Motorcycle Boots Review
This review is not about a particular brand or model of boots,
instead it will show you the benefits of finding a good pair of boots and about waterproofing.
The review below was written in 2010.
All Hein Gericke stores in the UK were closed down or sold to their competitors in 2012 and 2013.
The Hein Gericke brand (a German company) was purchased by a Chinese company in late 2013 or early 2014.
The Bullson Cycko III boots
are at the budget end of motorcycle boots £99.99.
And are available at Hein Gericke Stores.
They use the Sheltex liner to make them
waterproof, breathable and windproof.
They are a quality, high performance
and practical boot for all year round use.
The height of the boot is ideal,
allowing you to put motorcycle trousers inside them
(pushing them up so their weight
is not on your knees when you walk).
Shorter boots also do not offer
as much protection in an accident or from the weather.
Changing gear and using the rear brake is very good on these boots.
They have been designed to do it, unlike my last pair of budget motorcycle boots
(from a well-known big motorcycle company).
They are even better than high quality walking shoes (which offer very little protection in an accident).
The design appears to centre on how they rock on the foot rest
and how they are angled to go around the gear lever and on to the brake.
They are designed right and shows how bad
some other budget motorcycle boots are,
which must be based on non-motorcycling boots.
Changing gear is so much easier and better;
I thought I had a new better gearbox and more powerful rear brake!
It uses latex foam for protection in an accident,
it's so good I did not even realise it's in the boot,
it does not get in the way like some other types of armour.
The boots are comfortable to walk in for well over 1 mile with ease
(including on very hot days in a city centre or inside a shopping centre).
I even managed a mountain walk of nearly 2 miles easily.
Some parts were so steep; sheep had been replaced with mountain goats.
One section was very steep downhill with a large slab of rock,
I was easily able to stop on the rock, the boots grip is massive,
far better than any shoe I have used in the past,
and the rest of the boot supported my foot and ankle brilliantly.
This grip should be of use on the bike to stop it falling over on slippery roads (it has an oil and petrol resistant rubber sole).
Despite my excessive walking and only using very cheap sports socks,
I did not get any sore sports or blisters on my feet or legs.
I also had no problem where the short socks end and the boot touches my skin.
There was also no problem with breathability or heat build-up (despite it being a warm day).
I would say the breathability and heat build-up are similar to a mid-range black pair of shoes.
So they have well and truly passed the walking tests.
The boots offer a lot of protection from the weather.
In the cold the Sheltex liner stops the cold wind getting to your feet very well yet is breathable enough on the hottest days.
The Sheltex also gives you a waterproof barrier from the rain.
On a 65 mile ride at -1c to -3c, headwind, no sun with only a single pair of thick thermal socks on,
my toes were in between cool and warm when I removed the boots.
I have also used the boots in a torrential downpour at 60mph for 30mins against a strong headwind.
The rain was so heavy the road had totally flooded (standing water on entire road surface).
I even hit a very large puddle that resulted in what felt like a wave of water running over the top of the boots at 60mph.
The boots did not let in any water and did not soak up much water (so dried very quickly).
Every time I have tried a non GORE-TEX waterproof / breathable / windproof material like Sheltex on in the shop,
I have been dissatisfied with its breathability.
As a result I would not buy it,
I would ether buy GORE-TEX or a product without any waterproof / breathable / windproof material.
But the Sheltex breathability is good enough in a boot,
but would insist on GORE-TEX for gloves / coat and trousers (despite the cost).
I have spent far too many years and many miles
being boiled alive on hot humid summer days / in shops to go back to non GORE-TEX.
For GORE-TEX clothes I also recommend,
please see GORE-TEX Coat Review GORE-TEX Trousers
Review GORE-TEX X-Trafit gloves Review
These boots are so good, I can highly recommend them,
as a result I use them as my main and only pair of boots all year round.
Of course there are better boots for much more money.
But at this price range, I can highly recommend it.
The Hein Gericke Custom II boot was my first choice,
but it has no waterproof liner and could be cold in winter, so I have only tried it on in the shop.
The Hein Gericke Tivano GORE-TEX boots are really nice,
but cost far more, but if you have the money, they are worth a look; again I only got to try them on in the shop.
There are other GORE-TEX boots to look at, but make sure they are designed for winter use if you plan to ride a bike then.
When you have the right motorcycle clothes you could easily find you are motorcycling far more and in colder weather
(when most people hibernate).
Don't forget when you buy any new motorcycle boots;
your gear change lever may need to be adjusted (higher or lower) compared to your old boots.
So if you find changing gear even slightly more difficult, it's often a sign of the lever is too high or low, not the boots that are
bad.
Adjusting the lever is very easy, undo a nut, take off lever and put it back on pointing slightly more up or down.
Update
After riding in medium to heavy rain for 35 miles non-stop in head wind, the boots let in an uncomfortable amount of water.
The water was then trapped in due to the waterproof liner and so took many days to dry out,
unlike a non waterproof lined leather boot.
This problem also happens to loads of other brands and types of breathable waterproof liners in boot form
(boots are very hard to waterproof).
It's down to the amount of time and distance travelled before they fail to stop the constant pressure of the water trying to get in.
I managed to slow down the amount of water and increase the time it takes to get in,
by using a breathable waterproofing wax on the outside.
After doing a lot of research, trying to make a boot waterproof but yet breathable is almost impossible over long distances,
very few have managed it and even then, a slight defect in the stitching or wear and tear results in water getting in.
The only solution I have found effective, is to use waterproof, non breathable material over the front of the boot.
I found that to be 100% waterproof, even on long trips over 60 miles in heavy rain with head wind.
But of course a material like that has many disadvantages, but on long trips (over 25 miles) in the rain, they are essential.
Your may also like to read my Waterproof Windproof Breathable Liners section in my Clothing page.