Why would any self-respecting adventure biker swap their full-length touring or adventure boots for a casual riding boot that barely covers your ankle? Ease of use and comfort, that’s why.
It’s all well and good having heavily armoured, rugged footwear, and the protection they can offer is truly astounding, but full-length riding boots can feel a tad excessive if you are just nipping out to the shops.
In their place, a pair of casual riding shoes can be a convenient and stylish addition to your biking wardrobe, whether you are commuting to work, meeting your mates down the pub, or heading off on a weekend adventure.
So, in issue 82 of Adventure Bike Rider, we’ve assembled and tested a diverse selection of riding boots from a worldwide cast of manufacturers to find out which casual boot is best for you.
You can read the full group test and reviews of the latest casual riding boots by getting your copy of Adventure Bike Rider issue 82 with free UK postage here.
From the more conventional and classic Daytona and Falco designs to the on-trend and hipster-friendly trainer-style boots from Merlin and TCX, there’s a mixed palette of styles, prices. and features to consider.
However, there is a sacrifice to be made. The fact is that a casual boot, despite being designed for protection, simply won’t offer as much protection as a full-length adventure or touring boot.
Not only do they usually only reach up to your ankle, a casual boot won’t feature the tough design, plate armour, and ankle support of tougher footwear.
Keep in mind that all the boots we’ve tested have been designed with safety in mind and are CE-rated but, by choosing to wear a casual riding boot, you will be sacrificing some elements of safety for convenience, comfort, and style. That’s just the way it is.
The features of a casual riding boot
Other factors to consider when buying a pair of casual riding boots
Is there anything else to consider when buying a pair of casual riding boots?
Well, laces and motorcycle chains don’t play well together so, as many of these boots fasten with what are effectively long bits of string, so always ensure that the ends are tucked away using the supplied elastic or little pockets in the tongue.
Most of the boots here also have waterproof under a variety of proprietary names, be it Gore-Tex, Hipora, or similar.
However, no matter how breathable they claim to be, boots with this type of membrane make your feet significantly hotter in summer than ones without.
If you are walking and riding in equal measure during the summer, it might be worth considering the non-waterproof options, although keep in mind the UK weather, when rain is never far away.
In terms of safety, the relevant certification that most manufacturers are working towards is EN 13634 which is the general safety standard for motorcycle boots.
The tests assess the material used, the design and construction of the footwear, and perhaps most crucially, the transverse rigidity (which is essentially the stiffness) of the boot should 250kg of Bavaria’s finest happen to fall on you.
Read the ABR review of casual riding boots
We’ve reviewed a dozen of the latest riding boots and shoes on the market, including offerings from Daytona, Klim, Alpinestars, and Falco, to see which deserve your money.
While this is by no means an exhaustive list, we aimed to provide a range of options to give you the best idea of what’s out there and to suit everybody.
On test:
- Richa Calgary
- Oxford Products Merton
- Furygan Stockton Air D30
- Spada Heat High Top Trainer
- Merlin Stretton D30 Heritage
- TCX Street 3 WP
- Sidi ARX WP
- Klim Blak Jak
- Alpinestars Primer Riding
- Dainese Urbactive Gore-Tex
- Falco Aviator
- Daytona AC Classics GTX
If you want to discover which of these ABR recommends (including a boot that we gave a rare 10/10 score to), along with our best budget buy, pick up a copy of Adventure Bike Rider issue 82 (also available on the Digital Library).
It’s packed with not just reviews of casual riding boots, but also the latest adventure and touring motorcycles, travel stories, UK routes to ride, and loads more.
Get your copy of ABR issue 82 here.
