Riding Shoes?

8948 Views 44 Replies 28 Participants Last post by AesonVirus, May 10, 2016

SeventyTwoMoto

Discussion Starter · Mar 22, 2016

So I recently picked up some riding shoes for safety reasons and I just assumed owning a pair is a part of riding. I have to say that I am very disappointed in the pair I bought and will most likely be returning them. Prior to the shoes I rode with basically a converse ankle high style shoe, super flexible and the equivalent of wearing just socks in terms of protection. But I can FEEL everything. I can feel the brakes, were my feet are on the bike, I can feel the gear shifter, etc. I feel very comfortable apart from if I were to take a spill my feet would be toast. As for the riding shoes, They are extremely stiff, bulky, and I can FEEL NOTHING. Which makes me very uncomfortable on the bike, I am struggling to shift, keep my feet on the bike, and accurately engage the rear brake. Is this normal for all riding shoes/boots? Is it something I just have to get used to? I feel like I might just end up riding in my regular shoes and return these boots.

The shoes in question http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/firstgear-kili-lo-wp-boots

1 - 20 of 45 Posts

VULGR

· #2 · Mar 22, 2016

That feeling is 100% normal, I still remember my first time riding with proper boots. Feeling and comfort will improve

Braunbear66

· #3 · Mar 22, 2016 (Edited)

Well those look close to my Alpinestars. Opposite for me. I started with my bike boots from the get go. I did where my converse high tops one day and it hurt my foot to change gears and was uncomfortable and put my bike shoes back on. It takes some time to get use too them and break them in a bit.
My gloves spring glove. fit great but not really good protection . My new Dainese gloves took some time to break in and just way more protection. took some time to get use too.
Full leather Dainese pants and jacket zips together with all the internal armor and Mantis back protector this gear is heavy and took some time getting use to moving less and leaning on the turns It feels like a wetsuit made of leather. I got use to it and really like it. Expensive but I got what fit me well and it was that $1100.oo New skin cost way more.

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Kojiiro

· #4 · Mar 22, 2016 (Edited)

If its not stiff or high enough, how do you expect it to protect your ankles? Remember, riding boots arent just there to protect from rash. I personally wouldnt wear riding "shoes". When I couldnt afford actual riding boots, I wore Timberlands, thinking it was enough. Nope. It will do little to nothing as far as supporting the ankle. My riding boots have some small chunks ripped off, and rash on some parts, but they have done their job of supporting my ankles in lowsides. I still wear them lol.

Buy the best you can get your hands on. Like BraunBear said, new skin costs more. Broken bones cost time to heal, and time is money.

Walk around with them, dont just wear them while riding. When my boots were new, I would take them to the playground and wear them while I watched my kids.

EDIT: corrected to say arent. It originally said are.

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Homyality

· #5 · Mar 22, 2016

Riding shoes do more than protect from rash.. They have reinforced soles to help prevent broken bones in the foot, reinforcement in the ankle and mid area to protect your ankle in addition to protecting from road rash.

I have a pair of Sidi riding shoes I use on my daily commute that I'm quite happy with. They are a fine mixture between comfort, style, and protection in my opinion. I have a pair of race boots but they are not practical for the daily commute.

CBRpilot

· #6 · Mar 22, 2016

Send them back and get yourself a pair of SIDI DOHA riding shoes. You will thank me later.
( They have laces, but I just tuck them in under the velcro strap so they stay out of the way. )

SeventyTwoMoto

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 22, 2016 (Edited)

Braunbear66 said:
Well those look close to my Alpinestars. Opposite for me. I started with my bike boots from the get go. I did where my converse high tops one day and it hurt my foot to change gears and was uncomfortable and put my bike shoes back on. It takes some time to get use too them and break them in a bit.
My gloves spring glove. fit great but not really good protection . My new Dainese gloves took some time to break in and just way more protection. took some time to get use too.
Full leather Dainese pants and jacket zips together with all the internal armor and Mantis back protector this gear is heavy and took some time getting use to moving less and leaning on the turns It feels like a wetsuit made of leather. I got use to it and really like it. Expensive but I got what fit me well and it was that $1100.oo New skin cost way more.

I wear a size 11, so I find these bulky shoes are harder to get my foot under the gear shifter and just generally having no feel of where my feet are positioned on the rear-sets. I guess I will take some time getting used to them, I do love my skimpy daily shoes though, they are waterproof, paper thin and very comfortable.. but I always wear full gear apart from the shoes up until now. I do like the piece of mind of having armored shoes, so I will probably stick with em.

Kojiiro said:
If its not stiff or high enough, how do you expect it to protect your ankles? Remember, riding boots are just there to protect from rash. I personally wouldnt wear riding "shoes". When I couldnt afford actual riding boots, I wore Timberlands, thinking it was enough. Nope. It will do little to nothing as far as supporting the ankle. My riding boots have some small chunks ripped off, and rash on some parts, but they have done their job of supporting my ankles in lowsides. I still wear them lol.

Buy the best you can get your hands on. Like BraunBear said, new skin costs more. Broken bones cost time to heal, and time is money.

Walk around with them, dont just wear them while riding. When my boots were new, I would take them to the playground and wear them while I watched my kids.

I have been wearing them around the house, thanks. I think I will just try to get used to them. The riding "shoes" I got do protect the ankle, probably not the highest end protection but they feel pretty darn sturdy.

Homyality said:
Riding shoes do more than protect from rash.. They have reinforced soles to help prevent broken bones in the foot, reinforcement in the ankle and mid area to protect your ankle in addition to protecting from road rash.

I have a pair of Sidi riding shoes I use on my daily commute that I'm quite happy with. They are a fine mixture between comfort, style, and protection in my opinion. I have a pair of race boots but they are not practical for the daily commute.

Yeah I wanted some protection but also didn't want to carry an extra pair of shoes when I commute.

CBRpilot said:
Send them back and get yourself a pair of SIDI DOHA riding shoes. You will thank me later.
( They have laces, but I just tuck them in under the velcro strap so they stay out of the way. )

If you had only told me sooner

I might just stick with the pair I got for now and get a better feel for them.

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Kojiiro

· #8 · Mar 22, 2016

Homyality said:
Riding shoes do more than protect from rash.. They have reinforced soles to help prevent broken bones in the foot, reinforcement in the ankle and mid area to protect your ankle in addition to protecting from road rash.

I have a pair of Sidi riding shoes I use on my daily commute that I'm quite happy with. They are a fine mixture between comfort, style, and protection in my opinion. I have a pair of race boots but they are not practical for the daily commute.

Just re-read my own post and edited it. I definitely was trying to say they aren't just there for rash, as the content of the post says. I havent found a shoe yet that provides enough ankle support. The low cut ones that look somewhat like hiking boots, I dont think they support my ankles nearly enough like my actual riding boots do.

Kojiiro

· #9 · Mar 22, 2016

SeventyTwoMoto said:
I wear a size 11, so I find these bulky shoes are harder to get my foot under the gear shifter and just generally having no feel of where my feet are positioned on the rear-sets. I guess I will take some time getting used to them, I do love my skimpy daily shoes though, they are waterproof, paper thin and very comfortable.. but I always wear full gear apart from the shoes up until now. I do like the piece of mind of having armored shoes, so I will probably stick with em.

I have been wearing them around the house, thanks. I think I will just try to get used to them. The riding "shoes" I got do protect the ankle, probably not the highest end protection but they feel pretty darn sturdy.

Yeah I wanted some protection but also didn't want to carry an extra pair of shoes when I commute.

If you had only told me sooner I might just stick with the pair I got for now and get a better feel for them.

As long as you feel that they provide you protection, then you should be good. You are the one wearing them, not us. I havent tried the ones you are referring too, I just find I have never been confident in the shoes I have tried to provide ample ankle support compared to my riding boots. Also, I edited my post, I meant to say "arent", so what I originally mis-posted could be misleading.

Mase

· #10 · Mar 22, 2016

I've got these TCX riding shoes. They're as comfortable as regular shoes to me and I can wear them even when I'm not riding. They have ankle, toe, and heel protection. Luckily I haven't had to test them, so I can't speak to how well they will protect you in a crash, but it may be an option for you to consider. They have different styles too.

http://www.tcxboots.com/eng/prodotti-dettaglio.php?prodotto=57

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wolf_unbroken

· #11 · Mar 22, 2016

I have the slightly higher TCX riding shoe/boots and they're great. I have an extra pair of shoes at work and only rarely change them.

rviator

· #12 · Mar 23, 2016

Those shoes don't look anything like the Astars. I have the Astars Faster shoes (vented version) and I am liking them a lot. They were about the same price as I recall.

CBRpilot

· #13 · Mar 23, 2016

I have two pairs of THESE. They are my current favorite! ( SMX-1 )
Problem is: Alpinestars just redesigned this shoe for 2016. Good news is: retailers have the old style on sale right now. Get yourself a pair before they are gone. They come in: black, white/black, black/white/red.

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rito

· #14 · Mar 23, 2016

CBRpilot said:
I have two pairs of THESE. They are my current favorite! ( SMX-1 )
Problem is: Alpinestars just redesigned this shoe for 2016. Good news is: retailers have the old style on sale right now. Get yourself a pair before they are gone. They come in: black, white/black, black/white/red.

I agree, got my pair when they first went on closeout. Been very happy with them since.

Randy

Reactions: 1

Braunbear66

· #15 · Mar 23, 2016

I have those too. SMX-1 very comfortable and I wear them walking around all the time to do my stuff around town. I be getting some Dainese full boots soon for my canyon and more aggressive rides.

Reactions: 1

Laurence

· #16 · Mar 23, 2016

CBRpilot said:
I have two pairs of THESE. They are my current favorite! ( SMX-1 )
Problem is: Alpinestars just redesigned this shoe for 2016. Good news is: retailers have the old style on sale right now. Get yourself a pair before they are gone. They come in: black, white/black, black/white/red.

These are definitely worth buying, I love mine. I started off riding with just Vans and Nikes, definitely a mistake. I bought the older SMX-1's from Cycle Gear for a lot cheaper than the new ones.

SeventyTwoMoto

Discussion Starter · #17 · Mar 23, 2016

I have been wearing my new shoes on every ride since I got them. Still getting used to them but they are growing on me. They get a little less clunky each time I ride and the piece of mind knowing my footsies are safe is a plus!

Homyality

· #18 · Mar 24, 2016

Kojiiro said:
Just re-read my own post and edited it. I definitely was trying to say they aren't just there for rash, as the content of the post says. I havent found a shoe yet that provides enough ankle support. The low cut ones that look somewhat like hiking boots, I dont think they support my ankles nearly enough like my actual riding boots do.

Understood.

And agreed. I know I am sacrificing protection with my riding shoes but they are practical for everything else I do in my life so I am okay with that.

My track days and weekend fun runs have their own pair of boots >

SactownJ

· #19 · Mar 26, 2016

i just wear some leather vans high tops for commuting around town

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iVisionX01

· #20 · Mar 27, 2016

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/fly-m16-waterproof-riding-shoes

This is what I use. Very comfortable. I have used in the rain and my feet don't get wet. I wear mine everyday to work and stand around all day. Would recommend.

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