Riding boots…
Are probably one of the most crucial parts of your riding safety gear while dirt biking.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND RIDING DIRT BIKES WITHOUT PROPER DIRT BIKE BOOTS OR GEAR.
Lots of people out there think that they can skip the riding boots….because hey I have those old leather army hiking boots that are tough. Right?
I cannot tell you how my dirt bike riding boots saved my feet, ankles, and shins many times.
No matter if its motocross or simple trail riding having a quality set of dirt bike riding boots is a MUST.
Table of Contents
Why is it important to have protective dirt bike boots?
Riding dirt bikes is exhilarating, and the reason for that is it can be more dangerous than other sports. That doesn’t mean you can’t take the proper steps to protect yourself.
Dirt Bike Riding boots are an essential piece of the safe pie!
Dirt bike foot and toe protection
Dirt bike riding boots are designed to protect your entire foot, ankle, and lower leg.
What do dirt bike riding boots protect your foot and toes from?
- Rocks
- Trees
- Tree stumps
I can tell you that I personally have kicked rocks, trees, tree stumps, and all sorts of things. When riding dirt bikes your feet and lower legs are exposed to all sorts of things. The last thing you want is to bust up your foot.
I once kicked a boulder while riding singletrack that I didn’t see as it was hidden under a bush. This resulted in my toenails jamming back and up and my riding boot filled up with blood. While it hurt like hell…if I had been riding “heavy-duty hiking boots” my toes would have been shattered.
Dirt Bike Ankle protection and Support
Dirt bike riding boots have built-in ankle support. In fact, some of the more expensive higher-end dirt bike riding boots even come with an ankle brace.
Why do you need ankle support when riding dirt bikes you ask?
- G-OUTS
- Bottom outs
- Casing
- Foot plants
- Get-offs
If you have ever experienced a “G-OUT” or “Engine CASE” you will know why you need ankle support.
Basically, a G-OUT is when you go from a quick transition from downhill to uphill which results in the entire dirt bikes suspension bottom out. This puts a ton of pressure on your ankles as you slam into the uphill side. Without a proper dirt bike riding boot, this could result in a sprained or broken ankle.
Engine casing is when you hit a jump and smack into the other side of a jump resulting in compressed suspension like a G-OUT.
This also can result in a broken or sprained ankle.
Motocross riders do not tend to plant their feet as much as the enduro trail riding dirt bikers do. When out riding a technical single track, you tend to “plant” your feet when pivot turns or catch yourself and the dirt bike from falling.
Same story here….dirt bike riding boots help protect your ankle.
Why do you need dirt bike riding boots to protect your lower leg?
Riding boots also protect your lower leg and shin.
Protect them from what you ask?
Have you seen the teeth on those dirt bike pegs??
Here is a list of what dirt bike riding boots protect you from:
- Your Pegs
- Heat/burns
- Sticks
- Rocks
Now that we have discussed why you cannot ride without dirt bike boots…. let’s dive into how to select the right dirt bike riding boot for you.
How to select the right dirt bike riding boot for you
My #1 rule of thumb with it comes to riding boots is to buy the best ones you can afford.
Just like shoes its important to remember that EVERYONE’s feet are different. That means a dirt bike riding boot that your buddy has doesn’t actually mean it would be a good fit for you.
What does this mean for you?
You need to try on lots of different dirt bike boots to make sure that they fit well. Keep mind most dirt bike boots have some sort of break-in period. The stiffer the boot the more break in it typically takes.
Who makes the best dirt bike riding boots?
Below is a list of all the major dirt bike riding boot manufacturing players. These are the companies that build high-quality dirt bike boots. Some are better than others but this list is just a list of all the boots.
You can spend anywhere from $100 – $700 on a pair of dirt bike riding boots. They are an investment for sure that’s why it’s important to try on a bunch of different pairs of riding boots. Read more about the best dirt bike boots I personally tested and recommend.
List of the dirt bike boot companies:
- Alpinestars
- SIDI
- Fox Racing
- Gaerne
- Answer Racing
- A.R.C
- Fly Racing
- Forma
- Leatt
- Moose Racing
- O’Neal Racing
- Shift
- Thor
