Hey everybody, I've worn out another pair of non re-sole-able boots.....I'm hoping my last.
I had picked up a pair in germany way back that I had re soled like 2 or 3 times...great boots til my guy said no more, they're done,let em go...
I replaced them with Tourmaster solutions,real comfy all day long, and pretty water proof...though they have worn thru the injection mold tread.I just applied a liberal appication of shoe-goo in the holes to get me thru til I find the next pair.
I went to Bobs the other night and looked at some Sidi's, Rain Sport, re sole-able but only "water resistent"....you and I know that means your getting wet in twenty miles.The only other pair that was re sole-able and that were Gore-tex were also $325 and looked like nazi goose stompers or from barberella or something.
So, give me your thoughts to a good water proof testimonial ,re-sole-able boot...please
While they aren't billed as waterproof, I've not had any water problems with my Combat touring boots from Aerostich. They have, however, had liberal Mexican shoeshines over the years that may have been helping.
If you are looking for a waterproof claim, I'd go with my choice of uniform boots. Danner Ft. Lewis boots are the best. they come in a variety of choices of grams of thinsulate, and steel toed if that's what you like.
After 100k of MC miles, I finally had my Combat Tourers re-soled. At the same time I had a pair of Danner's that were promoted from uniform to "work" boots re-soled. Still love them both.
Incidentally I have never purchased any of these new. Bought them on ebay for well less than the new price. Danners are almost 300 bucks at the uniform shop. It seems lots of people are issued them either in the service or in public safety, and for whatever reason don't like them. My last pair of Danners came from a fire captain in Texas.
I think I had that same pair of Tourmasters. They only lasted me two seasons, but they were insanely comfortable, and completely waterproof (unlike my old Teknic boots, which I've gone back to until I can get something new). I guess it depends on if you want something less long-lasting, but fit the bill, or something you can keep getting re-soled.
Supposedly, the Oxtar Matrix are supposed to be as waterproof as anything out there. I read a review where they set a pair in 6" of water, and the insides never got wet. I've never had a pair, so I can't say anything about them.
I tried to ride with my Carhartt Steel Toes, which seem to repel water very well, but they're too damn heavy.
I in my 3rd season with the CBT Lite. While is is not billed as water proof, I have yet to get wet feet when wearing them. I've been through some fairly long (500 mile plus) rides with them in the rain, snow and sleet. Keep them greased with your favorite stuff and they don't let you feet get wet. I use Danner silicone boot dressing, probably 3 times a year. My feet always seem to sweat very badly in water proof boots, hence my feet end up wet from the inside. Not a problem for me with the CBTs. They are very well made, and once broken in are very comfortable for walking. Highly recommended!!
They're not billed as motorcycle boots but my Red Wing work boots are comfortable and have always kept my feet dry on the bike and hunting... Ok, there was that time when the water was a little deep and went in over the top.
I also have a nice pair of waterproof German touring boots but unfortunately they can not be resoled. I went with the Combat Touring Lites. I wear them every day to work. I have had them four years and resoled once. They kept my feet dry during the ride down to Spartanburg where I had two 4 hour periods of heavy rain and during the all day rain on Day 4 of the IBR. I just lube them up two or three times a year. An added benefit is that they much more ankle support than my German touring boots or my Red Wing hunting boots.
Why would any boot sole be worn out? It's a motorcycle boot, meaning it sits on the pegs/floorboard all the time. Ya, stop and launch, but what's that for wear? Oh ya, those far off bonuses that you have to walk to. My Combat Touring boots are starting to look like they might need new soles in the next 5 to 10 years. But, they have outlasted three different motorcycles, and these are LD motorcycles, so the miles are not skimpy. My guess is I have at least 250k on my boots, and they leaked some during IBR '07. I need to polish them again. It's been 3 or 4 years since the last polish/snowseal application.
I'll chime in with another CBT endorsement. I just got mine this spring after I found holes in the soles my Italian boots. These were the second pair of these I had had. The first pair leaked a little after 70,000 miles or so on the B2B ride. You might remember we had what, 650 miles of thunder storms that night. I sent them back to be repaired by the US importer and they sent me a new pair. I was very pleased with the boots and the service. I might have just gotten another another pair, even if I had to pay for them this time but I was also looking for a boot that would be good for duel sport use. Do I get two pairs of boots? My research brought me to the CBT good for both touring and some off pavement work (Rick ride off pavement??? Since when??) They're a bitch to break in and going down stairs is still a challenge but now I love 'em. Once this summer I went for a quick lunch ride with a neighbor and wore my old Italian boots, I felt like I was ridding in slippers, meaning no protection at all. I've ridden some rainy days and some short stranglers and not had any leakage and I haven't done any sort of waterproofing yet. Next year I'll hit them with some Sno-Seal or something to make sure they stay water proof.
They're not cheap but I justified the cost as they're two boots in one and the money goes to Andy and company.
I went with Red Wings... Coated with "Nor-V-Gen" Leather waterproofing. That stuff is advertised as "Barnyard Acid Proof"... Looks like axle grease, but really, really works, no matter what kind of "sh..t" you get into.
Good boots, and good coating... never leaks, and they are great for walking too. I ride a BMW LT... every time I tip that heavy SOB over, I wind up walking somewhere.... 8-)
Steve(Becoming an expert at tilting an LT upright)Garis...
I have had really good luck with my Red Wings too I hike around campus allot at work there comfortable and you can ride in them without being a pain and having to carry 2 pairs of shoes. I keep them mink oiled up good and my feet rarely get wet unless your in a NM monsoon.
Some years ago an Iron Butt vet (Roy Collins) told me about the "Eliminator" boot made by Rocky.
I think the market for these originally was policemen, mail carriers, and others who had to be outside in cold and wet weather. They look like fairly normal footwear, so you don't make such a "statement" as you would if you wore them to a wedding, except maybe if it was Deb and Critter's wedding, where combat boots would be more appropriate.
These are not a motorcycle boot; they come up above the ankle, but are not as high as, say, the Stich boots. You'll always see a few pairs of these at rallies.
They are sturdy, last a long time, have some insulate for warmth, they breathe pretty well in hot weather cuz of the Gortex, and more than anything, they are bombproof waterproof. After I wore out my first pair after quite a few years, I found another pair online for about $150.
I get mine just a tad big so I can wear some thick wool socks in cold weather. In hot desert weather, you can wear thinner socks and the boots have room to breathe a little.
I wish I was wearing them this morning. I put about 80 miles of urban freeway driving in heavy rain before work. My Gortex hiking boots worked ok, but not perfect. My socks are slightly damp right now; they would have been bone dry if I had been wearing the Rockys.
Rocky Eliminators are good boots, and until I found the Danner Ft. Lewis boots, were my choice of "duty" wear. You have to be careful with the Rockys though. They started making them cheap in China and a bunch came over with soles that crumble and wear out with age. I've lost several good pairs of work boots because the soles just disintegrate. And those weren't resolable. But yes, you could stand in water and not get wet when they were new. And they are very light.
Overall though, the Ft. Lewis boots are far superior in every way to the rockys except price, for duty and dirty work boots.
Combat Tourers still out perform both in both on and off road riding.
Thanks everyone for your input on riding boots, this is the right group of riders to ask what works.
I was up North (Duluth)last weekend and picked up a pair of combat touring light.I've only had em on for maybe 400 miles but am thinking it was the right choice, 'sides, with holloween right around the corner my frankenstien walk will fit right in.....
Thanks Bart for offering to let me try out one of your old pairs.
I have really wide feet (12EEE) and my m/c boot options are limited
I have run the same pair of classic Engineers by West Co Shoe Co for over 16 yrs. and 200K
re-soled 3X
They are finally dead
I was going to retire them, but see that they offer a re-mfr service at 45% off the $445 new price
Expensive?
yes.
Pro-rate it over 16 years and it is peanuts.
Pro-rate it over the 200,000 miles and it is laughable
PLUS I haven't had to think about them (save the re-soling) since the purchase
Finally, these boots are made in the United States by AMERICAN WORKERS for an American-owned company.
Some folks still find value in that.
