Boxerworks.com

Quick Review: Harley Davidson Steel Toe Riding Boots.



I have always been a proponent of proper dedicated motorcycle boots with shin/ankle protection, & replaceable plastic sliders. More recently however, I found myself needing something that could do triple duty as motorcycle boots, steel toe construction boots, & comfortable casual wear. I looked for a long time until I found these on Shoeme.ca.

I'm generally pleased, especially in consideration of the price which came to ~CDN$150 (which I can also write off as a work expense). Some first impressions are:
- Very sturdy but the zip-side makes getting them on/off easy
- Comfortable. They are padded & cushioned well.
- Reasonably light for steel-toe. Heavy boots are not safe in crashes because of the extra stress they can put on your knees & hip as your legs flail around, but these are lighter than some off-road boots I've owned.
- The HD bar-&-shield is discrete & is hidden when worn with pants. This was important to me as I'm not a fan of having logos (esp HD) on me unless I'm being paid.
- Shifting & braking feel are good considering the boots aren't even broken in yet.
- They breathe.
- The labels make no claims about them being waterproof, but I don't think they'd resist anything more than a sprinkle before water started getting in past the zipper.
- The sizing is true to what I normally wear. Folks with extra wide feet could be pinched though.

Overall I'm very satisfied with the purchase & I would recommend them.

I believe those boots would come off pretty quick in a slide.

Yeah, that was my question too. How secure are they when they zip on? I have heard from Emergency Room and Paramedics that it's amazing how easily slip-on boots slip off in a crash, even ones that seem hard to get on.

michael wrote:I believe those boots would come off pretty quick in a slide.

How secure are they when they zip on?

This is definitely a concern for me too, which is why I'm normally a wearer of dedicated MC boots, regardless of how unsuitable they may be for other activities once I get to my destination. Street boots, and even worse, shoes, are usually the first piece of clothing that gets stripped off in a crash.

Having said that, I am impressed with how well these boots grab at the ankle, although you'd still never see me showing up for a track day with these things on!

In my case, I'll just be using them for low-speed urban commutes to construction sites (where the legislated need for steel toes trumps other safety considerations), & perhaps to the café on the way back home.

They're certainly not a replacement boot for my AlpineStars or Sidis, but more of a supplement boot to keep in the closet.

Quick update.

After several weeks of service, the boots generally function as intended although I'm disappointed with a few things:
- the sole is very thick making rear braking less precise, & limiting feedback thru the pegs.
- the topside of the left boot is already showing shifter wear that won't buff-out
- the tops of the inside zippers are coarse & chafe my calves unless I wear knee-high wool socks

gocytocis wrote:Quick update.

After several weeks of service, the boots generally function as intended although I'm disappointed with a few things:
- the sole is very thick making rear braking less precise, & limiting feedback thru the pegs.
- the topside of the left boot is already showing shifter wear that won't buff-out
- the tops of the inside zippers are coarse & chafe my calves unless I wear knee-high wool socks

Ah, no leather flap on the inside to cover the zipper? That could get irritating.

Major Softie wrote:Ah, no leather flap on the inside to cover the zipper? That could get irritating.

There is a leather flap inside the zipper, it's just that the flap intersects with the trim at the top of the boot to cause a rough protrusion right at the widest part of my calf; I expect it will soften at the boots break-in...

These boots are for tough guys, remember.

ME 109 wrote:These boots are for tough guys, remember.

Ooops, yea, you're right. I forgot about that!

Is that why the soles are thick enough to add a couple inches to my overall height when I wear them!?

gocytocis wrote:

ME 109 wrote:These boots are for tough guys, remember.

Ooops, yea, you're right. I forgot about that!

Is that why the soles are thick enough to add a couple inches to my overall height when I wear them!?

Compensating tough guys....