MCN's buying guide to the best women's ankle motorcycle boots with tried and tested reviews

Ankle length motorcycle boots can be a handy option: they’re shorter cut allowing for a bit more movement and they eliminate the issue of trying to get boots that fit your calves. However, the lower height means that they will inevitably be less protective than a taller boot that protects your shins.

The more casual nature of an ankle boot means that they look the part paired with a pair of motorcycle jeans for those lovely summer rides to the pub or a biker event. They can feel more like a pair of fashion boots that a big clunky pair touring boots, which is great but their drawbacks come with less protection and practicality from features like waterproofing.

Things to consider when buying ankle motorcycle boots

As with any motorcycle boot, safety is the first to know about. The CE certifications that you want to be looking for are displayed with a selection of either 1s or 2s. 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, and obviously short boots will be given a 1 in this area.

The low profile and discreet nature of the armour within a shorter boot means that the protection level will be lower than that of a fully fledged longer boot that can protect the shins and has rigid bracing like a racy sports boot.

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
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

Waterproofing on this type of boot can be pretty good, but due their shorter nature it’s harder to get waterproof trousers to properly sit over the top of them, which can allow water in at the top. So if you are wanting some genuinely waterproof boots for poor weather, perhaps a pair of waterproof touring boots would be more suitable?

Most importantly with this type of boot, choose one that you find comfortable and that you like the look of. After all you are likely to spend as much time off the bike as on it with this type of boot.

Our favourite tried and tested women’s ankle motorcycle boots

Frequently asked questions

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

Ankle boots are the easiest option for wider calves because they don’t go up and over the calves. However, if you are looking for optimal safety, a taller boot will be better, so look for adjustment options like Boa systems or gussets.

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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