| Author | Message | ||
     Timebandit |
I'm looking for a ventilated sport/racing style boot and I'd like to hear your suggestions. I'm specifically interested in something that has a wide, separately adjustable opening at the top, so that you can open the throat extra-wide to accommodate racing pants that have shin protectors. I'm more interested in something that's more race style, but not full-on race to the point that you're uncomfortable walking in them. I'm primarily looking at sport riding on public roads rather than track days, so dual-purpose sport seems more appealing than a set of full-on single purpose track boots. I've been using a pair of BMW sport touring Gore-Tex boots for quite some time now, but I'm having two problems with them: first, they're great all-season, all-weather boots, but they're just too damned hot in the summer. riding around in 90+ degree weather in perforated racing leathers, i'm totally comfy except my feet are just too doggone hot. second, my calf is big enough to fill the BMW boot, leaving no room for leathers with shin armor. the boots work fine with jeans, leathers that go over the boot, or un-armored leathers that tuck into the boot. But with my A* track pants, there's just no room for the padded shin guard to fit into the boot. I can't zip them closed. I think I need a boot that's specifically designed to work with the thick shin guard that comes in the A* track pants and the full leather/armor suit like my MX-1. I'm not really looking for an all-season boot or a waterproof boot. What I'd really like is a summer perforated/ventilated boot that has a calf opening that's big enough to accommodate a large calf and a set of track pants/shin guards. Just for reference, my calves aren't THAT big -- I don't ever have to use the expansion zippers on the leathers, but then I don't have skinny chicken legs either. thanks in advance. | ||
| Rogue_biker |
Isn't leathers with shin armor supposed to go OVER the boot? Just visualizing this.....I have Alpinestars GP Plus boots and I'm barely able to zip it up over my leather pants WITHOUT shin armor. And no, I don't have big calves as I weigh normal. There is some room in my calves after zip up. | ||
| Timebandit |
If they're supposed to go on the outside then I must be doing it wrong. Looks like they're tucked in the boot here:  | ||
| Timebandit |
I can't miss an opportunity to pot a gratuitous wheelie pic.  | ||
| Jossi |
Hi i have big calves too but not huge i use TCX boots they fit over my racepants with protection ,they have many different boots perforated , gore-tex . I cant use Dainese or Alpinestars they are too tight over calves Regards Jossi Sweden | ||
| Geedee |
Different exhaust exits on that wheelie pic bike Timebandit. I guess it was a prototype with the amber mirror signals. | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
Yeah it was a proto | ||
| Jaimec |
BMW Airflow boots are what I wear in the summer. But they are NOT waterproof. They have big mesh panels on the sides, and logic should dictate if it flows air, water isn't going to have a problem getting through either. I point this out, because I was at my dealer a few years back when an IDIOT customer came back with that very complaint. I bet they leave their screen doors open in the rain, too. (Message edited by jaimec on June 22, 2012) | ||
| Timebandit |
Jamie: I've had a pair of the Gore-Tex BMW sport touring boots for a really long time. I can testify that they are totally waterproof, totally warm when it's cold, and hot as hell in the summer. You're absolutely right -- I want something that's not waterproof. How are those BMW boots when it comes to using them with race pants? IME the BMW gear never has a big enough calf opening, and it's never independently adjustable from the zipper. With the BMW boots, they always seem to be one zipper/one adjustment to close the boot. The racing style boots seem to have one adjustment/zipper to close the boot around your ankle, and a second velcro/calf adjustment to adjust how tight the throat needs to be around your pants. with race pants that have the shin guards, you need a LOT more room at the top. Jossi: thanks for the feedback. that's exactly the kind of information that I'm looking for. Geedee: you're right, that is a skunkworks photo. | ||
| Jcjohnson33 |
I wear the sidi ventilated boots. They have ratcheted chin guard so they open up and are adjustable | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Same Sidi boots. Ventilated and adjustable for the calf. 80°+ degrees, 100% humidity, here. Feet are safe. Walked (limped/staggered) away from two crashes wearing them. Still wearing them. I'm satisfied. | ||
| Sprintst |
Sidi B2 Gortex Not ventilated, but Gortex breathes Doing the job, even on 90 F days | ||
| Timebandit |
So you guys with the Sidi boots -- are you saying that the calves are independently adjustable from the ankle zipper, *and* have room for the heavy shinguards on race pants? How big are your calves? I just got back from my afternoon day-trip. This time I was able to get the A* track pants to fit into my boots, but I had to remove the GP-Plus shin guards to do it. The A* GP-Plus type shin guards are pretty thick and take up a lot of room in the boot. They offer some nice protection, so I'd really prefer to keep them in the pants and not have to ride by taking them out. It would be encouraging to know if most thick-calved guys can fit into boots that have the separate calf adjustment. Jossi's comments that some of the name-brand track-style boots didn't have enough room had me worried. I'm guessing that my best bet is to look for something that's got independent adjustments, and then just pay the money to take a chance. Thanks. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Mine have a fair bit of adjustment. I don't know how much you would need. As far as a shin guard, the boots are high with their own carbon fiber shin guard. The boots don't interfere with the regular CE knee/shin pads I use. | ||
| Jcjohnson33 |
Mine do not have a zipper. You release the ratchet system and pull the front shin and calf protection and the boot top opens up. After you slip the boot on and tuck in your pants you ratchet tighten which brings the front and back together to close the boot. There is no opening down the side the boot just closes onto itself. I have the vortice air and have replaceable toe and heel sliders | ||
| Timebandit |
that sounds a lot like a rear entry ski boot. just to check, are the shin guards in your race pants long enough that they protrude down below the top of the boot? that's definitely the case with my A* pants. the shin guard is plastic with a padded backing that's pretty thick, darned near close to 1cm thick in the middle and 12cm wide at the bottom. it takes up a lot of room in a boot top, and if a boot top isn't designed to accommodate soemthing like that, i'm guessing it wouldn't fit. i was hoping that at least A* would make boots that are big enough to fit their track pants. i took some measurements. the A* shin guards are about 1 cm thick in the middle, and taper off to be much thinner on the inner and outer edges. they're about 12cm wide at the bottom and get wider going up. they take up a lot of space in the boot. my calf circumferences are 43 and 46 cm at the widest spots. i don't know why but one side is bigger. the pants have lots of free room in the legs around the calves. (Message edited by timebandit on June 23, 2012) | ||
| Jossi |
Hi Bandit my calfes are 45-46cm at the widest point and my Dainese pants have big GP shin protection , my TCX race boots have some ventilated mesh or what you call and goretex . About 15cm long zipper and upper part adjustable velcro | ||
| Mako |
to me it looks like they don't have shin guards on. just race pants and high boots, only two inches of shin with no "guard" |
