Boots

[Lancer]

Gang,

I think I mentioned that I had badly dislocated a toe in a very nasty low side fall while taking the MSF course two weekends ago. If I had been wearing steel toed boots, it would not have happened.

So, I decided to see about the possibility of finding steel toed motorcycle boots, and I am coming up dry. This evening, I found a web site that suggests that wearing steel toed boots can be dangerous, that it's possible to cut off toes in a fall. It sounds urban legend-ish to me, but it's also not a chance I'm eager to take.

So, it seems that there has to be something out there that will provide protection, but which is not steel toed.

Here are a couple of questions for which I would appreciate your input:

1. Can anybody verify the issue about cutting off toes with steel toed boots?

2. In the alternative, what do any of you suggest? Are there reinforced toed motorcycle boots that will provide me with some protection if I go down again, but which aren't steel toed?

I know that this is a strange topic to be discussing, but this is very important to me, and it's something that I need to resolve before I try riding again in another week or so (my toe is healing nicely and coming right along). Thanks for indulging such a seemingly inane series of questions. I really appreciate it.

[Clint]

I don't think it's likely that you'd ever cut off a toe, but the benefits of wearing steel toes are outweighed by the disadvantages. They're heavy, they're bulky (so your foot doesn't fit under the shifter as well) and they're cold.

You'll find very few actual motorcycle boots with steel toes. Most have ankle and toe protection and good abrasion resistance. Your accident was a bit freakish, so don't base your search too heavily on that.

[Lancer]

Clint,

Fair enough.

What about something designed for motorcycles that has a reinforced or capped toe? Got any suggestions for me along those lines?

[Clint]

Like I said, most motorcycle boots have reinforcement in the toe and ankle. Really, it all comes down to style. What do you like?

Oh, BTW, the Mythbusters recently had an episode regarding the steel toe legend. I didn't catch the results, though. I was told years ago that they're actually designed to cut toes off rather than crush them so they can be reattached. I have my doubts as to the truth of that.

[Lancer]

Honestly, I'm not sure it matters. Perhaps it's because of what happened, I'm more concerned about protection than stylishness. Make sense?

I've had lots of sports injuries in my life--I played some college baseball--and NOTHING hurt like dislocating that toe did. I never, ever want to experience anything like that again.

[Clint]

Right, but assuming they all protect resonably well, what's your choice? Workboot style, European? Racer? Sandals with socks?

I wear Sidi Champions --> http://amolmotorcycles.com/champ.jpg

http://cabuhs.net/images/banditMe600.jpg

They're all right, but my thin legs don't feel entirely secure in them. Next time I'll look for laces or buckles, I think.

[Lancer]

Clint,

Probably something along the lines of a hiking boot or something along the lines of a workboot, I would think.

I really appreciate your input.

[Time4me2ride]

Lancer,
I have had problems with gout since I was 33, so I know what toe pain is like, it sucks. Here is what I use, I bought a Gerogia Boot 6 inch work boot with steel toe, insulated, and waterproof. It is a little bulky to get under the shifter, but it has enough support that shifting doesn't hurt my big toe joint. Takes a little getting used to, but it was worth it to me. They are very warm, I have not had cold feet riding to work at 28 degrees. They are waterproof, the only time I had wet feet was when I got caught without raingear in a real soaker and had water coming in from the top.
Like I said, a little bulky to get used to shifting. You have to think about moving your toe forward to release pressure on the shifter before you can shift again, but once you get used to it, they are very comfortable. I can wear them around work all day without killing my feet.

http://www.georgiaboot.com/

model G6313
It's just what works for me.

[Zooki]

I would have thought that any impact that was powerful enough to cause a steel capped boot to cut your toes off would cause just as much if not more damage had the toes not been steel capped?

I am prepared to stand corrected but seems like logic to me.

I was rather surprised to find my pair of Gaerne boots that cost an arm and a leg were not steel capped.

[BigD]

I work around machinery and heavy molds. I don't wear steel toes because of the danger of chopping the toes off, but I don't see any problems with them for riding other than reasons already stated. Another option is fiberglass (toe) reinforced boots.
I have a pair of Joe Rocket boots that have double leather on the toes and other strategic areas. The toe is rigid and well protected. The price isn't bad either! http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...15&division=1#

[Danr]

This is what I wear and really like them, the super duty 2's, Walked all day around Daytona and they were quite comfy. I give theses a



http://www.motorhelmets.com/htm1/app...icon-table.htm

[tlwisner]

I wear Carolina Grizzly steel toed work boots, which I find very comfortable while also being supportive and protetctive.

I can't think of any plausible riding scenario where a steel toed boot would be crushed, but I can think of many where it would be beneficial.

[Dwayne Hicks]

Bronx or Cats - both relatively cheap, and both come with steel option.

[Trapper]

I have read somewhere that the danger is in the possibility of the shifter or brake pedal bending and pinning your foot against the peg, where if you didn't have it you foot would slip out. I wear Teknic Freestyle. Love em!

[CManT1914]

I have just recently started wearing my old steel toe work boots (real comfortable, insulated so they're warm, and waterproof), but all this talk about cutting off toes has got me kinda worried. Honestly, how big of a risk is there in your toes getting cut off from taking a spill on a bike? What in the world is gonna smash your foot hard enough to do that? I wouldn't think the asphalt would.

[St0nkingByte]

The toe cutting thing is basically an urban legend.

I wear Red Wing boots. I've been riding daily with them for a year in all kinds of weather and I wear them all day at work tool. They're by far the best pair of shoes I've ever owned, period. If you've got the bucks to spend go to a Red Wing store and tell the guy you're interested in some work boots for motorcycle riding. They should be able to set you up with the perfect boot. Interestingly enough last time I was there they had a line of HD motorcycle boots that Red Wing made, I think, and the guy steered me away from them. Of all the things that you could say that might be bad about a work boot when riding like haven't been an issue for me at all.

I once hit a peice of pipe or something metal on the highway at 65mph and the tire kicked it up right into my foot. It actually hit mainly on the steel toe and my foot wasn't even sore the next day. It had a bad buzzy feeling when it happened but other than that I was fine, I wouldn't ride without the steel toe boot, certainly not as a daily rider on our debris strewn roads.

At the end of the day it really depends on what you're after. For me as a daily rider who doesn't want to be bother changing shoes when I come and go at work the Red Wing is perfect. I'm also a cruiser rider, I'm sure you arn't going to see the coolio fast shiftin high performance sport bike crowd recommending a big ol clunky work boot

[MagnumForce]

Were there any instances where toes have been lopped off due to wearing steel toe boots? I can't seem to find any. It's not like I work in a warehouse where I may face the possibility of a one ton load crashing down on my boots. My steel toe work boots are fine for the kind of riding I do. Let me make this statement; I ride CRUISERS, not high performance sportbikes. I don't need to make the constant gear changes like the sportbike crowd does, therefore I do not need to wear their boots.

[intimid8er]

Toecutter?











(Mad Max fans knew.)

[shaggs69r]

Originally Posted by trappercase

I have read somewhere that the danger is in the possibility of the shifter or brake pedal bending and pinning your foot against the peg, where if you didn't have it you foot would slip out. I wear Teknic Freestyle. Love em!

got any pic or links to em?

[Clint]

Originally Posted by EZridr1

I ride CRUISERS, not high performance sportbikes. I don't need to make the constant gear changes like the sportbike crowd does, therefore I do not need to wear their boots.

Hehe. I have more torque available than you do, and I still shift several hundred times an hour. Count once. You may be amazed. Big lug soles don't make for good mc boots. Sure, you'll get used to wearing them, but that doesn't make it the smartest choice.