Motorcycle boot selection is going to be a much different process than buying other gear. They need to fit perfectly and must be catered exactly to your riding style. Jackets and pants come with removable liners, vents, cooling pads, and all kinds of features that keep your gear useful across all seasons/temperatures. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same goes for boots.

You are going to have to be careful when selecting your boot by choosing the one that is best for your climate; whether it’s the breathability or water resistance you’re after, unless you want to buy 3 pairs of boots, you’re going to be stuck with the same pair all season.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that boots need a multiple-season trial-period until you can consider them a good option. As much as I’d love to recommend the newest boots to hit the market, safety footwear options need a couple of seasons worth of wear-and-tear to prove their quality.

I have 7-year-old jackets hanging up in my closet, but I can’t say the same for shoes though as they break-down far quicker than any other article of clothing.

In this list, I have gathered what I think are the best options for safety footwear for beginner riders across three different styles: casual, ADV/touring, and sport riding.

TCX Street Ace WP Shoes

The TCX Street Ace riding shoe is a great option for riders looking for a multi-purpose shoe that they can wear all day. Rode your motorcycle to class and don’t want the burden of having to lug around a second pair of shoes to wear throughout the day? This is the issue that the Street Ace aims to resolve.

The Street Ace WP is the waterproof version of the more-breathable ‘Street Ace Air’ and features a full-grain leather upper area, waterproof lining, toe/heel reinforcements, replaceable insole, and the entire package is capped off with a highly wear-resistant rubber sole making these shoes the perfect ‘daily driver’ for riders seeking a stylish commuter shoe they can keep on throughout the day.

Forma Adventure Boots

The Adventure boot by Forma is a formidable opponent to the other ADV options in this list given the fair price point and option for a low-cut version for riders with larger calves. These CE-safety-certified boots are constructed with a full-grain oiled leather upper with an interior lined with Drytex weatherproof poly material to keep you dry.

Due to the harsh nature of ADV riding, you need to make sure your boots are constructed well and are backed by tons of positive reviews from long-term owners. These boots are just that, with over 150 reviews on RevZilla and features such as unbreakable GH buckles, an anti-slip rubber sole (great for ADV riding), and ankle TPU internal molded plastic protection, the Forma Adventure boot are awesome for new ADV riders.

Alpinestars Corozal Adventure Drystar Boots

• Price: $289.95 – $299.95
• Category: ADV
• Buy: Revzilla

The Alpinestars Corozal Adventure Drystar books are marketed as a solid ADV boot that is also comfortable for spending time hiking/walking off the bike. There’s not much of a point in riding an ADV bike up the side of the mountain if you aren’t planning on doing some on-foot exploring once you reach your destination.

The mid-height design is great for wandering around on foot while still providing protection on the road, and the vulcanized rubber compound sole will stay nice and grippy for exploring. The boots feature TPU shin plate and ankle protection in addition to the heel and toe reinforcement areas. They are fully waterproof and lightweight due to the materials used.

Spidi XP3-S Sport Boots

The Spidi XP3-S is a highly reviewed sport boot with tons of great safety features. When riding fast, safety comes before comfort.

These riding boots feature a full leather construction for even long-term wear (will come with a break-in time). The polyurethane lateral ankle slider, thermoformed carbon ankle protection, replaceable plastic toe sliders, and side protector/sliders give this boot full 360-degree protection in a low-price sport package begging to reach terminal velocity.

TCX X-Blend WP Boots

The TCX X-Blend Waterproof Boots are the perfect ‘blend’ (pardon the pun) of style, protection, and overall functionality thanks to their sleek full-grain vintage upper leather construction and waterproof lining to keep your feet dry.

The rubber sole is highly wear-resistant and the toes and heel counters are extra reinforced for added safety. The footbed is also fully replaceable which is always a great feature to have if you plan on owning these shoes for the long-haul.

Tour Master Solution WP Air Boots

How can you sell a protective motorcycle boot for less than what I pay for my Adidas gym sneakers? I have no idea, but Tour Master managed to figure it out with their Solution WP air boot. When riding long distances you never know what kind of environments or weather you may encounter. These boots are designed to keep you covered no matter the temperature or humidity.

This boot takes the successful Solution 2.0 boot and graces it with a waterproof air membrane to keep you dry with mesh paneling to keep you cool. The Molded nylon shin and ankle guards will keep you safe with the reflective paneling offering you high visibility in the evenings. Due to the low price point, it’s no wonder why these are one of the most popular touring options available on RevZilla.

Alpinestars SMX-1 R Vented Boots

I personally find the Alpinestars SMX-1R to be one of the best looking boots on this list. These boots provide a great option for sport riders that aren’t willing to sacrifice the multi-functionality that come with a lower cut boot as most sport boots offer full shin protection coverage. The lightweight microfiber upper is bulked up with TPU protectors the heel and roe areas are capped with soft TPR inserts for an equal balance of comfort and safety.

Due to Alpinestar’s decision to go with a microfiber construction rather than traditional leather, these boots are perfect for hot summer days and are CE certified to Cat 2 CE certification so you know they will protect you despite having a low overall mass.

Stylmartin Rocket Boots

• Category: Casual / Touring

Here are some cafe-racer styled boots for your cafe-racer styled motorcycle. These classy and high-quality boots feature a full-grain leather construction married to a waterproof lining (highly breathable) and anti-slip/oil-resistant rubber sole. The Stylmartin Rocket boots are just for looks either, they have internal malleolus PE protection found on both sides of the boot and the toes are double-reinforced to prevent wear from your gear shifter.

If you’re a vintage riding enthusiast are willing to put looks before safety features, these are always a great selection.

Alpinestars SMX 6 v2 Vented Boots

To finish off this list I’d like to add one final track/race/sport boot option into the mix with the Alpinestars SMX-6 Vented riding boot. When making this list it was difficult not to have the entire thing saturated with Alpinestars boots due to their utter domination in the beginner and low-cost riding boot market.

The SMX 6 V2 is a fully protective boot focused on balancing mobility and safety. These boots feature Alpinestars’ own TPU lateral ankle brace protection for impact resistance and high modulus TPU injected areas around the shin, calf, heel counter, shift pad, and toe slider for an absolute 360-degree coverage of armor making these by-far one of the safest boots on the list.

They’re lightweight, sturdy, and some reviewers even claim to have owned pairs for 6 years without any issues. The break-in time is short and they ‘fit like a slipper’. These take the cake for my #1 sport riding boot.