Riding Gear | Motorcycle Boots

The technology and style of our machines marches on, and following in lockstep are the companies that protect our always vulnerable bodies.

Bred on the MotoGP and World Superbike circuits, Gaerne’s G-RS boots (www.gaerneusa.com) combine comfort, protection, and innovation for high-performance on the road or track. A rear-entry design sets the G-RS boots apart, and premium features such as aluminum buckles and titanium toe sliders, plus an upper pivot protection system, extend the sense of quality. Well-placed vents help with cooling in the heat of competition and a gel ankle and anti-vibration sole aid comfort; the rubber inside boot-guard helps your foot stay in contact with the bike.

From right: Gaerne G-RS, Sidi Streetfighter, Harley-Davidson Heritage, Red Wing women’s 1671. (Click image to enlarge)

Sidi’s crossover Streetfighter boot combines attributes of Sidi’s racing and street shoes (www.motonation.com). Designed for casual street use, the Streetfighter boot utilized top grain leather, the Tecno-II buckle system, replaceable and adjustable aerodynamic nylon/ceramic toe sliders, and an external ankle brace system—all features for serious riding. For comfort, there is a dual compound sole, removable arch support, DuPont polymer toe shift pad, a closeable air vent, and perforated Teflon-treated nylon lining.

It is difficult to one-up Harley-Davidson when it comes to heritage, and Harley-Davidson Footwear’s (www.stepintoalegend.com) new Heritage boot pays suitable tribute to the Motor Company. Most striking, of course is the embroidered Harley-Davidson Eagle and Bar & Shield detailing on the boot’s full-grain leather upper. Further, Harley-Davidson is engraved on the foot and calf buckles, leaving no question about your brand choice.

Spidi’s Granturismo Pro jacket and Simpson’s Street Bandit helmet are an innovative pair. (Click image to enlarge)

According to Red Wing Shoes (www.redwingshoes.com), its new 1671 women’s boot "eats blacktop for breakfast and grown men for lunch." We haven’t seen this stylish boot accomplish that inelegant claim, but they are certainly eye-catching. The oil- and slip-resistant rubber Diamond Patch sole have safety in mind, and quality is assured by the boot’s full-grain water-resistant Black Scout leather.

The Street Bandit is not a new helmet—and it is certainly a back-to-basics design—but the newest paint job offered by Simpson (www.simpsonraceproducts.com) is a certified head-spinner. Called the Rattlesnake graphic treatment, the reflective metalflake paint changes color as your eyes’ perspective on the helmet shifts, turning the helmet into a mesmerizing flow of red and green.

Raising the textile touring adventure jacket bar to a new height is the Spidi Granturismo Pro (www.motonation.com). Created from an abundance of high-tech materials, the Granturismo Pro utilizes Spidi’s superb H2OUT waterproof membrane and Windout lining. Adjustable for comfort in sub-freezing and egg-frying temperatures (and everywhere in between), the jacket also has important safety components—Biomechanic armor, spine guard, kidney belt and an innovative removable chest protector.

Riding motorcycles has just become a bit more stylish and comfortable, as well as safer.