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Guide to Motorcycle 
This page updated July 28, 2010 | |
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I have worn motorcycle patrol boots regularly for more than 20 years while riding my motorcycle as well as "just around." While I am not a sworn peace officer, I like to wear police patrol boots because of their style, comfort, durability, and how they perform while riding my bike, an '08 Harley-Davidson Road King. I also wear a variety of motorcycle boots and have written a general Guide to Motorcycle Boots (linked here) if that would interest you.
My first priorities for boots are that they function as designed. A patrol boot is supposed to provide protection to a motorcycle operator, be comfortable for all-day wear, sustain regular hard use, and have a good appearance without requiring a lot of up-keep. The boots should flex well at the foot and ankle, without the boot shaft where it meets the ankle sagging or bending as to rub from the inside and cause sores. They boots should fit the calf snugly, but not so tightly as to restrict blood circulation. And, the boots should be able to endure the challenges of use while operating a motorcycle in traffic: frequent stops >> foot down>> starts >> foot up and gear-shifting movements. |
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The boots should be light enough to facilitate quick actions, such as for quick maneuvers on a bike, but heavy enough to withstand the heat, cold, and rain, as well as provide protection from the heat of a motorcycle engine (especially when idling). The sole should provide excellent traction. The overall boot should be comfortable to stand in for hours if necessary, such as when traffic signals are out and an officer has to direct traffic. |
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The following are my personal comments and opinions on police patrol boots. I also have incorporated comments from Ron Belanger of Big Black Boots, Larry Kenney of hotboots.com, as well as two sergeants and several motor officers who serve on motor units in Maryland, Virginia, Florida, and California. Pictures below under "Dehner Patrol Boots" and "Chippewa Hi-Shine Engineer Boots" are shown on law enforcement officers. The rest of the photos are from my collection or from manufacturers. I provide this information because I have been asked these questions over several years. But they're only my opinions. If you have a different opinion, thought, or comment, write to me here. Note: this information is about tall police patrol boots worn by motor officers in the United States. There are some officers who wear shorter boots, and officers in other countries who wear different styles. |
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Written and pictorial information is below.
A video Guide to Patrol Boots is available by clicking the play button to the left. | |
Dehner Patrol Boots | |
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The Dehner Boot Company of Omaha, Nebraska, has been a legend in the bootmaking industry for a very long time. They make a very distinguished-looking motorcycle patrol boot that has been worn by motor officers coast-to-coast.
Dehner boots function as designed, and they have a striking and commanding appearance. No wonder many bike cops have bought and worn them over the years. If broken in properly, they are comfortable for all-day wear. When fitted properly, they feel good on the legs.
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| Denher uses an artificial material called "Dehcord" made by Clarino on the boot shaft of stock boots. Beware: Dehcord is not leather; it is plastic! According to Ron Belanger of Big Black Boots, the plastic Dehcord remains on the stock motor patrol boots Dehner makes because of the West Coast motor cops who like the ease of maintenance. They just wipe the shafts down with Pledge after polishing the foot. Dehner sells many more pairs of the stock motor patrol boots in Western U.S. states and that's why they pay attention so much to the desire for the plastic shafts. | |
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Beware, though, that some motor officers I know (and in my own experience), have been concerned that Dehcord can crack and break. The cracks are noticeable because it exposes the light-colored plastic that composes a Dehcord boot shaft. The cracks appear starting at the ankle and then work their way up the boot shaft as the boot is worn. Also, Dehcord can't take the heat -- a hot motorcycle engine (such as on a Police Harley) will cause a Dehcord boot shaft to become discolored (causes it to turn gray) and the discolored areas can not be returned to their black and shiny appearance. (Cops who ride Police BMWs do not have this problem, because the rider position on a BMW keeps the boot shaft away from the hottest parts of the engine compared with the positioning on a Police Harley). Stock Dehner boots with Dehcord shafts are pricey -- going for about US$400 MSRP.
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If you want an all-leather boot, the cost goes up significantly. Dehner offers upgraded real leather for their patrol boots, either "Voyager" which has a matte appearance, or European calf leather. The calf leather is excellent, looks great, doesn't discolor, takes a great shine, and holds up well. The major issue I have with a pair of boots made from this leather is that they currently retail for well over US$700.
One other concern about Dehner boots is that they come in a fairly narrow calf width. They also offer a standard 1" wider calf circumference. I have a pair of those boots with the larger calf circumference, and they fit fine with breeches. The calf circumference varies in proportion to the foot size. You can see the sizing chart here.
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There are two styles of Dehner boots worn by motor officers. The first style is called Bal-Laced. These boots have lacing at the instep which provides for adjustment to fit the foot. Once tied, they seldom require readjustment. Some cops have complained about dirt getting into the opening and under the laces. Some really like the classic design, and some don't. It's a matter of personal taste, as well as (in some cases) boot specifications adopted by a specific agency. If you are looking for instructions on how to lace bal-laced boots, click here. |
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The second style of Dehner Patrol Boots has a dress instep. It is plain and has no laces. The boots have a dressy and commanding appearance. They are easier to maintain because dirt and mud won't get into the crevices around laces on the instep. All other features are the same as bal-laced boots.
These boots may have a buckle or laces at the top of the shaft to adjust for better fit on the calf. A buckle at the top of the boot shaft is more common. It is usually an officer's preference to choose which type of calf fitting to get when he orders the boots. |
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SUMMARY
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All American "Blue Knight" Boots | |
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All-American Boots are made in California, using the equipment that was formerly owned by the Bond Boot Company. This is the company that made Effingham boots. I ordered a pair of these boots in September, 2008, and received them at the end of February, 2009. Photos of them are at the left and here. The boots are made with thick leather and are leather-lined. They are very comfortable and look great. Trouble is, the boots are hard to get. |
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The boots look nice and are easy to keep shiny due to a light plastic topcoat on top of the all-leather shaft and foot. You can specify the size as well as the sole type when you order the boots. The boots have a buckle closure at the top of the boot shaft and a bal-laced instep. They come with foam insole inserts which adds to the comfort for all-day wear.
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SUMMARY
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Chippewa Hi-Shine Engineer Boots | |
 
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Chippewa Boots are part of the family of Justin Brands, Inc. They have made engineer-style boots for more than 100 years. The "Hi-Shine" (style number 71418) is their most popular boot for motor patrol use, and for good reason.
"Chip Shines" as they're often called are 17" tall and are made in the traditional Engineer Boot style, with a strap and buckle across the instep, and another strap/buckle on the top of the shaft to adjust the width. Some cops I know and ride with have been skeptical about adopting Engineer Boots for wear with a duty uniform. The old perception of "bad-ass bikers in boots" aka Jimmy Dean style goes along with it. A couple cops told me that their old-school sergeant didn't like Engineer Boots. The boots weren't considered "traditional" or "appropriate."
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But nowadays, if you closely inspect the galleries on my website featuring motor officers, you will see that many more than half of today's motor officers (at least on the East Coast) wear Chip Hi-Shines.
Why? Well, first of all, the boots are inexpensive (especially compared with Dehners). They have a leather lining. They are durable boots, and are very comfortable. Best thing (from my perspective) is that they have a naturally wide calf, so guys with a muscular calf can wear them over pants or breeches (even leather breeches) without a problem. These boots can not be custom-made, so perhaps that's why they make the boots with a wider calf to begin with. It's always easier to tighten the top strap to make them tighter than to have a cobbler do major work on someone else's product to make them fit.
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These boots also break in well, and don't tend to sag or "break badly" at the ankle like calf-leather Dehner Patrol Boots may. The boots maintain their shine easily, with just a damp cloth every now and then bringing them back to their shiny appearance. And while these boots have a patent leather plastic top coat, they just don't get hot like their brothers, the Chippewa Motor Patrol Boots.
An interesting feature to note: if you have a wide calf but a "regular foot," order these boots in the EE width but one size smaller. The calf on the "EE" width is wider.
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Many cops like these boots, and more cops are having lug soles applied to them (according to my cobbler). While the Vibram® rubber sole that is supplied on the boots by Chippewa is quite good, a lug sole provides even better traction and durability.
SUMMARY
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Chippewa Motor Patrol Boots | |
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To maintain a competitive edge in the motor officer boot category, Chippewa makes a bal-laced boot that they call the "motor patrol boot," style number 27950. The boots look nice and are easy to keep shiny. That's because they are made of patent leather -- leather with a plastic coating on it. Instead of using shoe polish, all you need to do is use a damp cloth or perhaps commercial leather wipes and the boots resume their shine. But that's the downfall of these boots, too. Because they are patent leather, they don't breathe. Thus, they get hot. I mean really hot, and have caused my feet to sweat profusely if I wear them in the sun.
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Second, the sole that is used on these boots is just awful. It is called an "Alpha" sole -- that's the name of the manufacturer. The sole is a type of rubber, but I don't think it is vulcanized. That is, the rubber is soft and seems to get close to the melting point when used on a motorcycle and gets anywhere near hot pipes or the engine. The soles have left black marks on my bike's pipes. The marks have been the devil to remove.
Also, the leather on the boot shaft is a bit thinner than Dehners or their Hi-Shine brothers. Thus, it discolors (turns grey) when exposed to heat of a hot motorcycle engine for any length of time.
As I have attended a number of motor officer events over the years and have seen the boots real cops wear, I have seldom seen these boots on their feet, probably for reasons described here. Nice looking boots, but not a good choice for wearing by a real cop or a real biker on a motorcycle.
SUMMARY
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Wesco Motor Patrol Boots | |
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The West Coast Shoe Company ("Wesco") has been offering motor patrol boots since the late '90s. I have a pair of these boots. These U.S.-made boots are rugged and work exceptionally well as designed. The leather is thicker than all other patrol boots I have seen, which is why the few cops I have seen wearing them have said that they get hot sometimes. They are expensive, as well. Their MSRP is just a little bit less than custom Dehner Patrol Boots.
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In summer, 2008, Wesco began to offer a new type of leather for Motor Patrol Boots, called "black tie" polishable leather. This leather is lighter, more flexible, and more comfortable than the "Nautilus" leather previously used for these boots. Boots made of this leather is easier to break in than previous models, and is more flexible and thus more comfortable.
These boots are especially useful in cold weather, because they are warm and quite durable. They can withstand road hazards, such as salt spray, mud, or gravel. They are worn by the Portland, Oregon, PD year-round.
SUMMARY
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Intapol Patrol Boots | |
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Shown here are patrol boots offered by Intapol Industries of New Jersey. One of the interesting features of these boots is a zipper along the seam of the boot shaft to facilitate putting them on and taking them off. They also offer various widths from stock, but do not offer custom sizing. They insert a plastic back stay to ensure the boot doesn't "break bad" at the ankles. The "Amazonas" sole is about as goofy as the sole found on the Chippewa Motor Patrol Boot, in that it must have a low melting temperature and leaves black marks on hot motorcycle pipes. The boots shown here were made in Brazil. The current boot in production (with soft lug soles) is made in India. My opinion: a nice affordable alternative for a bal-laced boot but not really good for regular duty wear on a motorcycle. Quality is questionable.
SUMMARY
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Harley-Davidson Police Enforcer Boots | |
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Another nice alternative bal-laced boot is the H-D Police Enforcer Boot which is made by Wolverine under the Harley brand. These boots were discontinued probably because motor officers wouldn't think of going to a Harley store to buy boots. Also, the boots are made in China and it's unfortunate but true: Chinese-made boots lack a lot in quality. However, these are the most comfortable of all the patrol boots I own. The insole that comes with the boots is outstanding. They are also a bit wider naturally, so they accommodate a larger calf size well, including being able to have leather tucked inside them comfortably. The soles are somewhat soft, but haven't left black marks on my bike's pipes. I really like these boots, but since they were discontinued, they're not available any more.
SUMMARY
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Other Motor Officer Patrol Boots | |
"Raven" Patrol Boots
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"Raven" patrol boots appeared on the internet in mid-summer, 2009. They are marketed by an independent on-line retailer through Amazon and Yahoo storefronts, among other places. The boots are made of rather thin leather that is of questionable quality. The soles are made of thin rubber, not Vibram. Overall, the quality of the boots are cheap. They are made in Pakistan. While orders for the boots are processed in the United States, they boots are shipped from Pakistan and thus take some time to get through customs to the recipient. My opinion: not worth the cost. Real patrol boots (above) are better.
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SUMMARY
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Motorcowboy Police
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www.motorcowboy.com offers a police patrol boot as well. I also intend to check it out, ride with a pair, and report back later. The boots are made of leather from Phuket, Thailand. Is that a good thing, or not? We'll see.
SUMMARY
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Nick's Custom Boots
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www.nickscustomboots.com of Toronto, Canada, offers a police patrol boot. I have had my eye on these boots for a long time. When I can afford it, I'll buy a pair and check them out. Other guys I know who have them have raved about their style and comfort. The boots are made custom only, and are all-leather. Various options are available for the sole and boot top closure.
SUMMARY
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Additional Resources | |
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For general information on police patrol boots, see the "Basics for Bootmen" tutorial that I wrote. It is posted on Hotboots.com, here. It explains all about patrol boots, as well as their history and uses. Technical information and definitions about the various parts of the boot can be found on the "Boot Terminology" guide that I wrote, also on the Hotboots.com website. |
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For information on sizing and fitting of police patrol boots, read this page on the Big Black Boots website. It is written by Ron Belanger, who shares superb information throughout his company's website. (Hint: consider buying boots here! Ron and his partner Rich know their stuff!) |
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For information on weights and quality of leather, see the Complete Guide to Leather Gear that I wrote.
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To see police patrol boots in action, visit the Motorcycle Officer Events and Galleries pages on my website. This is a collection of pictures that I have taken at motor officer events, such as Law Ride® and motorcycle rodeos held in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. |
Guide to Motorcycle Boots (in general)
Information in general about choosing boots
Complete Guide to Leather Gear (oriented to leather fetishism)