I'm currently wearing something like these Alpinestars:


I commute sometimes in cold rain, and they are waterproof (hooray!).   I often ride to customer sites, and if I pull my slacks down over them, they look almost like dress shoes, so there is no need to change shoes during short visits...  very handy!  And they're comfortable enough, that if I don't have to walk anywhere, I just leave them on all day.

But there is no hard shin protection, and no heel cup (there's a "heel counter", whatever that means).  I'd like to get something that will protect my foot and ankle a bit if it gets pinched between "a rock and a hard place"...  maybe with a heel cup and shin plate, and maybe even something that prevents over-extension of the ankle.

Can anyone comment on the levels of protection offered by:
cheap Teknic Lightning ($119):


Waterproof S-MX 3 Gore-Tex ($252):


Sidi Vertebra with ankle brace ($330):


The Teknic is "the right price", but I don't want just a small incremental improvement.  Is any race boot going to be a big improvement over touring gear, or do I need to dress like Robocop too?

What would be ideal, would be Gore-Tex-lined race boots that look like dress shoes

IMO...teknic quality SUCKS!!!...

look into OXSTAR as well...

as for the boots you listed...the price range is completely off...so it can't really be compared..

Most full race boots will have a forward cant to them, similar to ski boot. This will make them uncomfortable to walk in for most any distance.

I wear my Sidi Vertabra's almost every were I go. They are about as comfortable as race books are gonna get.
They are VERY well broken in, and I have no issues about comfort even after long walks.
The only thing They need for walking is new insoles. The factory ones are rather thin.

I wear Sidi Vertebra II's also (about $240), every time I leave the parking lot.  However, I don't think I'd like to walk around all day in them.  I change into a pair of sneakers or boots once I get into work.  I had a mishap without the Sidi's on and limped for a month.  I value walking, and my feet.

One thing I need is to get some knee armor, or armored overpants, because while I have some Fieldsheer pants, it's too much trouble to put it on every time I go somewhere.  I live 3 miles from work, and make lots of short trips.

Oxtar boots look good too, and I hear some are CE approved.

Mostly I just need to briefly visit a few office building each day.  I just need to get from the parking lot to the elevator, to the office, and back again.

Thanks for the comment on the lack of quality for Teknic.  Yes, I know that the boots are in completely different price ranges, and hard to compare; I'm just trying to figure out when enough is enough.

Well, I myself dont have any problems with teknic, Currently my teknic gear is crash tested and mother approved, literally. lol.

well...I have Teknic boots, and leather jacket

boots...the zipper broke after 2 month of use...got it fixed but cost me 20 bucks...

jacket...bicep zipper broke and the stiching came off at the forearm...got it fixed...newenough reimbursed it...

IMO...teknic stiching sucks...and quality is incomparable to Sidi or AStar or any other highend brands...

but if you're strapped for cash...it's not a bad choice...try looking at some JR stuff too...same price range but i think it's better quality...

Quote from: Rema1000Mostly I just need to briefly visit a few office building each day.  I just need to get from the parking lot to the elevator, to the office, and back again.

The Sidi Vert II's would be fine for that.  They're comfortable, but a little heavy compared to my normal shoes.  Not a problem for short distances.  They're not inconspicuous though.  The armor plates on the ankle will squeak unless you put WD-40 on them.  I used Nik-Wax on the leather and my socks never got wet in the rain.

I have Sidi Vert II, and love them. After the breaking in period, they feel like any other boot (Though I hate wearing boots).

I second the JR stuff. I have crash tested one jacket, three pairs of gloves and a set of leather pants from JR. The gloves don't hold up well, but did protect me in the crash. The jacket and pants are wonderful though. I can only imagine that the boots would be of the same build quality.  

Though, if you try on a JR boot, and then a Sidi boot, you will notice a remarkable difference. Sidi's tend to be quite narrow until they are broken in; but not overly so.

good race boots....are designed for racing....not much walking
why wear out a high end and high $ boots walking around instead of crashing



kinda like
a stripper going to church with Pasties (nipple covers)
it works....just not the best choice


but then again....buy the best gear you can afford
i personally wear an old set of race boots or a pair of military steel toed boots(my last pair  )

Quote from: werase643kinda like
a stripper going to church with Pasties (nipple covers)
it works....just not the best choice

Where is this church?

Quote from: xtalmanThe armor plates on the ankle will squeak unless you put WD-40 on them.

I use olive oil in that area because of the leather elsewhere.

I'm glad you put this post up.  It is ironic because I'm currently looking for some good errand boots that I can wear racing. . .

Quote from: Jake DI'm glad you put this post up.  It is ironic because I'm currently looking for some good errand boots that I can wear racing. . .

well, you could always go with the apparently popular loafer option...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/qlogic/P4240238.jpg

Loafers are hot.

Quote from: Jake DLoafers are hot.

i highly recommend them!

I wear regular lace-up boots. They're enforcers and they zip-up on the side so I don't have to tie them. I tuck the laces inside the boot.

They're the type of boot police officers and EMS people wear, leather/cloth, cool, with great ankle support.

Quote from: werase643
kinda like
a stripper going to church with Pasties (nipple covers)
it works....just not the best choice

Hey, I saw that scene... in "Amazon Women on the Moon"  

Quote from: Jake DLoafers are hot.

Yeah, regular shoes might fly-off in a collision, possibly hurting someone.  Wear something that's sure to fly off, but so light that it won't hurt anybody!

Well, thanks for the votes.  I tried-on a pair of S-MX boots, and they were just a tad too much for me.  The GPS was OK, but actually less comfortable (both on the bike an walking) than the Vertebra-2.  So I ended-up with Vert-2 Tepor (Gore-Tex, waterproof).   Of course, I had to wear them as soon as I left the store (I've heard too many stories that begin  "I just bought my new gear, but didn't have it on yet...").

First day report is: Temp: 40F, wind: 20mph gusts; blustery, with a mix of rain, sleet and a little snow.  The boots were comfy.  I also lost my bike in a parking garage, so I got some walking in trying to find it again, and they were fine for that too.  They're almost as comfortable as my beat-up Alpinestars Web.