Urban motorcycle boots buying guide | Why we live in them and how to pick the right ones for you

Motorcycles are a great way to get to work, nip down to the shops, and make social calls in style. But as practical as they are for getting around, that means the kit we wear is often made with function over form. On the bike that’s no bad thing, but we all feel a little self conscious walking into a supermarket kitted out in full biker clobber, and the thought of walking around the office all day in full length motorcycle boots can be enough to stop you riding there in the first place.

That’s where urban motorcycle boots come into the picture – when you’ll be spending most of your time off the bike, urban boots are the one to go for. They’re designed to look and feel just like trainers, both on and off the bike, but with extra riding protection integrated seamlessly into the styling. Paired with a leather jacket and some riding jeans, they’re perfect for casual comfort and style without sacrificing too much safety riding round town.

What to consider before buying

Urban motorcycle boots will always be less protective than full-height motorcycle boots, and in the urban jungle that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s still worth considering the protection on offer. Some urban boots do offer high CE ratings, which will mean more protection – the more 2’s you can find on the CE label, the better. It’s worth getting your head around what safety ratings really mean, so you know what to expect from your boots in the event of an accident in chaotic city traffic.

Some kind of waterproofing will prove invaluable when you get caught in an unexpected shower too, and it’s a nice feature many urban boots offer that you won’t find in regular trainers.

The best urban motorcycle boots

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How MCN tests urban motorcycling boots

Here at MCN, we make it our mission to help you find the right kit for you, at the right price for your budget. We don’t crash test (on purpose), nor lab test; there’s no substitute for just putting in the miles with them. We test our boots the same way you’ll use yours; by riding. And, we make sure to put at least 1000 miles in them before sharing our findings. Our word is backed by hundreds of thousands of miles in the saddle collectively, but our recommendations come from each tester individually.

While testing, we predominantly focus on comfort, looks, build quality, protection, and value. When we write up our full reviews, we’ll give each pair of boots a rating out of five stars in each of these categories, and offer a final verdict too. This page is only for the best riding boots, so every pair you’ll see has been awarded at least four stars overall – that’s the passing grade – but here’s what each score really means:

• 1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A boot with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
• 2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A boot with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level, and there is much room for improvement.
• 3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A boot with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
• 4 stars – A boot has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A boot with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
• 5 stars – A boot has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A boot with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

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