I'm looking for a motorcycle boot that looks normal - that I can wear at work and look like an ordinary boot. Waterproof would be a bonus but not essential.
My new favourite pair are TCX X-Blend, black or brown lace up boot, really comfortable and waterproof. Wear them when not on the bike as well.
Alt-Berg
Altberg used to have a good rep, I used the boots issued to Marines for a while, tbh I like have a shin guard of some sort so went back to proper boots
Altberg if you're prepared to wait.
[url= http://www.altberg.co.uk/category/motorcycle-boots/ ]http://www.altberg.co.uk/category/motorcycle-boots/[/url]
Altberg is pretty good
Maybe some plain Daytonas?
[i]Maybe some plain Daytonas? [/i]
+1
Although I'd buy a proper tall pair (mine managed +10 years of daily commuting, just need a resole - if I ever buy another bike) and just take a pair of shoes for work.
Alt-berg. Worn them through all weathers for years. Brilliant.
At the risk of sounding obtuse, why?
Most bike boots will have such a rigid sole, that they shouldn't be a great boot to wear day in day out. Particularly if you're going for something with good ankle protection which won't allow the ankle to more too much and is reasonably tight to the calf.
If you compromise on the side of comfort for wearing during the day, you compromise on the safety. Compromise on the comfort, given you'll be in them for say 12 hours including lunchtime, commute in/out, especially on wet days, they'll be hellish, and you'll also wear out expensive boots quite quickly.
Daytonas or AltBergs, there's nothing out there that comes even close to the stuff these guys make.
A good friend and colleague swears by his now 22 year old Altberg Hoggs ( http://www.motogoloco.com/blog/a-soft-day-shiny-boots/). My 8 year old Daytonas have have one re-sole, plenty of looking after and have never let me down so nuch as leaking a drop of rain in well over 40,000 miles use.
They still look good as new, whereas the 12 month old Alpinestars they replaced fell apart and now live in a landfill site somewhere.
Eyewateringly expensive, but they've worked out way, way cheaper per pair/per year than any other footwear I own.
I run RST Tractec as they're the comfiest boots I've ever put my foot in 🙂 Possibly not ideal for all conditions as vented etc, but I love em.
Where do you work?
I have 4 pairs of boots - 2 pairs of Alpinestars, Sidis, Altbergs
Without question, the Altbergs (clubman roadsters) are the most comfy and most weatherproof. They look the worst and don't really suit the sportsbike look, but for commuting and normal riding they're absolutely brilliant. Soles very comfy too
Sidi Rain's are good and available cheap if you shop around.
I've two pairs of Daytona's, one short pair, Journeys XCT's very comfy and waterproof, I wear them for riding to work and around the office etc, when I don't need my safety boots.
The others are Highway GTX's also comfortable and waterproof, but taller and so not so good for wearing all the time under normal trousers.
Just to spoil the Altberg love-in, I bought some Clubman Roadsters because of all the good reviews a few years ago - the gearchange pad wore through in about 18 months and the lining started to come apart. Altberg offered to refurb them, but the cost was not much less than new. No ankle protection either. I've got some Forma Cape Horn boots now - made in Italy, make for BMW among others, in a semi-adventure stylee. Very comfortable and sturdy.
