Our favorite motorcycle boots for every type of riding

During my MSF training program, the only mention of required footwear was a pair of “over the ankle boots.” The only shoes in my closet matching that description at the time were an old pair of Frye harness boots. Thus they became my go-to option for the first few years of riding, racking up thousands of miles and quite a few resoles.

But as my journey through motorcycling progressed, my understanding and appreciation of motorcycle footwear evolved, as well. I’ve come to value the additional support and protection that true motorcycle boots provide. While most of us have a pair of “these will work” boots to get us started, here are some of our team’s favorite picks for anyone looking to increase protection and comfort for your feet while riding a motorcycle.

Street and commuter boots

This particular category is kind of a catchall for casual riding shoes as well as traditional boots with motorcycle protection built in and is a favorite go-to for an everyday riding option. Our resident product expert, Pat McHugh, kicks things off with a callout to the TCX Street 3 Shoes, “These are a casual option with D3O armor built in and slip-resistant Groundtrax sole. I’ve been rocking these as my daily riding and office shoes for the better part of three years.” Coupled with the fact that there are a variety of colors and styles to choose from, these are a great option if you like the look of a sneaker but with motorcycle protection included.

Dustin Wheelen and Zack Courts prefer matching attire for their days spent together in RevZilla’s West Coast HQ, and the one pair of boots they can agree on is the Alpinestars Oscar Monty V2 boots. They both enjoy the convenience of the side-zip entry as well as the overall comfort playing a big role in their decision.

“I’ve actually received compliments on these boots from non-riders. Most people can’t tell that they’re riding shoes,” Dustin mentioned. While Zack’s family and friends have never complimented him, he did note that “being able to wear them out in society without looking like Napoleon Dynamite is a nice perk.” With full-leather construction and ankle cups for lateral and medial protection, these boots carry a CE rating but retain a casual, timeless style.

My personal pick, the TCX Hero 2 WP boots, share a similar retro vibe. I’ve had the original Hero boots for years and they’ve held up incredibly well. I like their traditional aesthetics mixed with all-day comfort and dedicated moto protection. My only critique is that I wish they were available in a non-waterproof protection because my feet tend to sweat in the hotter months of the year.

As for RevZilla’s customers?  The line of REAX Fulton riding shoes topped the best-seller list this past year, mainly the CE-rated “Air” version, as well as the women's version. These were also Ari Henning’s favorites. He noted that he “appreciates the reinforced toe box and ankle protection, which make me feel safe, but without sacrificing comfort.” The full-leather construction is a nice alternative to some of the synthetic options normally found at this price and if people are looking for waterproof protection there is a WP version, as well. That being said, some reviewers did say that these aren’t the best option if you have a wider foot.

Touring boots

Prior to heading out on my road trip with the Triumph Tiger Sport 800 Tour, I realized that most of my boots were either too casual, too off-road, or too track-focused for the task at hand. After some research via our video archives, I settled on a pair of Alpinestars SMX S boots. These proved to be a great option for all-day comfort but with the additional full-height protection I was looking for in a touring boot. While these fall short of the torsional bracing found in a full-on track-style boot, they provide a nice increase in support over a casual riding shoe. In addition to being a customer favorite, they’ve become a staple in my lineup this year.

Zack opted for a similar boot, but prefers a waterproof liner for his touring pick with the SIDI Performer Gore-Tex. “While Gore-Tex is always a little stuffy when it’s hot, I think these are more comfortable than the Air version because of the lining, and they are proper waterproof. I started wearing these to play in puddles with my son instead of my hiking boots because they have never leaked once. I find them to be an excellent sport-touring boot: stiff sole, toe slider and heel cup, plus a small shin plate, but also super easy to get in and out of with a single zipper and Velcro flap.”

Dustin’s pick of the Alpinestars SMX-6 boots was also the top pick by customers this past year. “If you’re maintaining a one-boot riding wardrobe, I’d go with the SMX-6. They’re comfortable on the bike. They’re easy to walk in. You can also get vented or waterproof versions to suit your climate and travels. Maybe most important is the boot’s versatility. They’d be my top pick for a multi-day road trip, but I also wouldn’t hesitate to wear the SMX-6 to a track event.” There is also a dedicated Stella version for women.

Track and sport boots

Ari and Zack each picked the most expensive boot on our list to keep their respective tootsies safe on the racetrack. The Alpinestars Supertech R Vented Boots is their top go-to for racetrack dancing shoes. “There was a time in my life when I was at the track a lot, and I tried just about every top-tier sport boot out there,” Ari explained, “Nothing comes close to the comfort and dexterity of the Supertech Rs. In fact, they’ve pretty much been my only choice for probably close to 10 years.” Zack agreed, stating, “ Despite having my ankle explode while wearing these, I still think they’re the best boots on the market. I tried a top-tier TCX a couple of years ago and it wasn’t even close.”

That being said, at $650 the Supertech R boots aren’t easily attainable by everyone looking to tackle a track day. And that’s OK, because for about half the price, Dustin actually prefers the SMX-6 V3 boots he mentioned earlier. “I have a pair of Alpinestars Supertech R Boots, but I often turn to the Alpinestars SMX-6 V3, instead. While the Supertech’s inner booty system yields a better one-to-one fit, I like to take my boots off to help me cool down between track sessions, which is much easier in the SMX-6. When compared to the Supertechs, I don’t feel that the SMX-6s compromise much on protection, so the added convenience is a scale tipper for me.”

As an alternative to Alpinestars, Pat suggests Dainese’s new Nexus 3 In / Out Boots. “Dainese is known for selling track boots that go under the rider’s leathers, a style that Valentino Rossi made popular for years. However, this new boot merges the “in versus out” options from Dainese into one boot, thus allowing customers the option to use them under or over your leathers.” And, like the SMX-6 boots, there are also dedicated women’s sizes.

Off-road and adventure boots

Much like track boots, off-road and ADV boots are made for a relatively specialized portion of the motorcycling audience. Unlike track boots, however, these are often big, heavy, stiff, and require mental adjustment (and sometimes physical adjustment of your controls) to get accustomed to shifting and braking while wearing them.  

It’s no surprise, then, that the customer favorite in this category is the Forma Adventure and Adventure Low Boots, which feature great ADV styling, but without the bulk. As Pat explains, “The Formas are still the fan favorites on the market. They offer solid impact and waterproof protection, they just don’t have an ankle bracing system. So as long as you know what you’re getting, and what you’re not, these are a solid option.” In other words, these boots definitely prioritize comfort and tactile feel over bulky protection and bracing, which makes for an easy transition from a street-style boot. That's why they are so popular, especially with the ADV crowd not looking to take their adventure motorcycle too far from the asphalt.

Dustin offered up the Alpinestars Tech 3 boots as a solid choice that sits between the more ADV functionality of the Forma boots and some of the technicality and bulky protection of a full-on dirt boot. Ewan Johnson, our newest teammate and a “new-to-dirt-boots” rider, chimed in with his support. “These are my first pair of off-road boots and while I have nothing to compare them to, I’ve been a fan of the experience thus far. They fit really nicely and are super comfortable for all-day riding. I did have to move my foot controls around on the bike to be able to use them and they took a bit of getting used to, but the learning curve was relatively approachable.”

Transitioning over to some more technical and protective dirt boot recommendations, we have the Sidi Crossfire 3 boots. Available with two different sole options, there is the SRS with a molded sole or the TA version, which features a replaceable lug sole. Zack owns the former. “I wore these at Get On! ADV Fest 2026 and when I packed them I was worried they were just too stiff and bulky to allow me to enjoy riding all week,” he noted, “but they were terrific. No hot spots, no discomfort, just burly construction and a nice, safe feeling. They are also fairly modular, with many of the parts being replaceable and interchangeable.” Zack did note, however, that he felt like he missed a styling memo because Ari, Pat, and myself all showed up to Get On! this year wearing Alpinestars Tech 7 boots.

Available in a Motocross, Enduro, and waterproof versions, the Tech 7 boots are the favorite pick from this team’s perspective. Personally, I’ve worn many different off-road boots over the years, including the Sidis Zack previously mentioned (they were too narrow for me), and I just always come back to the Alpinestars Tech 7 boots. Why? All three of us agreed that out of all of the boots we tried, the Tech 7s seemed to offer the best balance of support and protection but with tactile feel for the controls as well as all-day walkability. They offer torsional bracing, TPU protection throughout, and a four-buckle design for a snug, secure fit. My only issue is that the Tech 7 Enduro version (grippier sole) doesn't get the same loud colors as the standard model.

Conclusion

As you’ve probably noticed reading this article, there isn’t necessarily a perfect pick from any one category that we all agree on. Rather there are varying flavors of protection and comfort to choose from depending on your preferences, riding style, and budget.

It’s easy to think that the best boots are the ones that give you the most protection. But if those boots completely sacrifice comfort and feel, they can become a painful distraction, making it harder to concentrate or work your controls, neither of which are ideal when riding your motorcycle.

Luckily for all of us, it’s an amazing time to be a rider with countless options to choose from to find our own perfect picks for the different types of riding we enjoy. But we also recognize that all of those choices can be intimidating. To that end, we hope this article serves the reader more as a place to start rather than a definitive list, regardless of where you’re at in your motorcycle journey.

Staff picks: Our favorite motorcycle boots
Street and commuter	Touring	Track and sport	Off-road and adventure
TCX Street 3 Shoes	Alpinestars SMX S boots	Alpinestars Supertech R Vented Boots	Alpinestars Tech 3 boots
Alpinestars Oscar Monty V2 Boots	SIDI Performer Gore-Tex	Dainese Nexus 3 In / Out Boots	Forma Adventure
TCX Hero 2 WP Boots	Alpinestars SMX-6 boots	Alpinestars SMX-6 vented boots	Sidi Crossfire 3 boots
	Alpinestars SMX-6 V3 Stella for women		Alpinestars Tech 7 boots