One of the most popular (and infamous) types of biker gear are biker boots. In recent years, these boots have been appropriated by the fashion industry and, at some point, were even associated with hipster culture. Despite its recent popularity, however, biker boots were always meant to be tough and practical. If you’re not wearing a good pair of boots while riding your bike then expect whatever it is you’re wearing to fall apart very fast.

However, most people who have limited experience in riding motorcycles don’t know a lot about biker boots (or most types of biker gear for that matter). There’s the widespread misconception, for example, that these boots are just items that people wear for aesthetic reasons. This is not the case. Riding a motorcycle, especially for extended amounts of time, is not only physically exhausting, it also exposes you to certain risks. When you factor in heat, rain, fog, not to mention the occasional physical risks, and you get a general idea of why biker boots need to be durable but comfortable items. Furthermore, having a comfortable pair of boots helps you focus and react more easily to sudden changes on the road.

On the other hand, it’s important to remember that the average pair of biker boots will include lead, carbon and whole lot of rubber, items which are not exactly comfortable or light. When you add heavy gloves, leather pants and biker’s jacket, you get an entire set of clothes which are not only relatively heavy, but also cumbersome to a certain degree. So in choosing a good pair of biker boots, it’s important to consider a few things.

First of all, biker boots should be difficult to put on and remove. This is because having your boots on in the event of a crash may just save your life. This is why some boots have Velcro closures, since it allows them to firmly hold on to your feet even under very difficult situations.

Next, try to get a pair of boots with stiff soles. This is because these kinds of soles can flex effectively regardless of the terrain. In contrast wearing soft-soled boots will lead to sore feet since your feet will be stuck on the foot peg most of the time, and the foot peg absorbs most of the motorcycle’s vibrations. This is why most biker boots have tough soles. They are designed to isolate your foot from the rest of bike’s vibrations.

Thirdly, you will need to think about protection. Your biker boots should protect your feet from a physical impact. An accident will not only cause abrasions, in some cases it can also lead to twisted muscles and broken bones. Because of this, it’s important to get boots which not only protects your feet, but can also absorb most of the energy of an impact. These types of boots include special reinforcements of the toes, ankles and shin areas, all of which are most vulnerable whenever you’re on a bike.

About the author: 

Charles Fitzgerald is breaking new ground; he is the proud owner of The Kewl Shop, a place to find things you really want.