Question:
Well, I have my permit now, I've mailed in my MSF payment, and have
almost all of my gear except boots, which I'm pondering on.
I was thinking of riding with high steel tipped work boots at first,
for commuting riding on a modest Kz400, how feasible is this? My pants
are waterproof, which should help when I'm caught in the rain.
Answer:
There are a lot of opinions out there about boots and most of them are
worth exactly what you pay for them. That said, here's mine:
The essential functions of boots to riding are to protect you in the
case of a crash, protect you from burns, offer ankle support, and
provide good footing on wet and/or oily surfaces. With that in mind, any
boot should be well contructed of tough materials, cover your ankle, and
have a good sole. Work boots will generally meet those requirements.
Other things to consider are that work boots often have laces which can
get caught on the bike. Obviously, fit and comfort are also important.
Some boots, especially hiking type boots, are very large and might not
fit under your shifter well. Steel toes are somewhat controversial in
that there are those who swear by them and those that are afraid the
steel will get bent down on their foot and cause more damage than not
having steel would do. Also, steel toes can get colder and hotter than
non-steel toe boots.
Like all gear, the boots must be satisfactory enough to you that you
will actually wear them. Even the best boots are no good if they are
sitting in your closet when you go down. Therefore, don't get boots that
are not comfortable for walking if you will need to walk for any
distance in them.
