Check Out Some Of Our Favorite Casual Motorcycle Shoe Options!

That’s right today we are taking a look at a few different motorcycle riding shoes, but the key here is that they need to fall into the casual shoe category, meaning that they will provide you with motorcycle riding safety, while still looking normal or like regular shoes or boots off of the bike.

Every boot or shoe in this line up will offer you protection while riding but as you can see, to the naked and untrained eye, they all look like normal, casual shoes or boots, this is perfect if you are riding to work, or out to eat or some other destination where you dont want it obvious that you are wearing motorcycle shoes. 

Now you may ask yourself, do I really need motorcycle shoes? And the answer, without question, is yes. A few common misconceptions are, one, ill be fine in regular shoes,no you wont, a regular shoe is barely better than being in a pair of flip flops or being barefoot, I mean that, a regular shoe can disintegrate very quickly leaving your skin to fend for itself, also regular shoes are not crush proof so if your bike was to fall on your foot, there is a high chance it could crush your foot. Number two, I can just wear a steel toe boot. No, please, please dont do that. We hear this all the time, its fine my work boots are steel toe, ill wear them and be safe. The truth is, work and regular boots may be tough, but they are still not engineered to be crush proof like mentioned before, they dont have ankle, heel, toe protection that is rated for motorcycle use and above all else they are steel toe. This might sound like a good thing, but it is not, in the event of a motorcycle accident, a steel toe boot can and in many cases will sever your toes from your foot, ouch, I want no part of that. So why risk it, why not protect yourself and your feet while riding.

Well, because riding shoes make me look like a power ranger off the bike and because they are expensive. Ok first off all, who doesnt want to look like a power ranger, they are cool, but all jokes aside i get it, if you pull up to work or some other destination wearing full on racing motorcycle boots it is uncomfortable and it does look odd, that is why there are full lines of motorcycle boots and shoes that dont look like motorcycle shoes at all, like the ones that we are showing you today, and as for cost, two things to note, one, many motorcycle shoes are not much more expensive than a good quality pair of regular shoes or boots and two, be sure to check out motorcycleear dot com as we specialize in close outs and can often times get you in to a pair of motorcycle riding shoes or boots for a great deal. Ok lets dive in to the boots and shoes we have here. 

Let's start with the boots, here we have the Alpinestars Oscar Monty V2. Overall a very classic looking leather boot, especially in this brown color, its a really nice brown, almost leans towards a mix of orange as well, keep in mind this is the only color option, and these boots come in US sizing, coming in sizes 6 to 14. 

Overall construction is 1.4 to 1.6 mm thick bovine leather, with protection in the ankles provided by dual density cups with protection on booth sides, additionally the heel counter and toe box are reinforced.

Additional features include the hidden external zipper on the side to make getting in and out of the boots easier while still maintaining the classic 60s look. And the compound in the sole has been specially reworked to ensure optimal grip. Another cool feature is this hidden compartment here behind this elasticated panel on the tongue, this helps you tuck in and keep track of your laces.

Overall a very classic looking leather boot. One that would look great on a cruiser, cafe racer or vintage bike.

Let's move on to another brown leather boot, the Stylmartin Ace. Like the Alpinestars Oscar Monty before it, super classic, clean and simple look with the benefits of added protection. The ACE boots come in European sizes, ranging from 39 to 47.

Overall construction is natural full grain leather with a calfskin leather liner. The sole is rubber and is oil proof, anti-static and anti slip. There is an included gear shifter protector that is removable, and you get protection with PU internal protectors on both sides of the ankle. And to make things easier and to ensure a proper fit, there are both laces and a zipper. The zipper also has this hook and loop closure. The zipper makes it easy to set the laces and then forget them as you can just unzip to get in and out going forward. 

Lets keep moving, next up are the TCX Blend 2 GTX boots, the GTX standing for Goretex, this means that yes they are waterproof, but not only that, that they use what we consider as one of the best in the business, goretex, its important to not only be waterproof but also to be breathable and again goretex is one of the best at doing both. 

Overall construction is full grain leather with a vintage effect pull up finish. You will notice the closure is laces only, no zipper option here, Ankle protection is included on the sides here in these cups, there is some reflection here which is nice, and you do get reinforcement in the toe, heel and here where the shifter would come in contact with the boot. Pull tab on the back to make getting the boots on easier, ortholite comfort foam liners for comfort and lastly a groundtrax sole that is meant to provide excellent grip and wear resistance. 

And our final boot for today before we jump over to the shoe styles is going to be the Klim Blak Jak. Two color options on this one, there is a tanner brown and a gunmetal black. Sizes range from us size 7 to size 14.

Overall construction is a perforated leather, this helps with breathability, included is 3mm XRD impact protection foam in both the tongue and ankle pads, as well as both a reinforced toe and heel for additional protection. The Blak Jak leather boots also have an easy entry loop, closure is laces based, and there is a breathable, moisture wicking and antimicrobial liner. Also a thing to note is that most boots like to keep things symmetrical so for example they even put a shift pad on the non shifter foot, but in this case, Klim chose to go the asymmetrical route and only has the shifter pad where you will actually use it. Really a nice looking boot much like the others we have shown you so far. 

Now all the boots we covered i think look and function great but I do understand that sometimes even a classic looking boot isnt the solution so lets take a look at some shoe options.

Kicking things off for the shoes we have the Forma Milano Flow. A super casual and relaxed looking shoe, keep in mind this shoe comes in a Flow version or a hot weather version as well as a Dry version or a waterproof version. Sizing for both ranges from European size 39 to size 47.

Overall construction here is going to be textile, meaning that you get a classic high top sneaker look and feel, but you also get protection like a TPU internal ankle protector, soft polymer internal padding with memory foam, reinforcement in both the heel and toe, a gear shift pad in this case on both shoes for symmetry, a dual flex shank with an anti-shock mid sole, basically means the sole wont crush if your foot was stuck under something.

Additional features include an anti-bacterial footbed, an air mesh internal lining, pull tabs, as well as a shoe lace based closure. Overall a very comfortable shoe that looks 100% casual off the bike. Also a cool touch is the used looking soles with different marks that make the shoes look like they have already earned their stripes right out of the box. 

Next up we have a couple of shoes from Sidi, first we have the nucleus, keep in mind this is the regular version we also offer a GTX or goretex version if you need them to be waterproof. To me these shoes are just cool, a very cool look and some great color options as well with a black/white, ivy/black and lemon/black available. The Nucleus comes in European sizes ranging from 40 to 50, with 50 being a pretty rare size for European boots and shoes, so a great option for those with larger feet.

Overall construction is a ripstop material on the upper section, a eva plus vibram rubber sole, as well as a mesh liner. Included protection comes from D3o in the ankles, heel and toe reinforcements, as well as a TPU stabilizer on the heel, reflective inserts on the heel and in the laces, a fortex technology shank, again a system that is in place to keep the shoe from crushing, and lastly with the gear shift protector. The closure is laces based with a very unique asymmetrical design, while providing a webbing to be able to keep the laces nicely tucked and away from getting snagged on levers. And last but not least they do include pull tabs that make it easer to put the shoes on. A great looking shoe in my opinion. 

Another option from Sidi is going to be the ARX Air, the air being the breathable or warm weather version, keep in mind there is a waterproof version as well if you need it. The ARX is offered in two colors, black white and castain/bronze, basically a tan variant and comes in sizes ranging from European size 40 to 50, again a great option for those with bigger feet.

Overall construction is going to be a combination of canvas and ripstop, with a vibram rubber sole, a mesh liner for additional comfort, and a rear pull tab for easier entry. Protection comes from the Fortex technology in the sole that keeps the shoe from crushing, reinforcements in both the heel and toe, d30 in the ankle area, as well as reflective inserts in the heels and laces. Like the nucleus, the ARX also feature the clever setup where you can tuck your laces to avoid them getting caught on for example the shifter and speaking of the shifter, there is shifter protection on both shoes for symmetry. To me a really great looking and casual shoe that I think would look good on many different types of bikes. 

Last but not least, let's jump into an option from Dianese, with their Metractive Air shoes. As was the case with the previous few shoes, these two have an air version as well as a waterproof version if you were to need one. The Metractive Air comes in two colors, black and white and charcoal gray, black and dark gray, comes in European sizes from 39 to 47.

To me a really cool looking shoe, one that reminds me of a higher end basketball shoe. Overall construction is a textile construction with synthetic suede inserts and a mesh liner. The main closure is laces, and like the Sidis before it, the Metractive shoes also have a place to tuck your laces.  

Some of the notable features are the included boot strap, groundtrax rubber outsoles that are designed for superior walking comfort, ortholite footbed that offers high levels of both cushioning as well as breathability, and a pu gear shifter guard. Overall protection comes from reinforcements in the heel and ankle, including rigid inserts and soft D-Foam.

Check out our video on casual riding shoes, and as always if you need help, hit us up via phone, chat or email as we would love to help get you in the right gear!