cut boots? In that case I would recommend the Alpinestars Low Land Boots (check price at Amazon). They are affordable, waterproof and very comfortable.
Motorcycle Shoes (Safety/Convenience)
These offer less protection than a full boot would, but come in a variety of designs to suit your style and would be more comfortable and acceptable to wear around the office. In fact, most people wouldn’t even notice the difference.
The best motorcycle shoes for commuting are the Speed and Strength Black 9 Moto Shoes (see details on Amazon). They are very affordable, appear to be regular shoes and they are worn by riders all around the world.
Regular Shoes (Convenience/Cost)
Okay, so I know a lot of you are probably about to close the page right now, but hear me out. I know that this is not the best idea in the world, but I just want to give a few suggestions for finding a good shoe (preferably boot) that will offer at least some protection in the event of an accident. A boot is the best idea. Lace- or zip-up offers more support on your ankles and is less likely to slip off, and steel-toe helps keep your toes from being broken upon impact. Tennis shoes are not a good idea, neither are sandals (yes, that is a thing), but a good work or hiking boot will offer better protection than nothing.
As with anything motorcycle related, safety is definitely the most important aspect of making a decision. Alpinestars has a large selection that is suited for a number of different styles and riding conditions that are relatively well-priced and shine in quality. Full boots will offer the best protection and comfort while riding, however, there are a number of options that won’t compromise much in the way of protection while maintaining the look of a regular shoe. If you must wear footwear that is not designed for motorcycles, a good combat, hiking, or work boot that laces or zips up and has steel toes will offer more protection in the case of an accident than a tennis shoe. At the end of the day, your best bet is to carefully choose what is best for you and your complex life. A comfortable rider is a safer rider, so make sure you are careful and do your research before choosing a shoe.