Whether you are a beginner or an advanced dirt bike rider, boots are an essential piece of gear. It’s often tough to choose between the many choices out there, but there are some criteria that will help you choose the best dirt bike boots for you.
The 8 best dirt bike boots are:
- Thor Blitz D MX C
- Alpinestars Motocross Tech 7
- Sidi Crossfire SRS 2
- Thor Blitz LS
- Fly Racing Maverik MX
- Gaerne SG-10
- Fox Comp
- Gaerne GX-1 MX
Aside from the size and durability, there are many other factors you should consider when buying boots for dirt bike riding. Below, we’ll take a look at these factors, and then discuss each of the boots in our list above in more detail.
Table of Contents
What To Look For In Dirt Bike Boots
Comfort Factor
When choosing the right pair of dirt bike boots, there are several key factors to consider. One of these is comfort. As with any piece of gear, you’re going to wear it while riding at high speed and possibly over some very rough terrain. So, you want to make sure you pick a pair of boots that won’t become uncomfortable while riding.
Ideally, try your boots on before you buy them. While you can’t tell what they’ll be like when you’re riding without actually going for a ride, you can learn a lot by how they feel to walk in, and the kind of flexibility they offer. You need this flexibility to press the brake and gear shifter, so this is a key thing to look for in dirt bike boots.
Protection
The upper portion of your dirt bike boot should be made of leather, and there should be a metal heat shield on the inside of the boots to protect your legs from the heat of your engine. The ankle portion of the boot should be very rigid, as the more rigid it is the harder it is to flex, and therefore the lower your risk of rolling your ankle.
Safety First
The aspect of safety is another one to consider when choosing dirt bike boots. Most top-end options are made from high-quality, high-strength plastics that are up to the challenges that dirt biking has to throw at them. These high-strength components are usually shin plates and guard plates for the toes.
Alloy Quick Release
You also want a pair of dirt bike boots with a reliable quick release system. A strong, aluminium buckle that you can undo even after the muddiest of rides is ideal, but some boots come with plastic buckles instead. Many dirt bike boots also feature a memory adjustment feature that allows you to set it and forget it, so you don’t need to constantly adjust your buckle’s tightness.
There are various other factors you might want to consider when choosing the right dirt bike for you, namely the price. But as with any kind of dirt biking gear, it’s always best to go for the absolute highest quality that you can afford. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at the top 8 boots for dirt biking below.
The 8 Best Dirt Bike Boots
1. Thor Blitz D MX C
One of the main reasons most riders choose Blitz dirt bike boots is that they offer the best quality-price ratio, in terms of the materials used and the features offered. These boots feature a large heat shield inside which will protect you in case you lean on the exhaust.
On the front side of the boots there is a shin plate and inside there is an elasticated gaiter with a mesh lining in it. The Blitz boots are quite lightweight, weighing only 690 grams and they come in various regular shoe sizes.
Still, keep in mind that, just like most motocross boots, these are not waterproof. There is also a metal plate which offers more protection and adds to the aesthetic of the boots. The Blitz D MX C boots have a high-quality design and are very durable.
Another huge advantage of the Blitz boots is that their soles are unidirectional. This means that it will grip backwards while you walk and slide forwards when you put your foot down while riding. The boots are also rubberized and have a nice grip for pinching the sides of the bike.
PROS:
- Sturdy and long-lasting
- Quite lightweight
- Very affordable
CONS:
- Not waterproof
2. Alpinestars Motocross Tech 7
The moving segments on the Alpinestars Motocross Tech 7s are a bit better than the ones on the Blitz. They feature circular spinners with 4 buckles mounted on them. These buckles are made out of aluminum, are fully replaceable, and free up a little bit of movement. That makes these Alpinestars boots quite comfortable.
Aside from that, you can also see a hinge on the ankle area, allowing you to move your feet fairly easily. Still, it gets stifferwhen you start bending in towards the limit. The tongue can slide inside the upper part, not allowing you to make movements that could damage your ankles.
The whole boot is surrounded by strong, hard plastic. This gives you 100% of coverage, while most boots in this class offer only about 70%. Unfortunately, these boots are on the heavy side, weighing slightly less than 2 kilograms. These boots also have a fully independent shin plate, helping with the comfort factor.
What makes the Alpinestars Tech 7s so special are the really wide calves, offering lots of room for those with bigger legs. It could be a problem for people that don’t have big calves as they may not be able to fully tighten the boot around the leg. Inside, there is a panel in the foot peg area, and it is also replaceable.
PROS:
- Quite comfortable
- Ideal for people with big calves
- Offer great protection
CONS:
- Quite heavy
3. Sidi Crossfire SRS 2
What most people like about the Crossfire 2 boots is that they are fully customizable. Almost all the parts, including the ankle armor, calf armor, straps, hinge system, and the inner plate are replaceable.
Even the soles are replaceable, allowing you to remove it, and put Supermoto soles in there instead if you wish. This allows you to give your boots a completely different purpose, adding to their versatility. In terms of their fit, the Sidi Crossfire SRS 2s fit just like a normal shoe.
The Crossfire SRS 2 is the most adjustable model on this list. You can set it up to have the narrowest or the widest calf. Aside from a good-looking design, these boots make shifting quite easy due to the flexibility at the toe area.
These boots are quite sturdy and long-lasting. However, keep in mind that they are a bit more expensive than some of the other boots in this class. A small downside is that they are sometimes quite difficult to put on. But, once you do that, you feel well-protected and comfortable.
PROS:
- Great design
- Very sturdy
- Fully adjustable
CONS:
- A bit expensive
- Difficult to put on
4. Thor Blitz LS
When it comes to design, these boots are quite different to the others on this list. They are a lot shorter (8 inches) but still offer the advantages of a regular motocross boot. Due to the simple, short design, the Thor Blitz LS can be used for other purposes and not just dirt biking.
The Thor Blitz LS boots are like the younger brother of the CE Blitz. They have the same type of shifter panels, same buckles, and accents. What’s more, they even feature the same mesh liner. If you are looking for short dirt bike boots, these are a great choice. Regardless of the short design, these boots provide great protection and are pretty lightweight.
PROS:
- Quite lightweight
- Very durable
CONS:
- A little pricey
5. Fly Racing Maverik MX
These boots offer lots of great features and still come at a very affordable price. In terms of protection, the Maverik MX does a great job, featuring hard plastic that is very durable. Plus, you get great frontal protection from the molded shin plate.
There is also a leather heat guard on the inside of the boot. There are also various flex zones throughout these boots. There is one in the Achilles area as well as on the top of the foot. It might take you some time to break them in as they are stiff right out of the box, but this flexibility offers a lot of comfort in the long run.
The sole of the Fly Racing Maverik MX is contoured. This means that, when you are using pegs, you can take a more aggressive riding position. In terms of interior design, these boots are excellent. There is a lot of padding in the area of the ankle, giving you superior comfort and support.
There is also a gel-like material located by the heat shield which makes using these boots even more pleasant and comfortable. These boots are an ideal choice if you need something affordable, safe and comfortable. However, they are a little on the heavy side.
PROS:
- Excellent protection
- Comfortable
CONS:
- A little heavy
6. Gaerne SG 10
The Gaerne SG-10s are some of the most comfortable dirt bike boots in this class. These boots feature memory foam around the ankles, providing maximum comfort. They are quite similar to Gaerne SG-12s, but a lot cheaper. The construction of the SG-10s is pretty durable and long-lasting.
They have a lot of TPU in their construction and the base is made of microfiber plastic. Plus, they feature extra panels on the foot located on your brake and shifter side. In terms of protection, the SG-10 does a great job as they are fully covered by hard plastic.
A small disadvantage of these boots, when compared to the Gaerne SG-12s, is that they don’t feature a shin plate that is adjustable. Therefore, if your calves are big and you need wider boots, we recommend you go for the Gaerne SG-12s.
A big advantage of these boots is that your ankle won’t float in them. It stays secured and locked in place all the time, ideal for the safety aspect. Plus, there are also stretch panels behind the ankle, providing great flexibility and comfort. They also offer very good grip as well as a huge rubber guard, making for a good heat shield.
On the bottom of the boots, there is a dual-compound rubber sole, which is pretty sturdy and fully replaceable. There is also a gaiter placed on top that keeps debris and water out. Although you don’t get the glide plate system with the SG-10, you have a dual-pivoting design, which still offers good comfort and functionality.
PROS:
- Affordable
- Provide plenty of grip
- Feature a dual-pivoting design
CONS:
- Don’t have an adjustable shin plate
- Don’t feature a glide plate system
7. Fox Comp
With the Fox Comp boots you get a nice combination of flexibility and comfort. You also get impact protection as well as abrasion resistance. The construction of the Fox Comps is synthetic leather with TPU and TPR throughout, offering decent comfort and protection for your feet.
The sole of the Fox Comp boots is not very aggressive. Still, it provides you with excellent crush and impact protection as well as a very good grip. There are more additional closures at the top and a single buckle closure towards the bottom.
A very big plus of these boots is that there are 3 points of adjustability. These allow you to get a lot of flexibility. There is also a lot of 3D mesh throughout the whole boot, which aids in comfort and in keeping your feet cool. All in all, this boot offers great movement, comfort, and flexibility.
PROS:
- Abrasion-resistant
- Offer great grip
- Quite flexible
CONS:
- Quite heavy
8. Gaerne GX-1 MX
The Gaerne GX-1 boots are available in two different colors – black and white. The construction of these boots is pretty simple. They’re not that different from any other dirt bike boot with 4 buckles. The buckles on these boots are also quite simple, durable and long-lasting.
These buckles work really well even when they are dirty. They are also cheap to replace and simple to adjust. Aside from the large plastic shin plate, there is plastic protection around the whole exterior. The Gaerne GX-1 motocross boots are on the lighter side, weighing only 3.8 pounds.
The Gaerne GX-1 MX boots are a perfect suit for serious off-roaders, casual off-roaders, those that want to ride in various classes and people just going for the occasional adventure ride. Due to their lightweight structure, walking in these boots won’t become exhausting either.
In this price range, almost no other boots can be compared to the Gaerne GX-1 MX boots. They have nice protective characteristics, durability and wearability. The plastic on these boots is pretty soft which makes them excellent when you need to get off the bike and walk around. All in all, they offer great comfort and are very versatile.
PROS:
- Quite affordable
- Lightweight
CONS:
- Not waterproof
Final Thoughts
The best dirt bike boots for one person aren’t necessarily the best for everyone. However, our list above goes through great options for every type of rider. It’s all about finding the balance between protection, flexibility and comfort. While any of these boots are a good choice, thinking about your own riding style will ensure you choose the right dirt bike boots.