Tall biker boots are usually 14" (35cm) to 20" (51cm) tall. They come in either Harness style (shown: my 18" (46cm) Wesco Harness Boots) or Engineer style. Harness boots have a strap that wraps around the foot across the back of the heel and attached with a ring at each side, and usually have a square toe. Engineer boots have a single strap with a buckle across the instep, and usually have a rounded toe. Both styles of motorcycle boots are equally as common, and it is a matter of personal preference as to which style to choose. Some bikers like to wear taller boots because of the added protection the boots provide to the legs, especially if the configuration of the motorcycle being ridden puts hot exhaust pipes close to the legs. Personally, I prefer taller boots when riding in cold weather, because they are warmer. I also like how they look. Tall biker boots, especially if worn with jeans, pants, or breeches tucked inside them, make an impressive appearance. The most well-known brands of this style of boot include Chippewa and Wesco.

Motorcycle police patrol boots are a specialty style of motorcycle boots. The boots are usually 17" (43cm) to 18" (46cm) tall, but may vary if made custom. These boots are almost always black. I have many pairs of these boots, and often choose to ride wearing them. Motor officers consider them a part of the uniform, and the boots make a very impressive appearance. They may have laces at the instep (a "bal-laced" style) or no laces (dress instep). The boots usually have a Vibram® sole, with a rubber or lug tread design. Much more information about Motorcycle Police Patrol Boots is here. The most well-known brands of this style of boot include Dehner, Chippewa, and Wesco.

Upper (boot shaft) design

Select motorcycle boots that at least cover your ankles. This has two advantages (1) your ankle is protected (2) and your foot becomes stronger and thus better able to handle anything the bike wants to do (eg. tip over, slide away from you and onto your foot, or burn your legs or feet.)

It helps if the shaft section has shell protection, such as a leather lining. Without a doubt, boots with such protection are the safest. It also adds much to the durability of the boot. A leather-lined boot will last longer, stand up on its own, and will be more comfortable for all-day wear. A leather lining "breathes" and if fitted correctly, will allow ventilation so the boots do not become uncomfortably hot.

Shaft height: Bikers must be able to operate all of the controls of the motorcycle safely. Safe operation requires the ability to bend the knees and move them quickly. Bikers who prefer tall boots should consider a shaft height that comes below the back of the knee. If the boot shaft is higher than that, then the ability to move the knee quickly is reduced significantly. Further, boots that come above the knee may cause sores to develop from the boot grazing or cutting the back of the knee. It is for these reasons why "crotch-high" boots are not a practical choice for wear by a serious motorcyclist.

Calf circumference (sometimes called calf width) is an important consideration. The circumference is the distance around the outside of the leg. Boots should be wide enough to accommodate the leg, and also wide enough for jeans or leather to fit inside the boots if desired. Stock motorcycle boots that are 12" (31cm) or lower in height usually have a circumference that accommodates most legs. When boots are taller than that, then you may find standard boot shaft circumference may not fit your legs. Wrap a tape measure around your legs around the widest part of your calf muscle (and if you want to wear leather or breeches inside the boots, put them on before measuring). The best place to measure your calf is about 6" (15cm) lower than the back of the knee. Most tall stock motorcycle boots have a 16.5" (42cm) circumference. If your calf circumference requirement is wider than that, then order custom boots.

Lower (vamp) design

Three important considerations: (1) A good fit prevents heel from lifting and makes for a more comfortable ride. (2) Does the motorcycle boot have a shifter pad? The boot is going to be used a lot in this area, so such a pad helps with wear. A shifter pad protects the toe and arch from fatigue and damage due to gear shifting. Some motorcycles, particularly those in the touring class, have a heel-toe shift, so a shifter pad is not required. (3) Shape of the toe. It should function smoothly with the rider as well as the bike.

The main purpose of a motorcycle boot sole is grip, on and off the bike. Motorcycle boots should include a heel under the sole so you can rest it easily on the foot peg. On the road the motorcycle boot should give you great grip in mud, water, sand and oil.

A good motorcycle boot sole will be oil resistant and will provide good traction due to its high surface contact area. Roads, particularly asphalt, collect oil which becomes slick as ice when the least bit wet from rain. Do not buy motorcycle boots without oil-resistant soles. Oil will eat away at ordinary soles.

The uppers are going to last much longer than the soles, so make sure the soles are stitched on, not glued, so they will be able to be replaced when the time comes.

Alternative Vibram® soles for motorcycle boots include the 430, which has small lugs on the interior of the sole design and a smooth rubber perimeter. These soles are used almost exclusively on motorcycle police patrol boots. The Vibram® 700 sole is of a waffle design -- which is good for wear in snow and ice, since snow will not accumulate between the lugs nor will the sole harden in very cold weather and turn the boots into ice skates. This sole provides moderate traction.

In my opinion, a poor motorcycle boot sole choice is Nitrile, which is a soft rubber. These soles have a low melting temperature, and are known to leave black melt marks on hot motorcycle pipes, and may also mar floors. Boots using these soles include Chippewa Motor Patrol Boots (style #27950) and Intapol Patrol Boots. The traction is minimal and the soft nature of soles made of this material causes them to become damaged and unusable much more quickly than a Vibram® sole.

Most motorcycle boots are made of leather with reinforcements on all the essential places. The leather can be supplemented with newer kinds of materials like Gor-Tex (which increases the breathability).

Another thing to look for is Goodyear Welted Construction. This greatly adds to your motorcycle boot durability. Make sure the motorcycle boots are stitched, not glued, meaning that the soles are completely replaceable when you do finally wear them down, and let's face it: motorcycle riders are tough on their boots.

Make sure the motorcycle boots you buy have quality non-tarnishable hardware. You want your motorcycle boot hardware to look as polished and shiny as your bike. Look for brass or nickel hardware on buckles and harness rings.

Some motorcycle boots are made of a combination of materials, with leather on the foot and man-made materials on the shaft. Dehner police patrol boots are known for using a plastic material called "Dehcord" on the shaft of the stock (non-custom) boots. While cops have said that they like a Dehcord boot shaft because it is easy to maintain to keep a great shine, the material can crack or break, rendering it unsightly. This is a controversial topic among men who like boots. However, using a combination of materials makes the boot much less costly than an all leather boot, which can effectively cost double the price.

Ventilation is another factor you should consider when buying motorcycle boots. Your boots should be waterproof yet should allow your feet to breathe. This can be achieved with special exterior surfaces as well as interior linings. Contrary to what you may think, leather-lined boots are not warmer than unlined boots. Leather is used for motorcycle boots because it breathes. Even leather-lined boots breathe well. Boots made with Gortex® or Cambrelle® linings are designed to keep feet warm and dry in cold, wet weather, but are not necessarily a good thing to have on your feet when riding in hot weather. That's why most bikers who ride in all seasons have several pairs of motorcycle boots, to fit the season and how he will use them (just to ride, or ride, wear to work, and walk in).

Water resistance

It is great to have water-resistant motorcycle boots! While it's no fun getting caught in the rain, it can happen. I highly recommend finding good water resistant motorcycle gear but especially boots. Leather motorcycle boots can be quite water resistant if treated appropriately with a good conditioner and water repellent made for that purpose. You can find these products in any well-stocked shoe store or luggage repair shop.

What boots NOT to wear when operating a motorcycle

While a lot of guys like cowboy boots, most boots of that style have smooth leather soles. These soles slip easily even on dry pavement, not to mention wet pavement. It's very easy for a rider to lose control of his bike when stopped at a light or when parking if wearing boots with leather soles.

Also, avoid boots that have long laces or other parts that dangle and can get caught in moving motorcycle parts, gear shifter, or brake pedal.

Boots are an investment, and as such, they will last a lifetime if you take care of them. When you get home after a long ride, wipe the boots off with a damp cloth. Remove any dirt or mud. Mud can dry out leather and cause it to crack. If you ride in cold weather where road salts may splash onto your boots, take extra care to wipe the salts off the boots and then rinse them with clean water. Make sure to remove salts from between lugs on lug-soled boots. Salts will destroy the rubber from which the soles are made.

Usually, that's all you need to do on a daily basis. Every now and then, you should treat the boots with a product appropriate for the material from which they are made. Leather conditioner, such as Lexol, works great on leather boots. Pledge (or any non-wax spray furniture polish) works great on Dehcord or plastic boot shafts. Bee oil (beeswax) is designed to treat oil-tanned boots like Wescos or Chippewa engineer boots.

If you have motorcycle boots that you want to shine to a mirror-finish, you can find instructions, here.

There are a lot of companies that make motorcycle boots and/or market to the biker community. I own boots of the following brands:

Chippewa:

• The standard oil-tanned 17" unlined Engineer Boot (style number 27909) is a classic "biker boot." These boots are very sturdy and hold up very well. They have a steel toe for added safety. If you would like these boots without a steel toe, check with Stompers Boots which is the only retailer that carries a non-steel-toe version. I own and wear three pairs of these boots -- a pair that's been through the mud and back, a newer pair not so beat-up, and a pair of the non-steel toe variety which are lightweight and very comfortable.
• The "Hi-Shine" 17" lined Engineer Boot (style number 71418) is worn by many motorcycle police officers. It is a very good-looking boot. I own and wear two pairs of these boots, also. Pair #1, standard, and Pair #2 with big lug soles added on to them.
• The 9" Chippewa Firefighter Boot (style number 27422) is an excellent choice of boot to wear for motorcycling, hiking, and walking. It is leather-lined, and once the middle zipper is laced in, you do not need to fool with laces again. Just zip them up and be off! They are the most comfortable boot I have used when motorcycling. See mine here.

Wesco:

• By far, Wesco Boots are the most rugged and durable of all motorcycle boots available. The two classic styles -- Harness and Engineer (Boss) -- as well as the Motor Patrol Boot, are all made very well. Wesco Boots can be custom ordered, so you may select style, height, color, lining, hardware, shifter pad, soles, and other features. These boots aren't cheap, but will last a lifetime. I own 11 pairs of these boots See them here (link). The most economical place to buy Wesco Boots is not from the factory directly, but from a third-party boot retailer (see links).

Dehner Boots:

• "Dehners" as they are called are well-known in both the equestrian world as well as the world of motorcycle patrol officers. The boots have a unique style and great design. The stock boots are pricey, and the shaft of stock Dehner patrol boots is made of a plastic material called Dehcord, which is controversial as to its quality. All-leather Dehner patrol boots are available, but for a significantly higher price. These boots may also be made custom to fit. I own eight pairs of these boots See them here (link). As with Wescos, you will save significant money ordering Dehner Boots from a third-party retailer, not from the factory directly. (See links).

Intapol:

• Intapol Industries of New Jersey offers a pair of Motor Patrol Boots with a unique feature: a zipper on the boot shaft which facilitates putting them on and taking them off. These boots compete with Dehner Boots in appearance and bal-laced instep design. However, the boots are not made in the United States and the soles are of a quality that some may question. These boots are available in stock sizes only, but can be ordered with a 1" (2.5cm) wider calf circumference. I own one pair of these boots. The boots can not be made custom to order. (See links).

Champion Attitude:

• Champion Attitude Boots of El Paso, Texas, offers a wide variety of boots. Mostly known for cowboy boots with intricate inlays and designs, they also offer a variety of motorcycle boots, particularly of the harness style. These boots can be custom ordered, so you may select height, colors, inlay designs, heels, soles, shifter pad, and scallop (top of boot shaft). If you want a cowboy boot style but motorcycle boot utility, consider ordering boots from this company, because you can have a Vibram® sole applied when the boots are made. I have two pairs of cowboy/biker boots made by this company. See the tall cool burgundy - black ostrich boots here and the tall red and black Firebird boots here. I also have a pair of regular old black harness boots, too. (See links).

Other brands:

• There are a lot of other brands of boots out there. Some are good, some are not. Be mindful that some boots are licensed to a name, like Harley-Davidson or Frye, but are made by a third-party company with the boots usually being made in China, Indonesia, or other countries using cheap labor and inferior materials. The quality of these boots is suspect. Don't be fooled by a name -- read the label and determine the country of origin before buying. I am not saying that all boots made outside the U.S. are inferior. Boots made in Canada, Mexico, and in E.U. countries are quite good. Check the products, look for reviews, talk to fellow bikers, or ask me if you have questions.

Where to Buy Motorcycle Boots

Check my Links Page for the most updated list of my personal recommendations of sources of quality boots.

Best-Motorcycle-Gear.com Motorcyle Boot Review

WhyBike.com How To Choose A High Quality Motorcycle Boot

E-Zine articles Tips on How to Choose Motorcycle Boots With Ease

I'm sure that there's a lot more than can be written about choosing motorcycle boots. If you have something to suggest, if I got something wrong, if this was interesting or helpful, or if you have a comment (and have read this far down the page!), write to me!