| We don't know much, but we know that, at least, is | | | | around a big, heavy, bulky boot that probably doesn't |
| not true. It's evident from early photos that riders | | | | fit that well, anyway." |
| wore whatever they felt to be practical at the time. | | | | Ridge's solution was a line of boots that "feel like |
| Since no riding "uniform" was defined in those early | | | | tennis shoes, but deliver needed protection and |
| days (and no authority existed to make such | | | | support. They're lightweight, comfortable, and more." |
| recommendations), it was a case of anything goes, | | | | They added inside zippers and waterproof riding |
| where footwear was concerned. | | | | boots-creating what Granger called "a lazy man's |
| Before long, however, common sense led | | | | boot." Now, he reflects, nearly all their top-sellers are |
| motorcyclists to realize that an awful lot of | | | | zipper designs. |
| potentially preventable foot injuries were happening, | | | | Overall, today's motorcycle boots boast superior |
| due to a lack of adequate shielding and protection of | | | | materials that provide better insulation, moisture |
| those vulnerable tootsies. | | | | wicking and waterproof membranes to keep feet |
| Naturally enough, first impulses were not to re-invent | | | | dry, and synthetic rubber soles that are exceptionally |
| the wheel, but to look at already available forms of | | | | oil-resistant. |
| foot protection-like those worn by cowboys and | | | | What Qualities Should a Motorcycle Boot Have? |
| jockeys, and like those with a reliable reputation of | | | | When you're shopping for a riding boot, what should |
| serving explorers, adventurers, outdoorsmen, and | | | | you look for? The Internet is brimming with expert |
| engineers. Twentieth century engineer boots, as a | | | | advice on the subject; here's the Cliff's Notes version: |
| matter of fact, had themselves evolved from | | | | *Soles should be durable and slip-resistant, especially |
| footwear that had been around for centuries, | | | | on oil-slick pavement. You want something that won't |
| defending the digits, feet, calves and thighs of | | | | slide out from under you when you put your feet |
| surveyors, soldiers, and, yes, engineers, from brutal | | | | down at a stop. |
| elements as well as injury from attacking objects or | | | | Resoleable boots, says Granger, come with an |
| organisms. | | | | extremely bulky durable welted Goodyear outsole |
| These ready made footwear solutions served riders | | | | that makes the boot heavy and somewhat stiff, |
| well for a time; but there's always that restless | | | | although admittedly this is the most serviceable |
| yearning for something better-something customized | | | | outsole available. "There's a fine line between the |
| to better perform its vital duty. Something "just for | | | | comfort you want and durability that you need. At |
| motorcyclists". | | | | Ridge, we are using more of the lighter weight |
| So, over the years, the equation developed: | | | | one-piece soles, which consist of a comfortable EVA |
| Engineer boots + Various minor adjustments = | | | | or polyurethane midsole, permanently bonded to a |
| Traditional "motorcycle boot" | | | | sturdy carbon rubber outsole. These are not |
| According to onlyriders.com, stovepipe legs on bikers' | | | | resoleable; when they're worn out, you throw the |
| boots became standard in the 1930s and '40's. | | | | boot away." |
| "These were so popular and practical that militaries | | | | He points out that from a practical standpoint, it's |
| across the globe adopted this style of "riding boot" | | | | hard to find cobblers nowadays, even if you prefer |
| for motorcycle soldiers. Buckles around the instep and | | | | to have boots or shoes resoled. |
| at the top served to keep these boots securely | | | | *Ankle support is essential. In the early days of |
| fastened, but they also gave motorcycle boots the | | | | motorcycle boots, they were straight-up leather |
| unique character that appealed to the general | | | | slip-on boots, like cowboy boots you slide on and off. |
| population." | | | | "The problem was," says Granger, "There was no |
| This character, in fact, defines the boot most often | | | | support there. That's why lace-ups are important; |
| associated with Marlon Brando and the Bad Boy | | | | they give you a nice tight fit. With the zipper boots, |
| Bikers of the '50's-and probably the one the Cheers | | | | you can enjoy both-the great fit and custom support |
| sang about in their unforgettable 1955 hit: | | | | of the lace-up style, with the ease of zipping in and |
| "He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots | | | | out of it without re-lacing it each time." |
| And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back. | | | | *Protection for toes and ankles. Although steel toed |
| He had a hopped-up 'cycle that took off like a gun; | | | | boots immediately leap to mind, many of today's |
| That fool was the terror of Highway 101." | | | | hard leather toe caps can protect without the weight |
| Still later, in the '60s, sources agree, the round-toed | | | | and bulk of steel toes. Even the most skilled and |
| engineer boots gave way to harness boots, which | | | | careful rider can wind up laying a bike down. A good |
| typically have square toes and cosmetic | | | | boot can spare clothing, skin, and flesh from the |
| accoutrements like leather straps and rings. Some | | | | worst of flying debris, burns, and rough impacts. |
| riders in search of really serious protection (and a | | | | *Adhesion: Boots need to stay on your feet to do |
| seriously rugged look, to boot) even began opting for | | | | their job. The advent of the side-zipper boot has |
| logger boots with steel toes and their "heavy, robust | | | | virtually ended the long argument between lace-up |
| design." | | | | and slip-on advocates. Slip-ons can just as easily slip |
| Jeremy Granger, Marketing Director for Ridge | | | | off under stress-when you'd rather they didn't. On |
| Footwear, defines the traditional biker boot as a | | | | the other hand, laces can come untied and get hung |
| heavy, all-leather black boot, eight inches tall or | | | | up in moving parts, creating a serious hazard. Today, |
| more-a slip-on design with a big sole that can be | | | | most lace-ups are designed to be easily tucked safely |
| resoled. | | | | inside once they're tied-and the tight custom fit and |
| "Traditional motorcycle boot-makers used a heavy | | | | support lacing provides can be maintained easily |
| leather because they wanted the protection it | | | | without relacing if the boot also comes with an inside |
| offered; and they used a taller shank to prevent the | | | | zipper for quick and easy off and on. |
| wearer's pants from riding up above the boot top | | | | *Weather resistance: Is waterproof necessary? |
| when they were riding." | | | | Some people need waterproof leather boots; others |
| Granger points to currently available traditional biker | | | | who don't plan to ride in the rain don't need or want |
| styles that are still big and heavy, with buckles, but | | | | that protection-or the extra weight that comes with |
| explains the change in biker demographics that makes | | | | it. These folks are usually happier with a boot with |
| these styles less practical and popular today. | | | | breathable nylon, for instance, notes Granger, so that |
| "In the early '90's, Harley-Davidson's image went from | | | | it's more comfortable for walking around. |
| the Bad Boy Biker bike to, suddenly, the bike that | | | | Of Special Interest to Women |
| everybody wanted to have. Superstars, attorneys, | | | | The women's motorcycle industry is booming-many |
| doctors, and average working people wanted to ride | | | | more women are taking up riding than ever before, |
| Harleys, and got rid of their Hondas and Yamahas in | | | | and the Internet features an abundance of web sites |
| order to do so. | | | | that focus on the special needs of female bikers. |
| "From our standpoint in the footwear business, and | | | | The boom is fueled in part by the ease of |
| as avid bikers, we started noticing that the biker | | | | customizations that make motorcycles easier to |
| profile was changing. Bike events at places like | | | | manage for women with slighter, smaller frames. |
| Sturgis, Daytona, and Myrtle Beach became more | | | | Bikes can be lowered closer to the ground, |
| prevalent. People were riding or driving to these | | | | handlebars can be extended further, etc. |
| events, then walking a lot of territory as they visited | | | | Granger reports that within the last seven or eight |
| a lot of different vendors and activities." | | | | years, many women's biker boot styles have begun |
| More and more riders were taking day trips to social | | | | to appear, too. "Many of them have a traditional look, |
| get-together motorcycle events and walking all the | | | | but they're modified with bigger heels and attractive |
| festivities, Granger noted, and thus their footwear | | | | cosmetic features like chrome buckles. The designs |
| needs were changing. | | | | focus on style rather than function, however," he |
| "The days of the traditional biker boot are becoming | | | | observes. "My mother, for instance, rides as a |
| extinct," said Granger. "You see very few hard core | | | | passenger with my dad, and she sometimes wears a |
| bikers any more. Most of the guys that ride bikes as | | | | slip-on style that doesn't even have a backstrap |
| recreation are wearing coats and ties during the | | | | behind her heel. |
| week-or they're out working on a construction site | | | | "I would imagine that as more women start riding on |
| or something, and on the weekend they turn into a | | | | their own, they will start wearing more functional |
| biker. My Dad is one of those, he's had multiple Boss | | | | boots rather than thin, stylish boots, because now |
| Hosses, and he comes to work in an office all week | | | | they're in a position where they have to put their |
| long and he doesn't look like a biker, but he's been | | | | feet down at every stop, and they have to know |
| riding a bike his whole life." | | | | that their feet are nice and steady on the pegs and |
| To effectively monitor these demographic changes, | | | | on the floorboards. They'll also want to be confident |
| Ridge execs did some research at the rallies and | | | | that they're wearing something they can shift with." |
| festivals they attended, paying special attention to | | | | The fashion-focused boots currently available to |
| what riders were wearing on their feet. | | | | women aren't always slip-proof on oily surfaces, and |
| "We saw people riding in tennis shoes; we saw | | | | the popular boxy toe styles may not even fit under |
| people in the coastal regions riding in flipflops. I don't | | | | a shifter, he points out, predicting a move toward |
| recommend that," commented Granger. | | | | functionality and away from fashion for serious |
| The priority of all these riders, however, was clearly | | | | women riders. |
| comfort. So, responsively, three years ago Ridge | | | | The bottom line is-wear what works best for you |
| Footwear began developing motorcycle boots "that | | | | and your riding style; but be careful when weighing |
| carried the characteristics necessary in a riding boot, | | | | those options. As all good Boss Hoss riders do, be |
| but are comfortable enough to allow people to walk | | | | sure to put safety first! |
| an event all day and not wear them out lugging | | | | |