Bikers are famous for their trademark leathers and robust boots. If you’re new to motorcycles, you’re probably wondering what you can and cannot wear while biking. So, can you ride a motorcycle with sandals?
You can ride a motorcycle with sandals, and it’s not against the law in most countries. However, it’s not advisable because it makes your feet vulnerable, and you risk injuring your feet, ankles, and lower legs. Sandals can also get caught on the footpeg, posing a safety hazard.
Read further to discover more about wearing sandals on a motorcycle and if there’s anything else you should avoid wearing while biking. I’ll also explain what you can wear while biking during the summer.
Why Is It Unsafe To Wear Sandals on a Motorcycle?
Riding a motorcycle on a hot day is one of the best feelings. However, when it’s really hot, you might want to dress down and wear sandals, even if it’s not recommended. So, what makes wearing sandals on a motorcycle unsafe?
It’s unsafe to wear sandals on a motorcycle because the sandals risk getting caught on the footpeg, exposing your skin. Additionally, they have no protective barrier and offer no stability for your ankles.
I’ll discuss these points in more detail below:
Sandals Can Get Caught on the Footpeg
When bikers stop at a red light or a stop sign, they sometimes place their feet on the footpegs for stability.
If you’re wearing sandals, they could get caught in the footpeg, creating a safety hazard. When you move your foot off the footpeg, your sandals could get ripped off, get stuck on your motorcycle or fly off and obstruct another driver’s visibility.
When this happens, your feet are even more exposed without the little protection provided by the sandals. This can be inconvenient if you’re not headed home and don’t have a spare pair of shoes.
Sandals Expose Your Skin
Sandals expose the skin on your feet, making them vulnerable when you’re riding a motorcycle.
When your feet’s skin is exposed while riding, you risk the following:
- Injuries from road debris. When riding your motorcycle, it’s common for road debris (small stones or bits of car parts) to hit you. If the skin on your feet is exposed, flying road debris can cut or bruise them.
- Burns from hot asphalt or the exhaust pipe. If you accidentally touch the asphalt with your foot on a hot day, it can easily burn your exposed skin. The same is true for a hot exhaust pipe.
- Sunburn. Riding your motorcycle exposes you to harsh weather elements, such as UV rays. If you ride for several hours with sandals on, your feet could get sunburned, which is a painful prospect.
- Road rash during an accident. If you’re involved in an accident or fall off your bike, you could get dragged along the road. The abrasive action of the asphalt against your skin creates road rash, which could be more severe if your feet are exposed in sandals.
Sandals Offer No Protective Barrier
If you spot professional bikers on the road, they’re likely wearing biker leathers with robust boots. This is no coincidence as these items provide excellent impact protection in an accident.
Wearing sandals on a motorcycle doesn’t provide impact protection if you fall off your bike and greatly increases the chances of the following common foot injuries:
- Lacerations
- Soft tissue damage and bruising
- Fractures
- Sprains
- Tendon and ligament damage
- Amputation
Sandals Offer No Stability for Your Ankles
Biker boots cover the ankles and provide stability for your ankles because they prevent the ankle from pivoting. This helps reduce ankle injuries if you’re in an accident or fall off your bike.
Sandals don’t offer any stability for your ankles, as they allow your foot to move around freely.
What’s the Best Footwear for Motorcyclists?
I’ve explained why it’s unsafe to wear sandals while riding your motorbike. So, what’s the best footwear for motorcyclists?
The best footwear for motorcyclists are biker boots. Biker boots typically include rubber soles and ankle stability, and they’re made out of an abrasion-resistant material.
Biker boots are widely available, but not all of them are high quality, and you should inspect them closely before buying them to ensure that they have the above characteristics.
I’ll discuss the various characteristics you should look for in biker boots below.
Biker Boots Should Have a Low, Wide Heel
Boots with a low and wide heel offer stability when you place your foot on the footpeg. Heels that are too high or too narrow can easily get caught between the footpeg, and another part, creating a safety hazard.
The low heel provides support and cushioning for your foot and can help you to enjoy a more comfortable ride.
Biker Boots Should Have a Rubber Sole
Boots with rubber soles offer excellent traction and are less likely to cause your foot to slip on the footpeg. Rubber naturally repels water and mud and can help keep your boots clean and dry.
Rubber is also oil-resistant and can help prevent your feet from sliding if you accidentally step on motor oil on the road.
As a hard-wearing and tear-resistant material, rubber soles can protect the undersides of your feet in a motorcycle accident.
Biker Boots Should Offer Ankle Stability
You can buy biker sneakers, which work well to protect your feet. However, since they don’t cover your ankles, they won’t help prevent your ankle from breaking or spraining. Biker boots are a better option as they provide stability for your ankles.
A decent-quality pair of biker boots will have molding in the ankle area for added protection, as the ankles are the most vulnerable part of your foot in a motorcycle accident.
The material should also offer excellent torsional stiffness, which is high resistance to twisting and moving.
Biker Boots Should Be Made of an Abrasion-Resistant Material
When you’re riding your motorcycle, your footwear can take a beating because it’s exposed to the weather and continuously comes into contact with the road and footpegs. Footwear made from a weak material can easily tear if you fall off your bike or you’re hit by road debris.
When shopping for a decent pair of motorcycle boots, you should look for the following abrasion-resistant materials:
Biker Boots Should Have No Laces
Safe motorcycle boots don’t have laces and have secure velcro or zipper fastenings instead. Laces can easily become loose, and your boots could fly off your feet in an accident, making your feet and ankles vulnerable.
Laces can also get tangled around the footpeg or other motorcycle parts, which can cause your motorbike to fall on top of you or your foot to get stuck on the footpeg when you get off.
Biker Boots Should Be Waterproof
There’s nothing worse than going on a long motorcycle ride and accidentally stepping in a puddle at the beginning. If you’re not wearing waterproof biker boots, you’ll have to suffer through the uncomfortable feeling of wet socks and feet for the rest of your ride.
Biker boots with waterproofing ensure that your feet remain dry when it’s raining, or if you step in water on the road.
Gaerne G-Durban Men’s Black Waterproof Motorcycle Boots from Amazon.com feature a waterproof membrane to keep your feet dry in rainy weather. They also have a convenient side zipper to make putting on and removing your boots quick and easy.
What Footwear Should I Wear on My Motorcycle in the Summer?
Some people wear sandals throughout the summer, and it can feel disappointing to know that it’s not safe to wear them while biking. Biker leathers and boots can feel unbearably hot during the summer, so is there anything safe to wear to keep you feeling cool?
You should wear ventilated motorcycle boots in the summer. These provide robust protection for your feet and ankles but have strategic ventilation holes to help keep your feet cool.
If you want to keep your feet feeling extra fresh and cool, consider wearing your summer motorcycle boots with a pair of thick, breathable sports socks.
You might also consider buying a pair of waterproof summer motorcycle boots if you live in an area with high summer rainfall.
Alpinestars SMX-1 R V2 Vented Boots from Amazon.com are made with a lightweight, durable microfiber material. They feature tiny air vents throughout to keep your feet feeling cool but also provide excellent stability for your ankles. Additionally, these boots have rubber soles that allow your feet to have a strong grip on the road, even if there is oil.
Conclusion
It’s unsafe to wear sandals on a motorcycle because they:
- Can get caught on the footpeg
- Can expose your skin
- Offer no protective barrier
- Offer no stability for your ankles
Instead of wearing sandals, you should wear protective biker boots. If you enjoy wearing sandals in the summer, consider a pair of ventilated motorcycle boots instead. These provide stability for your feet, help protect them in an accident, and keep them cool.