If you like a riding boot, I recommend Chippewa 12 inch rally boots. Easy on, leather is very thick, leather lined, vibram soles, Velcro pulls, shifter pad on top of toe. Very nice full Leather riding Boots.

 

I love Thorogood wedge boots. Made in the USA as well as union made. I also wear a pair for work every night as well.

 

ride to work with my red rings, wear them at work, ride home with them. I have to have steel toe and electrical hazard boots. Ive tried boots from all the local Houston retailers. My job pays for $130 of my expense , I get a new pair every year . My go to has been red wings the last 3 years. I dont pay attention to what model they are. Ive had lace up and slip on and each style has done the job

 

THIS^^^ I have Daytona and really like them But absolutely a motorcycle boot for riding a motorcycle riding...seems obvious to me! Work boots for working motorcycle boots for riding dress shoes for funerals!

 

I would recommend customizing your own boots. See below.

I know you said something that is cost effective but there are some advantages here and they last a very, very long time. Besides there is nothing wrong with treating yourself every once in a while.

The boots below were made by www.RocketBuster.com out of El Paso and they did a great job.

You design whatever design you would like as well as colors, the shape of the toe, the heel, etc. It is totally 100% customizable. And you do not need to use the "exotic" leathers like elephant or sharkskin or snake or etc.

But comfort is terrific because it is customized to your exact feet. And your feet are likely not the same left and right.

See the notations under each photo that I made for you.



Where the lime green is, in my initials. They are done in mild script with a gold background. They are on the inside of both boots. (The outside of the boot but on the inside if you know what I mean by looking at the picture.)




The boots are dirty because I just came back from a 400 mile ride and I was hitting a lot of love bugs here in Florida.

Because my inseam is short (29 inches) I had them add what I circled above to give me additional height which helps a lot. But it does not make me look like Frankenstein.





I asked them to give me the large luy Vibram sole and heel BOTH. This will give me a better grip because I ride a bagger.



Again my friend, notice the green arrow head. I asked them to give me a little extension all around both of the boots so I have a little more coverage on the ground and help with friction and not sliding. As you can see they did a fantastic job.

If you notice the stitching, they complement the colors of the boots.

I ride every day often times in the upper 80° and low 90° of the South Florida Sun. I ride in the rain and especially love the torrential downpour. Not often does want to get through the torrential downpour but it dries out pretty quickly surprisingly.

These boots are about 4 years old and have honestly taken a massive beating and as you can see are holding up extremely well.

You can even ride out there to El Paso although you do not need to and have them measure your feet for you. Otherwise they will send you directions on how to do it. And it really is not difficult.

Life is short. I do not think there is anything wrong with treating yourself every once in a while. It was a lot of fun to customize these boots. And I love wearing them literally every day in any kind of weather.

 

Try to get a CE-rated boot. I know from experience, and my ortho surgeon telling me after the fact:



Upside? No need for a cast when you're screwed together.

 

What does CE Rated mean?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_boot

 

The challenge in motorcycle boots is protection versus comfort - and I mean comfort walking around, not necessarily on the bike where most boots are generally comfortable. Boots that provide the most protection are for the most part, the most rigid inflexible heavy boots - think ski boots and really good moto-cross boots. Try walking around, even a little bit, in either ski boots or moto-cross boots! Now imagine yourself at a rally where you are off the bike as much, if not more in many cases, than you are on the bike. Comfortable shoes for standing and walking around are needed; generally these provide far less protection than is appropriate.

I won't even get into the who "style" thing because there are so many opinions. Some want super fancy racing boots to look the part while others look for an old pair of engineer boots that have been drug behind a bike for a few miles so they can look like an old ragged biker. Let us not forget those who like sneakers for riding.

So, if you're like me and want some protection, but so much that boots are uncomfortable for walking compromises have to be made. If you're like me and want a more "traditional" look - it further complicates things.

The sadly discontinued Chippewa rally boots mentioned previously in this thread are great and they thread the needle between two of my other favorites: the Danner Super Rain Forrest and the StylMartin Matrix boots. The former has laces if that matters to you - it does not to me. Mind you, this is for "Harley Riding" which, to me at least, is either touring or cruising. For "Adventure Riding" I do like the Forma Boulder boots which are stiff but provide better protection, can still be walked in and have a flat "trials" sole for moving around on the pegs - which I do not do on my Harleys.

All that being said, I've gone thousands and thousands of miles attending many, many rallys and events with good quality "work boots" which, along with the Grace of God, protected by dogs.

Crazy as it may sound, good protective boots and and pair of walking shoes in the sadddlebags is not a bad way to roll.

 

Doesn't sound crazy at all - and it's exactly what I do. Proper protective gear for the long ride to the destination, but then I don't want to walk around in it, so I pack a pair of Merrell walking sandals and a pair of shorts!