Best motorcycle boots in 2025 | Touring, street, sport & adventure

Motorcycle boots are a hugely important purchasing choice – we expect them to keep us safe, but we also often want them to be comfortable all day, to not get too hot in the summer yet also keep us dry, be easy to put on and take off, and be affordable.

Whether you’re looking to spend £60 or £600, this article will help you choose from the best motorcycle boots that we’ve independently tested and reviewed, plus it’ll give you the knowledge to pick the right ones for yourself if you’re considering something we haven’t tested yet…

Why you can trust this buying guide

No manufacturers or distributors ever have any influence on the reviews I write or film, I won’t ever do any paid reviews, and I’ll never agree to affiliate links. All products are tested fairly and equally, and if anything changes over time, I will update the written reviews.

Your purchasing choices should always be your own – Bennetts BikeSocial is just here to help ensure they’re informed choices.

Best touring / all-weather motorcycle boots in 2025

If you’re riding in all weathers or commuting, look for waterproof boots that are comfortable to walk around in (especially if you’re touring) with a reasonable amount of flexibility. Full-height boots will be the most capable of keeping you dry, and check how easy it is to get them on and off. If you’re planning on using one pair of boots throughout the year, find the right balance of warmth for the rides you do as you don’t want to cook your feet in summer to protect them from freezing in winter. If your all-year-round commutes are relatively short, warmth in winter will be less of an issue.

Here are our best touring and commuter motorcycle boots, based on our independent and unbiased reviews. Be sure to check back regularly because we’ll keep this buying guide updated…

• Altberg Roadrunner | Custom fitted and made in the UK, the Altbergs can be considered a long-term investment. You’ll have to wait 8-12 weeks to get them, and while they meet the highest test standards they don’t have the additional armour that some others offer. Fully repairable if they ever need it, our tester was very impressed.
  Altberg Roadrunner review | RRP: £329.99 | Safety level: 2222

• Daytona Roadstar | We reviewed the Daytonas way back in 2018 so they’re nearly six years old now. We haven’t yet reviewed the newer ‘Pro’ version that’s now available, but these boots have lasted very well (as you’d expect) and been utterly comfortable thanks to a range of sizes and widths. Note that our recommendation is currently for the old version until we can report on the new ones, though given Daytona’s usual superb quality we have high hopes.
  Daytona Roadstar review | RRP: £422.99 | Safety rating: 2221

• Richa Apollo | The highest levels of protection in a relatively affordable price, they even have certified impact protection. Waterproofing isn’t certified but these are a great value pair of touring boots.
  Richa Apollo review | RRP: £149.99 | Safety level: 2222

• Alpinestars RT-7 Drystar | The motorcycle riding instructor who tested these boots for us was extremely impressed with how comfortable and durable they are. It’s a shame they haven’t achieved higher protection levels, but they still impress.
  Alpinestars RT-7 Drystar review | RRP: £239.99 | Safety level: 2111

• TCX Airtech 3 GTX | Pricey boots, and they can get a bit chilly deep in the winter, but our tester really rated these for light touring and daily commuting.
  TCX Airtech 3 GTX review | RRP: £249.99| Safety level: 2122

• TCX Clima 2 Surround Gore-Tex | Our reviewer was seriously impressed, rating them as practical for touring and all-year-round use. The clever porting in the soles allows air to move through them and draw heat from the base of your feet. It also gives you a little bit of extra height.
  TCX Clima 2 Surround Gore-Tex review | RRP: £289.99| Safety level: 2121

These are just some of the many all-weather touring and commuter motorcycle boots we’ve tested at BikeSocial. If you’re considering some that aren’t listed here, check out the buying guide information later in this article…

Best street / urban motorcycle boots in 2025

Typically worn with riding jeans, urban or street boots often have a high-top style that still offers protection to the ankle but doesn’t reach up over the shin. They might also be styled like Doc-Martens for instance, and it’s likely you’ll want to spend all day in them, so check carefully that they feel comfortable to walk in.

Watch for protection on the top of the left foot to reduce wear caused by the gear lever, and do think about how easy they are to get on and off.

Many urban / street boots are waterproof, but being lower in height the rain will generally blow up under your trouser leg and still get in the top of them. They’re okay for short showers, but remember that the waterproof membrane might make them a little warmer.

Here are our best street / urban motorcycle boots, based on our independent and unbiased reviews. Be sure to check back regularly because we’ll keep this buying guide updated…

• TCX Street 3 | My benchmark in casual-style but protective boots, the Street 3s have good protection levels and have proven to be extremely comfortable for all day use. They are waterproof, but having worn them through the 2024 August heatwave in France and Spain, that hasn’t made them too hot, though I would like a non-waterproof pair. They’re actually certified for water resistance and absorption and desorption of the lining materials, though of course they’re not going to keep your feet dry like a tall touring boot
  TCX Street 3 review | RRP: £149.99 | Safety level: 1221

• Spada Strider Pro | Granted, they’ve worn out completely now, but these boots have had a very hard life at the hands (feet?) of a riding instructor that used them for a total of twelve months, all day every day on and off the bike. The sole could be tougher, and they’re not totally waterproof but he found them very comfortable and great value.
  Spada Strider Pro review | RRP: £109.99 | Safety level: 1222

• DXR Clayton | They’re not perfect, but our tester was still very impressed with these boots, which reach Level 2 throughout (except height of course), and are certified for ankle impact protection. Outstanding value for money, they’re well worth a look.
  DXR Clayton review | RRP: £79.99 | Safety level: 1222

• TCX Climatrek Surround | Striking a balance somewhere between an urban and touring boot, These are certified for water resistance and absorption and desorption of the lining materials, though of course they’re not going to keep your feet dry like a tall touring boot. Protection levels are very good (though we’d like to see the IPA marking on there), and the ported sole that draws warm air from the base of your foot also gives you a useful bit of extra height – something I really appreciated on my S1000XR.
  TCX Climatrek Surround review | RRP: £199.99 | Safety level: 1222

• Alpinestars J6 | Worn every day whether riding or not, these boots proved to be extremely comfortable both on and off the bike. The colour on review got a bit tatty-looking over time, but that didn’t stop them being first choice.
  Alpinestars J6 review | RRP 184.99 | Safety level: 1212

• Stylmartin Shadow sneakers | These boots were tested by a riding instructor who loved that they didn’t attempt any promises of waterproofing, which meant they were great in the summer. The wind goes straight through though, so early Spring and late Autumn’s probably out. Comfortable and hard-wearing, the only grumble our tester had was that the ankle protection wasn’t ideally placed for him.
  Stylmartin Shadow sneakers review | RRP £130 | Safety Level: 1221

• TCX X-Blend | Six years old and still going strong, these have been superseded by the X-Blend 2s, which we haven’t reviewed yet. If they’re as good as the originals though, they’ll be extremely versatile, hard wearing and comfortable. The ones we have are so old that they don’t have a marking for height, but they would appear to be a 2 as they’re taller than typical ankle boots.
  TCX X-Blend review | £164.99 | Safety Level:  ?222

These are just some of the many street and urban motorcycle boots we’ve tested at BikeSocial. If you’re considering some that aren’t listed here, check out the buying guide information later in this article…

Best sport / track / race motorcycle boots in 2025

Think carefully before buying sport or track-style motorcycle boots. If you’re racing of course they’re the best bet, and on the road they can have real value as a good pair can offer excellent support and bracing around the ankle for more protection. But sport boots tend to have thin soles for better feel of the pegs through them, which can make them quite uncomfortable to spend the day in.

Race boots often don’t have a waterproof membrane – which is great in summer – and they’re usually worn with leathers so check how they work with your kit; most people wear the boots over their leathers.

Hopefully most race boots don’t squeak anymore, but if they do, try a little silicone oil on the part that’s making the noise.

Here are our best sport / track / race motorcycle boots, based on our independent and unbiased reviews. Be sure to check back regularly because we’ll keep this buying guide updated…

• Sidi Rex |Offering excellent support and protection with a great fastening system and no squeaking, these are some of the flagship Sidi boots. They’re a proper sportsbike design though, giving excellent feel that also means they can be less comfortable to spend the day in.
  Sidi Rex review | RRP: £414.99 | Safety level: 2222

• TCX RT-Race | These boots have gone up in price a lot since we reviewed them back in 2019, but they still offer good support and protection. They also certified as slip-resistant on soapy tiles!
  TCX RT-Race review | RRP: £319 | Safety level: 2222

These are just some of the many motorcycle boots we’ve tested at BikeSocial, and we’ll cover more sportsbike boots in the coming months. If you’re considering some that aren’t listed here, check out the buying guide information later in this article…

Best adventure motorcycle boots in 2025

Adventure motorcycle boots sit somewhere between the tall, very stiff motocross boots and the more typical touring boots. They generally reach higher up the leg than touring boots, and while usually giving more support to help avoid ankle injuries, they’re more easy to walk in that MX boots. They’ll almost always be waterproof for those river crossings, and usually have similar fastening clips to motocross boots.

They’re usually worn under your riding trousers, so make sure they fit.

Here are our best adventure motorcycle boots, based on our independent and unbiased reviews. Be sure to check back regularly because we’ll keep this buying guide updated…

• TCX Drifter | My Drifters are now seven years old, but they’re still another boots benchmark from TCX. Offering a good balance of support and comfort, they’re also certified for water resistance and absorption and desorption of the lining materials, as well as slip resistance on tiles and steel. The photo’s in the review below are actually of my boots, as I had a pair on review at the same time as Simon. The TCX Drifters also achieved recommendations from ABR and RiDE magazines.
  TCX Drifter review | RRP: £329.99 | Safety level: 2222

• Sidi Adventure 2 | Our tester described them as comfortable, grippy with lots of protection and great waterproofing (they’re certified as waterproof too). While not cheap, he had no problem recommending them to riders who like to venture onto the loose stuff every now and again. Sportsbikeshop’s great video review suggests that buyers often tend to go up a size.
  Sidi Adventure 2 review | RRP: £349.99 | Safety level: 2222

• Duchinni Quest | Despite minor flaws, our tester really liked the Duchinnis, finding them comfortable in the cold and warm, as well as great on and off the bike. Good support from the distributor Fowlers got these good-value protective adventure boots a worthy recommendation.
  Duchinni Quest review | RRP: £160 | Safety Level: 2222

• TCX Infinity 3 | A more modern style of adventure boot, our tester loved the adjustment system, breathability and the certified waterproofing, saying they’re the best full-length boots he’s ever used.
  TCX Infinity 3 review | RRP: £329 | Safety level: 2222

These are just some of the many adventure motorcycle boots we’ve tested at BikeSocial. If you’re considering some that aren’t listed here, check out the buying guide information later in this article…

How to find the safest motorcycle boots

All motorcycle boots sold in the UK and EU have to be tested and certified to EN 13634:2017, which is what sets them apart from ‘normal’ boots and trainers. Look for the pictogram on the label above, under which you’ll find four Level numbers, which will be either ‘1’ or ‘2’.

The label will show whether the boots met the minimum requirements of Level 1 or exceeded them by enough to reach the higher and safer Level 2 through testing carried out by an independent notified body.

• The first number represents the boot’s height, so 1 is an ankle-height boot, 2 is a taller one

• The second number related to the impact abrasion resistance of the boots

• The third number shows the impact cut resistance

• The fourth number is the boot’s transverse rigidity, which is its resistance to crushing if it’s trapped under the bike in a crash

A boot with ‘1222’ on the label is an ankle-height boot (maybe a street or urban style) that has met or exceeded the higher levels of protection. If it’s 2222 it’s a taller boot that meets or exceeds those same higher levels. You can quickly find many of the most protective motorcycle boots by looking for the Bennetts High Performance Gold Award.

You might find letters on the label too, which are acronyms showing that optional tests have also been passed:

• IPA: Impact protection at the ankles

• IPS: Impact protection at the shins

• WR: Tested for water resistance

• FO: Resistance to degradation of the sole through contact with fuel

• SRA: Slip resistance tested on ceramic tile wetted with dilute soap solution

• SRB: Slip resistance tested on smooth steel with glycerol

• SRC: Slip resistance tested on both of the above

• WAD: Water absorption and desorption of the lining materials

• B: Water vapour permeability of the uppers

You can find out what the CE safety labels mean in all motorcycle riding kit in our guide here.

These urban-style TCX Street 3s are an ankle-height boot that achieved the higher Level 2 for impact abrasion and impact cut resistance, along with the minimum requirements of Level 1 for transverse rigidity.

These touring boots cover the shins and achieved Level 1 in impact abrasion testing, Level 2 in impact cut resistance and Level 2 in transverse rigidity.

Do you really need waterproof boots?

Many motorcycle boots have a waterproof membrane fitted, but if they’re a low boot the rain could get in the top. Membranes can make the boot warmer in hot weather so I’d question the value of a waterproof membrane in this style, though I wore a pair of waterproof TCX Street 3s through France and Spain in the August 2024 heatwave without any problems. It could be argued that the membrane keeps them a little warmer in the average weather we have in the UK.

Race or track boots will rarely be waterproof and might have vents built in, but consider where you’ll be riding and in what conditions. If you’re a fair-weather only rider then a waterproof membrane will be of little value unless you get caught out, though as they tend to be fitted to the majority of bike boots you’ll probably get one anyway.

On some boots, the waterproof membrane doesn’t go all the way to the top – how much this matters will depend on the waterproofing of the trousers that are over the top of them, but it’s worth knowing.

If you ride in the rain a lot, look for the letters ‘WR’ on the label, which shows they’ve been tested and certified as water resistant, rather than just being claimed to keep you dry. And of course, check our independent, unbiased and honest reviews of all motorcycle kit.

Best material for motorcycle boots

While there are still many boots with a leather upper, man-made materials like ‘microfibre’ and ‘Lorica’ (a term rarely used now) might be found. Basically, they’re synthetic leather, which can provide good wear and water resistance, but can sometimes scuff up and lose its smooth outer sheen. Leather of course wears too, but it often becomes more of an appealing patina, which can also be treated with various products.

Don’t be put off synthetic bike boots, and some specifically use more ‘technical’ materials to achieve their desired features. What matters most is how comfortable they are (which you can feel for yourself) and how protective they are (which you can check on the label). All will have had to have met the minimum requirements to be legally sold – so don’t buy from Amazon, eBay, AliExpress, Facebook, Temu etc (unless it’s a well-known UK seller with a bricks-and-mortar store) – meaning they’re safer to wear than trainers or other non-biking boots.

How to clean & care for motorcycle boots

Besides helping them look good, it’s really important to keep your boots clean as dirt finds its way into the fibres and pores of any material then causes abrasion over time. If the boots are waterproof, that dirt can limit their performance and they need to be re-proofed after cleaning too. I spoke to motorcycle kit repair specialist Al Lui of Lincs Repair to find out why and how to do it…

“Keeping your feet dry isn’t just a matter of encasing them in a plastic bag. Water wouldn’t get in, but your sweat also wouldn’t get out, so you’ll end up with damp feet anyway.

“Bike kit has to be breathable, which means rain drops need to be kept at bay while warm vapour from your skin can get out.

“Modern waterproof membranes can do this well as long the path out isn’t blocked – if your boots are dirty they can’t breathe. And it doesn’t have to be as obvious as being caked with a thick coating of mud: road grime builds up over time and blocks the pores and fibres of leather and fabrics.

“The outer material also needs to resist getting soaked in water (or ‘wetting-out’) as that means it’s not just heavier, but it’s reducing breathability too by up to 70%, blocking the water vapour’s path out. A wet outer material will wick away the heat from your body through evaporation as well, rather like a fridge.

“For this reason, any gear with a breathable waterproof membrane – whether it’s jackets, gloves, trousers or boots – will have some kind of Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating that prevents the absorption of water into the material. Put simply a material is water-repellent when water beads up on its surface.

“Water repellents (sometimes caller water proofers) will typically be water-, oil- or wax-based, but for breathable items it’s important that these treatments don’t completely cover and seal the outer surface, or soak through the fibres and completely saturate them to fill in between the weave. DWRs should coat the individual fibres to stop them becoming saturated.

“Some oils can saturate the fibres and also clog between them, thereby creating a barrier. The same goes for some surface treatments, which basically apply an impenetrable barrier that stops everything both ways. Bad news for breathability.

“Some walking gear relies just on a DWR, but when riding a motorcycle the droplets of water can be forced between the weave of the fabric by the wind; this is where the backup membrane comes in and stops it reaching your skin.

“It doesn’t matter how good the membrane is, keeping any kit clean is vital, as is maintaining the outer’s water repellency.”

Which products you use to care for your motorcycle boots will depend on what they’re made from. Al uses Nikwax, but does recommend that you check what the boot manufacturer recommends.

Don’t just use random products, or ‘hacks’ people have claimed to have found on social media as some could be damaging to the membrane underneath. Some solvent-based proofers, for instance, aren’t designed to work with membranes and could be a real problem.

“If you’re riding in monsoons all the time, you might be thinking about a dense proofer like like Duck Wax or Dubbin,” says Al, “but this will clog the fibres and impact breathability. I wouldn’t use this on an expensive, quality piece of kit.”

ALWAYS check what your boots’ manufacturer recommends for cleaning and re-proofing as nubuck leather requires different treatment to a more traditional finish.

Clean them: Clean your boots by first removing dust and dirt with plain water and a cloth or shoe brush. DO NOT use a pressure-washer as that can make leather brittle, damage stitching and harm the membrane. A damp cloth should be all that’s needed to clean your boots.

Salt from your sweat can also cause problems, so remove the innersoles and give the insides a clean with a warm, damp cloth.

If you need to get oily dirt off or other stubborn grime then you might need to use a specialist product like Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel.

Let your boots dry naturally out of sunlight and away from direct heat (if they’re soaked after some really bad conditions then pack them with newspaper).

Reproof waterproof boots: Different materials will require different products – Nikwax offers its Fabric and Leather Proof or Nubuck & Suede Proof, which are applied after cleaning while the leather’s still wet. Daytona recommends its Aqua Stop reproofer.

Condition leather: To keep the leather supple, Daytona’s Special Leather Cleaner is designed for leather boots with a waterproof membrane as it doesn’t leave an oily residue (if they’re waterproof boots and you used Aqua Stop, make sure that’s dried first). This just needs a thin coating that can be polished off with a soft cloth after drying. Alternatively, NikWax Conditioner for Leather can be applied to wet leather after cleaning, instead of the Fabric and Leather proof.

If you’d like to chat about this article or anything else biking related, join us and thousands of other riders at the Bennetts BikeSocial Facebook page or at bikeclub.bennetts.co.uk.