A guide to buying the best women's motorcycle boots, carefully curated by the female riders at MCN

Stereotypically, we ladies love a good pair of shoes, and motorcycle boots should be no different. It’s just as important to protect our feet as it is any other part of our bodies when riding a motorcycle so investing in the right pair of boots is a good idea. Statistics show that a large number of injuries that happen in a motorcycle incident, are to the lower leg and feet. So, safety first!

IF you struggle to with finding gear then there’s our women’s motorcycle clothing guide to help you find kit that actually fits.

Jump to:

• What to consider
• Sporty boots
• Touring boots
• Urban and casual boots
• Adventure boots
• Frequently asked questions
• How we test kit

What to consider when buying ladies motorcycle boots

There are a number of factors to think about when you are looking at a new pair of motorbike boots. Safety is the first to know about. With boots, the CE certifications that you are looking for are displayed with a selection of either 1’s or 2’s. The three main tests are for abrasion resistance, impact cut and transverse rigidity, and each will be awarded either Level 1 for a pass or Level 2 if it exceeds the pass mark. If the boots have been certified after 2017 there will also be a 1 or 2 for the boot height, with taller boots showing a 2 and short boots a 1.

There may also be additional lettering shown on this label, referring to any additional tests that the boot have passed. These are as follows:

IPA – ankle impact protection
IPS – shin impact protection
WR – resistance to water penetration
FO – resistance to fuel oil
WAD – water absorption/desorption of the insole/sock
B – upper permeability to water vapour (breathability)
SRA, SRB or SRC – slip resistance

There is certainly not a one size fits all approach here so make sure you spend a little time considering the below questions to help you decide which boots are best for you.

What conditions do you ride in?

Are you a fair weather rider or do you get wet? No one likes having soggy feet, it can really ruin your day, so if you are someone who rides in all conditions, definitely look at waterproof boots. Equally so if you only ride on hot sunny days, it would probably be best to pick a breathable summer boot that as good ventilation.

What’s your budget?

We all have limitations with how much we can afford to spend on things, so think about how much you can afford to splurge on your boots and use that as a starting point. Some brands are typically more expensive than others, so if you are a new rider, maybe consider one of the cheaper ones to start off. For instance, Alpinestars are generally more expensive than RST, so check the features offered and try not to get hung up on manufacturer names.

What type of bike do you ride?

The type of motorbike that you ride will have a fairly sizeable impact on the type of boots that you look for. Different types of boots will be designed to be better suited to different sitting positions and riding, so keep this in mind when looking.

Sporty boots

If you ride a sportsbike you may want to focus on sleek sporty boots with lots of rigid armour and protection to protect you should you have an unfortunate tumble at speed. This type of boot is generally offered in a wide range of colour and design choices to allow riders to match to their leathers and bike liveries.

Touring boots

Touring boots are more focused toward practicality, they tend to have waterproofing and more substantial tread to the sole, making them more practical when facing varied road surfaces and weather conditions. This type of boot will usually be more subtly styled with fewer colour options.

Urban and casual boots

If you prefer a more relaxed and comfortable ride, then you may find that an urban boot would be suitable for you. These boots tend to have a lower level of protection than some other options, due to their short nature and discreet armour. A great choice if you tend to spend time in your motorcycle boots when off the bike, as you don’t need to carry a change of shoes with you. Safer than regular trainers, so ideal for city rides, but not necessarily the best choice for speedy jaunts.

Adventure boots

An adventure boot is designed with great protection for off road riding, they tend to be taller than other boots and usually feature a ratchet style closure system to allow for a snug fit. A true off road boot will likely not be especially comfortable for long distance riding, however there are a range of crossover boots that are designed to be comfortable on the road and protective in the dirt.

Frequently asked questions

I have wide calves, what boots would be best for me?

If you require a wider boot there are options with adjustable calves, for instance with expanding gussets or adjustable closures. Lace up boots are a good option too as you can let out the lacing as much as is required.

How do I care for my motorcycle boots?

Looking after your motorcycle boots depends on the specific boots you have, so the best way to know for sure is to read the instructions in the box – they’re always there, and they’re always accurate. As a general rule though, leather boots are the only ones to watch out for, since they’ll need periodic treatment with some conditioning cream to keep them performing at their best. A bit of waterproof spray can help when boots rated for waterproofing start to get a bit leaky too.

I’m short and would like a little extra height, is this possible?

I myself, am a shorter rider and have looked at many different options for boots that give us a little extra leg reach. My personal choice was to go for a hidden riser in the sole, but another option is heeled boots, but be careful of getting caught on footpegs.

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How MCN tests 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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