Wet weather performers: Best waterproof sportsbike boots

For riding sportsbikes you need sporty kit, and a pair of protective and comfortable boots with excellent feel for the bike’s controls is essential. However, inevitably — in the UK at least — even a summer sporty ride can suffer from sudden downpours and so, a pair of waterproof sports motorcycle boots will mean that an onslaught of rain won’t ruin your ride.

What to look for

There are several things to look for when you’re considering a waterproof variant of sports motorcycle boots; first and foremost is protection. Look for strong heel and toe boxes to protect each end of the foot and ankle bracing to allow the foot to move forward and backwards on the gears and brake pedals, but not rotate or twist in the event of an accident.

You should also be looking for ankle and metatarsal padding to prevent injury to the bones in an impact, and some protection on the shin for the same reason. There should be articulation in the front and the back to allow the foot to move without causing the top of the boot to gape, and the sole should be thin enough to give good feel.

If you’re on a really sporty ride, like on a track day, then you might want to look for a pair of boots that are fitted with toe sliders to prevent wear if you’re cornering really hard.

When it comes to waterproofing, a membrane such as Gore-Tex will help keep water out but allow the foot to breathe so you don’t get too hot or sweaty on a fast ride.

Motorcycle boots should also be rated under CE regulations for Personal Protective Equipment. This can either be to a 2015 standard (three digits) or 2017 standard (4 digits) and these will either be a ‘1’ or a ‘2’. Ideally, look for as many ‘2’s as you can. There may also be other designations, such as WR (water resistant) or WAD for water displacement from inside.

About the author: After qualifying as a mechanical engineer, Jim Blackstock began working on magazines in the early 1990s. He remains passionate about product testing to ensure readers know what products offer good value and why. He relishes torrential rain to see if riding kit keeps water out and an hour or two to tinker on a project bike in his workshop.

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