Motorcycle Gear 101

There are lots of ladies motorcycle ankle boots you can buy but wouldn't it be great if you buy one pair that you could wear on and off your bike? TCX, Forma and Dainese now offer women's motorcycle ankle boots that are both practical and feminine and stylish enough you could wear them at a party. We have put together a list that not only offers great protection but also the style that ladies are looking from in their motorcycle boot. Good quality motorcycle boots are something that people typically skimp on because you might have an everyday boot that looks great for riding but doesn't have moto specific capabilities. What you should know is if you fall off your bike you should really be protecting your feet. Motorcycle boots can look like an everyday boot but they give you internal ankle cups and reinforced heel and toe protection that is going to protect you from the elements. We have put together a list of women's ankle boots that not only offer great protection but also the style that ladies might be looking. Our first women's ankle motorcycle boot is the… TCX Blend WP Women's Motorcycle Ankle Boot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXKCdiHBoo4&t=11s The TCX Blend WP boosts are a waterproof all-season boot designed with the vintage classic look in mind. You're going to get a full-grain leather construction with that really classic styling full-grain leather, it gives you a broken-in look and feel over time. The boot is around the $200 price point, it comes in a mocha color only and is available in sizes 35 through 42. One thing about sizing. I'm typically a size 38 in European sizes but a size 7 in US Sizing. It's a full-grain leather construction so full-grain leather is going to give you a little bit more of a textured feel. It is also really nice and broken in and it gives you a bit of a patina over time. So what does that mean exactly? it's going to start to get discolored, so the more miles you put on your bike the more you're going to see the boot really giving you that kind of vintage classic look. Another thing to mention about that leather is that you can pull them right out of the box, hop right on the bike and they felt broken in. Just as broken in as my doc Martens that I've had for about sixty years. One thing my Doc Martens don't have though is a lot of protection packed into the boot, so these boots have internal reinforcements at the heel and the toe and at the ankle cups. Another thing they're going to have is a reinforced steel shank and that's going to give you a little bit more rigidity. In general, all of that is just going to make the boot a little bit beefier, it's going to make it a little bit more durable so that it can handle getting a beating while you're on the bike. Something like a Doc Marten isn't going to have that, it's not going to stand up to the test of time in the same way that a motorcycle boot would. Another thing to mention is that TCX makes all of their boots for the most part CD rated which is just a nice thing to have with a motorcycle boot. If you look at the front of the boot and start at the toe, again I mentioned they're reinforced so they're not going to be as soft as a nonmotorcycle boot, and then they also have a shifter pad. If you look at the shifter pad you'll see that it's double stitched, that double stitching goes all along with the boot, what that's going to do is make the boot more durable. Again it's going to stand up a little bit better to the test of time and take a little bit better of a beating from your bike. The laces are wax laces, basically waxing laces makes them a little bit more secure because they'll stay more snugly together when you have them tied up. An athletic lace is going to probably come apart after a few hours on the bike, especially if you're riding in the wind as they could potentially get stuck in your controls which is something you definitely don't want. It's a small detail but it's a nice touch from TCX. If you look at the side of the boot at the ankle cuffs that I mentioned they're a little bit harder but they're not so hard that they're uncomfortable. They're hard enough that if your bike tips over you're going to have that additional protection on an area that really kind of hurts to get hit. If you look on the inside you will see that the boot is waterproof right up to the fifth eyelid, it actually has a label on the inside telling you just that. You also have a gator on the inside, a Gator is nice because any water that comes through the laces is going to slide right down the boot and not into your boot so when you put your foot down in a stoplight it doesn't feel all soggy. On the inside of the boot is there's an anatomic sole. Anatomic is a fancy word for a soul that's really comfortable. It goes all along the inside of the boot and that conforms to your foot, it's really comfortable. Again I mentioned they are already broken in but they're also really comfortable for walking around. You could walk around the office all day in these boots, you could go to school, go out for lunch you're going to be really comfortable. Another thing to mention is below the soul or in conjunction with the soul is an internal lift so you get one inch stacked heel but you're also going to get about 3/4 of an inch of an additional lift on the inside of the boot. If you're a short rider you're going to get a little bit more leverage over the bike because you're getting an additional one in and three-quarter inch of additional height. On the bottom of the boot, you also get a lug sole. A lug sole gives you a little bit more traction, it's a little bit more textured and is not going to be as flat and smooth so there's not going to be any slippage. You're going to be able to plant your feet into the ground and again have a little bit more ease when you're moving your bike around. All in all really classic vote from TCX. This is the TCX® mission, constantly creating new products and driving technological innovation to reach a clear goal: the offer of the highest possible security to all motorcycle riders.TCX's continuous search for excellence has achieved the official international acknowledgment.The company was indeed the first motorcycle boot producer to introduce the CE Certification, thanks to the performance of its patented systems, such as TCS®, MCS® and to the superior quality of materials used, GORE-TEX® membrane above all.Innovation TCX Street Ace WP Women's Shoes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1QbbwVw76E TCX as a brand has been doing boots for a very long time and they only focus on making motorcycle boots. They put all of their effort and energy into a damn good product. TCX first started in 2007 but prior to that in 99 they were called rock staff, your older riders will probably recognize the oxtail brand. The TCX Street Ace is a really nice boot for your fine weather riding, the street ace air fits into the 24/7 range that TCX has done. This is something that's a bit more urban, a bit more casual and something that you can wear on your bike commuting. The street ace has a ventilated boot so you would wear this more in a summer environment or when you want some breathability. Given that it does allow so much air this is not going to be a waterproof boot but there is a waterproof version available in the range. If you break down the components of the boot you've got a full leather construction with perforated leather. It has ventilation holes on the outside and has a distressed or more of a vintage looks. It looks like you've owned this boot for a hundred years but it's designed to be that way. On the inside of the boot, you will see the air tech breathable lining that allows all that airflow to hit your foot, it's not just going to stop at the internal lining which is kind of cool. Looking at the protection of the boot you've got your three main points of your foot that you want to protect and TCX has thought about this. Your toe, the heel, and the ankle. There is the reinforced toe box area which is quite stiff and hard. You've got your ankle bone support or pad in the side of the boot. That is on both sides of the boot inside and outside, that's obviously very important when you're hugging the bike with your feet. The boot also has heel protection which is a nice stiff piece and finally, they've put a high wear-resistant sole on the bottom of this shoe. The main thing that differs a riding shoe from a normal casual shoe is the stiffness in the sole. You will find that it's really quite hard to bend which does mean when you're walking you're going to find you'll lift out of the boot a little bit. On the bike that gives you the most protection and the most comfort. One question you might ask when it comes to the TCX Street ace air boot is there's no shift pad protection. This means it will wear slightly as you continue to wear it and as you shift gears on your bike. They include in the box a removable shift guard, this is just an elasticized leather pad. It slips over the front of the boot so when you're shifting gear and doing it regularly you're going to get that protection so you don't get a big hole in the front of the boot. You can just take it off so if you're going out for dinner or lunch you pull it off and fit it in your pocket. The boot has a standard lace system with all the eyelets down the front of the boot. Ther are a lot of boots out there that are very similar to this style of boot. They're a casual looking riding shoe but this one does offer a lot more support and protection than most. The street ace air boot is available in one color which is called anthracite. They come in sizes 36 to 48 and please make sure you convert your Euro sizing to your correct size. With the TCX Street Ace, you have a vented summer riding shoe, something you can walk around in all day as well as wear on your bike. Super comfortable and just a really good addition to your riding wardrobe. You get a full-grain leather construction that's perforated, you have air tech lining that allows more airflow with your toe heel and ankle protection. It is a casual looking shoe, TCX has done a really great job with this boot and I think it's one you really should check out. Product Details Full Grain Leather UpperWaterproof LiningMalleolus Area, Toe And Heel ReinforcementsLacing System ClosureAnatomic And Replaceable Footbed Forma Eva Women's Comfort Motorcycle Ankle Boot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3328cptKL-4 Forma Eva Women's Comfort Ankle Motorcycle Boot From a comfort standpoint, it's about a three out of ten on the rigidity scale so it's definitely going to carry that C rating to make sure that you're protected. But it's also going to be comfortable enough that you can wear them all day long and not feel like you're wearing a very aggressive motorcycle boot. Reinforcement is going to come by the way of the toe box, you also get a reinforced heel cockpit. You'll notice that all the stitching throughout the boot on the leather is dual stitch, so you're going to have that extra layer of protection making sure the boots not going to come apart in the event of a crash. You do have a pop of blacked-out reflectivity strip along the back of the boot right above the heel cockpit, just that extra pop of reflectivity but I like the fact they blacked it out. There is a buckled snap at the very bottom of the zip and then a zip entry. The boot is lined and waterproof and the waterproof lining goes all the way to the top of the boot. You'll notice the dry text liner on the inside looks like it stops at the leather but it's actually the membrane that goes all the way up underneath at the top of the boot. This makes sure that as long as you're wearing waterproof pants that fit over the top, your feet will remain dry. It's a C rated boot so you're going to have protection on the medial as well as a lateral side, there are a cups on both sides to make sure that you are protected in the event of a crash. So if you're looking for a formal boot that's going to work for a variety of different functions from the office place to going out at night, while still maintaining functionality on your motorcycle the Eva women's boot is definitely one to consider. Product Details Full-grain leather upper. DRYTEX lining (Waterproof/Breathable). Touring non-slip rubber sole.Below calf fitting. Ornamental buckle. Zip closure. Ankle TPU molded plastic protection.Soft polymer padding with memory foam. Special footbed exclusively for women's fit.TPU Duel-Flex with anti-shock EVA midsole. Anti-bacterial replaceable insole. Dainese Street Biker D-WP Women's Ankle Boots https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MakRWp9UebM Dainese Street Biker D-WP Women's Ankle Boots Dainese has done some creative riding sneakers over the last few seasons. The Dainese Street Biker D-WP Women's Ankle Boots is their latest flavor Suede. On the exterior D-WP means it's a waterproof shoe but again it's a little bit more of a high-top sneaker than something like you see from the forge, great on the bike and off the bike with decent motorcycle protection. Ther are girls that swear by riding boots through and through. There are others that ride may be in the city or they commute and want something that's going to be comfortable off the bike. The sole is flexible which will be great protection from grit and is sub $200. How the Street Biker D-WP Women's Ankle Boot Feels Fitment gives you no surprises with the classic Dainese fit which should fit most people. Looking at the construction, this is a high-top version of something like the forge of the technical sneaker. It has that flexible heel with swayed cowhide that goes all the way up to the big diamond logo. What I do like about this boot s they're is sewn-in protection both in and on the lateral side as well as the medial side of the heel. You have some reinforcement and the toe is a rubberized panel that's going to wear really well. You do have some light reinforcement around the ankle and the heel. It's a sneaker with some beefed-up protection and remember there is a gore-tex version called the street runner GTX. The interior is a mesh material that does a good job of channeling water away from your foot, depending on how you're riding and depending on your temperature setting. Most boots don't have insulation even if you're going to ride them in the winter, so again it's depending on your temperature tolerances. Knowing that this is a sneaker that comes in four colors and has a good amount of style mixed with a good amount of style mixed together with sneaker functionality. Technical Details Street Biker Lady D-WP shoes are designed for younger riders and are enhanced by small technical details which make them ideal for zipping through the city. The fit of these shoes was specifically developed for women and there are various feminine colors available. That goes perfectly with the suede uppers to provide an excellent combination of look and resistance. Street Biker Lady D-WP, CE - Category II - Directive 89/686/EEC certified boots also feature rigid inserts at the heels, reinforced insoles and reflective inserts which increase both active and passive safety. D-WP waterproof, breathable membrane ensures comfort and versatility whatever the conditions. Cowhide suede upper. TCX Biker WP Women's Boots https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBlLx9XNXUI&t=11s TCX Biker WP Women's Boots The TCX biker WP women's boots are a traditional engineered boot that's part of their vintage series line. The boot itself is a full green leather construction with a waterproof liner on the inside of the boot. Boot Size In terms of sizing this boot is available in sizes 35 through 42. A quick note on sizing, the boot itself is pretty true to size if you're going by your European size. To explain that a little bit further, I'm typically a European size 38 so I picked the size 38 put them on and they fit perfectly right out of the box. If you're looking at the US size chart you need to go down a full size. Traditionally in U.S. sizing I'm a seven and a half, the 38's say that there are six and a half so I had to come down one U.S. size. Look And Feel You get a full-grain leather construction, it has a really nice soft feel to it and if you start at the top of the boot and work your way down you're going to see that the boot itself is about eight inches tall overall on height so you're going to get some good coverage above the ankle. The opening of this boot is a little bit wider because it is an engineered style. This means that you can probably throw a skinny jean on and they're going to fit right inside the boot. If you want to wear your jeans on the outside you're going to want to look for something that is a boot cut or a little bit larger. If you work your way down the side of the boot the first thing you're going to see is a little buckle, this is really just the styling piece. There's not going to be a lot of adjustments in terms of the opening with the buckle, it's more just to give it that traditional look. If you move down the boot you're going to see the TCX ankle Cup, this is a hard ankle Cup which gives you a little bit of additional protection when you are on the bike. If you move down the boot you're going to see that the boot itself has double stitching throughout. The double stitching gives you some additional durability that a traditional engineer boot that's not designed for a motorcycle wouldn't otherwise give you. If you look at the bottom of the boot you will see it has a rubber lug sole, this gives you an inch stacked heel. On the inside of the boot, you're also going to get an internal lift which is about half-inch. Overall you're getting about an inch and a half of an additional height with this boot, that's something that personally I really like on a bike. If you are a little vertically challenged having an additional inch and a half gives you a little bit more leverage over the bike. If you look at the bottom of the boot you'll see that lug sole again give you a little bit more traction on the controls when you're planting your feet into the ground. If you move your way to the front of the boot you get that classic smooth rounded toe styling but if you look at the other boot you'll see that there is a shifter pad. The shifter pad is textile and is removable so if you don't like the look of it you can ditch it. If you do want your boots to be protected and not get any scuffing you can wear it while you're on the bike. On the side of the boot, you have the zipper entry, you also get a waterproof Gator. The Gator does stop where the waterproof lining stops which is about two inches below the top of the boot. At the ankle you also get a foam pad insert, it gives give you a little bit of additional cushioning, a little bit of additional protection from the bike. If you move down the back you get the reinforced heel. Product Details Upper: Full grain leatherLining: WaterproofReinforcement: Toe and heel counter, malleolus, leather shift padFoot Bed: Anatomic and replaceableClosure: Zip + adjustable leather band Dainese Street Biker Air Women's Shoes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2He_U8mlmM Dainese Street Biker Air Women's Shoes I love it, Dainese have done a riding sneaker and I'm not upset about it, this is the street biker air. Now, in the long lineage of Dionyse riding shoes that are now CE rated we've seen a lot of Euro mixed in, I can dig a little bit of euro but sometimes euro gets too much. This is a good job listening to your American market, it's just enough euro and it's just enough fashion. It's a lot of Dainese but it really hits the mark in a three-season warm weather CE rated riding sneaker. There is a waterproof version of this boot which is a little bit more expensive. So the big feature here is its distressed cowhide suede that is perforated all the way up the outside. There are three colors available, there's a brown, green and anthracite and in my opinion, this is the best color. You will see a little dot or red tying with the Dainese logo and that's it, they've given you baked in reflectivity, its simplicity and it's going to look great under a pair of jeans. Again, if you're willing to trade off some of the protection for a longer wearing riding shoe or a sneaker that you can ride on your Ducati or your scooter every day, this is going to be a great option. The difference between the standard and the waterproof version is the toe is now fully suede. There's no shift panel or rubberized coating. It looks cool on the waterproof version but they've been able to maximize the ability for the standard shoe to look great under a pair of jeans. I will say to you though, it's going to take some wear from your controls, you're trading off some protection. So again, while you're hearing me ranting on about the style you are getting a little less protection, remember it is still CE rated. If you look at the laces they've moved the bottom lace over to the middle and covered it, keeping it further away from the controls. A lot of times we'll see folks do speed laces, they really want to stay with the theme of the classic flat sneaker style lace which gives you a better chance to keep it out of harm's way. On the side of the boot, you'll see malleolus protection on the right side, the outside on the interior or medial side and then your heel protection is definitely beefier than your toe protection. Your toe is the softest spot, your hole protection has a little bit more comfort room and protection that's is baked in and what they also did is they gave you a reflectivity on the side. It has a basic sneaker style sole we've been seeing throughout the Dainese product line. In my opinion, it's about seven or six and a half out of ten on the stiff scale. This says to me you could wear them under jeans, walk around in them all day and it'll be as comfortable as just about any pair of sneakers that aren't over the top running shoes. As we dive in you're going to see the air style mesh on the inside that promotes breathability. Your feet are going to sweat in the summer, you have the perforation scheme that's going to allow your sweat to perspire, move out through the outer shell to get great ventilation in through this boot. It will cover your spring summer and fall, remember you can always get the waterproof version and they've managed to come in that mid $150 range from a cost standpoint. Again it's very attainable for the amount of boot you're getting. I really like the Dainese Street Biker Air Women's Shoes, at this price for this amount of boot there's not a whole lot I would change. I even think they got it right on their key colors which are anthracite and the red in this distress fashion. Product Details For Dainese, designing protection and safety around people means taking inspiration from Nature.Human history provides inspiration with Medieval and Renaissance suits of armor that once offered the privileged few protection, ergonomics, and safety.Protection has finally become democratic. Cowhide suede upper. Rigid inserts on ankles.Nylon mid-sole.Shoes certified to CE - Cat.II - 89/686/EEC Directive.Closure with laces.Perforated leather.Double jersey airgap liner.Reflective inserts.Rubber sole.Double laces.Women's model.

Motorcycle Gear 101

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