How to buy, maintain and repair the best motorbike boots︱Cross Training Enduro

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Blast from the past! Some time ago, I stopped creating weekly supporter videos for viewers who were financially helping to keep the channel afloat. I'm slowly releasing a few of the more popular ones so you may have seen the much shorter version a few years ago. Enjoy!

[@rvltrstudio1484]

Bought a pair of Sg-12 based on this very video a couple of years ago, upgrading from a pair of cheap thors. The thors were falling apart after two seasons and very soft. The gaernes feel like new after 60-70 hours on them and would also look like new if I bothered cleaning them. The only maintenance I do is to religiously put a boot drier in after every ride, no smell, no problem. I also take the time to rince them well with abundant water whenever we get the inside wet while riding, so that no grime remains inside (stale puddle water is nasty). The gaernes cost me about 3.5 times what the thors did, but I can confidently say that they’ll last way more than 3.5 times as long. I took a few spills with the sg12s that I came out mostly unscathed from, I know for a fact that the thors (and my ankle) would have fared much worse. A recent one my ankle got twisted slightly, but the boot did its job and I could walk home without pain. Without the sg-12 I would have badly twisted my ankle.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Smart investment, those boots really are worth it. 😊

[@pjakszentis]

Gaerne SG 12 bought 2017 replacing a pair of Gaerne SG10 bought 2001. Both rock solid quality. Gaerne offers replacement of soles, kind of overhaul, at the factory. I'll try that this winter. Daytona is excellent on touring boots and the reference on track boots (Evo G3). Investment in quality gear always pays off, in protection and service life.

[@michaelcorker7168]

When I got into Adv riding (KTM 690) about 3 years ago I went straight for SG-12s after some research. They had the width @ size 48. Very uncomfortable to start until the memory foam broke in. Now comfy all day. Had a few spills and sustained injury (most recently a hair-line fracture to ankle bone) but the severity reduced due to the level of protection. Yes, can't prove it, but so glad I didn't have Adv boots on the last spill.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

😎👍

[@artisbriska6694]

I'm using Alpinestars tech.7 Enduro dry star. Second year. Very comfortable 😊

[@Shelby8371]

Tech 7 are great . Just wish the buckles were better. Still happy w em

[@someonethatwatchesyoutube2953]

Guarne is the king by a mile for durability and longevity.

[@The4ppleLover]

Riding the second pair of Alpinestars Boots with the mentioned replaceble soles and I am very happy with the boot. Current pair has 2 more seasons of Enduro riding on them after replacing the sole myself and still no end in sight, no issues there.

[@brianq103]

No issues with my Sidi Crossfire 2 SRS's so far after 3 seasons. Switched to the enduro sole for more grip off-road.

[@kymcopyriot9776]

Forma here. Super comfortable although I was told by some riders that they don’t give enough protection and that they’d fall apart. Well they’ve taken a hiding and suffered a couple crashes, including one where the bike fell hard on my foot and they are protective and are holding up perfectly. When these eventually die I’ll buy another pair for sure.

[@JacobSnover]

I use my Sidi enduro boot more than my leatt 5.5 flex. We just got our snow in Michigan the trails are a blast when the snow is fresh, a little more tricky in the ice though without studs 💪

[@Healthfighthunt]

Got a pair of Forma Adventure in a size 14.. really like them and perfect for an older guy with a couple of dirtbikes. Thanks mate for the video!

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Good choice! Those are some really solid boots.

[@BabineauMoto]

My first pair were Shift which were definitely not adequate with no ankle protection. Then I moved to Fox Instinct and never again. However, I have to thank Fox's failure to send me into buying a good boot. Now I have the Forma Predator 2 and they are fantastic.

[@shinyribs2178]

A while back I bought a pair of Bogotto boots. They're the house brand for FCMoto, basically the German version of RevZilla. They were $170 shipped to me in the States. They are WAY better built than my old Tech 7's which literally rotted and crumbled after a couple years. The Bogotto's are stiffer than my Gaerne's while being more comfortable due to a much better hinge design. So far, they've outlasted Alpinestars and Gaerne whole providing more protection and comfort for a fraction of the price. These fashion brand boot manufacturers are ripping us off. There are other options. Oh, and the Alpinestars replacement soles? They would only sell them to me if I agreed to ship my boots back to them to have them installed. The price of the soles and shipping twice across the pond was almost $200. So I took a chance on the Bogotto's instead and am sure glad I did. Stitched sole version, of course. Can't speak for the glued together model.

[@craigmajor2812]

Gaerne SG12 ! 😁👍

[@JustplainPete]

Bought SG12's and had a stack on the first ride with them on.. Front wheel washed out on a rock at about 40km/h, and downed me on the right-hand side, both the bike and my full weight was on my right ankle as it folded under the bike, not only did the boots save me from a certain broken ankle, but you can barely even notice any scuffing on the thing Best $800 I ever spent

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Glad you came out of that one ok!

[@JustplainPete]

@crosstrainingenduro thanks. And thanks also for the effort you guys put into the videos. I have got a lot of great info

[@Giroux68]

Superhero outfits..dogs ..and Megz . What a combo.

[@ml5955]

The best boots I’ve owned have been Sidi. They have held up well, and have protected my feet / ankles very well. However, they were purchased some time ago and manufactured in Italy. I’m sorry to hear they have fallen off in quality. Looks like my next boots will be Gearne.

[@cidercreekranch]

Gaerne oiled adventure boot. They were not my first choice due to the cost. I was going to purchase the non-oiled version but they were out of stock. But the vendor offered a discount of the oiled version and as they say the rest is history.

[@zxcvbnmnz]

Sidi Atojo SRS are my new favorites, lighter than Crossfires and wider so my foot fits in a size smaller without a 1.5cm gap in front of my toes. One boot for trials, enduro and adventure.

[@nishgriff1]

Sidi Crossfire 3's here. I have had them for almost 5 years, hundreds of hours on various bikes. I feel naked riding with anything less. Haven't needed to replace anything yet, though the soles are wearing... They are a bit packed in now, and I'm considering either SG22 or a new set of Crossfires. My two pro friends and their mates all wear Tech 10s... I've considered them... But I DO like the sewn soles.

[@skipperdabio]

The less plastic the better as it gets brittle with age. I’ve got an Italian made pair of Gaerne boots that are around twenty five years old. Can’t beat leather boots made in Italy!

[@cooganbeggs4942]

Great info as usual guys. Gearne are incredible boots. Just make sure you get the correct size because they’ll last you for about 10 years! Truth is they’ll outlast most peoples interest in riding. I had Tech8’s back in the day that lasted pretty good, maybe 3 years. The next pair of tech8’s i bought lasted about 1 year and then I switched to Gearne and 10 years later I’m still wearing the same pair of SG12’s. I have bought the new SG22 in case my SG12’s pack it in but at this rate I’ll be waiting a long time 😂 i imagine even the cheapest Gearnes or Sidis are probably better than most brands. Hand made in Italy - amazing craftsmanship. We need to support companies like this with everything else just declining in quality. Trust me - I’m an industrial designer and I know quality when I see it

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Yeah, that's our experience with Gearne - they are built to last.

[@crazyratt]

Bought first pair of gaerne s12, amazing

[@davehowe_just_an_old_dirtbiker]

I have a can of Lysol spray that I coat the inside of the boots after I dry them good with a fan. I sweat terribly so I have to really keep an eye ...or nose...on the stanch. My wife bought me so bamboo charcoal order absorbers but the jury's still out on how affective they are. ...and, I had a good start to my day, I woke up 😁

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Waking up is always a good thing, Dave... we need to appreciate the important things and not take them for granted!

[@formallynamed85]

I got the g react the mid level garene’s and they are wonderful and have held up well

[@mototrailz]

The real question is: are the SG22 better than the SG12 ? 😁

[@baron30001]

It would be real hard for any boot to be better than an sg12. Haha. The best boots ever in my opinion.

[@mototrailz]

@ agreed

[@cooganbeggs4942]

I’ve got both. I haven’t ridden in the 22’s yet but just trying them on they are significantly more comfortable and much easier to walk in. They are noticeably lighter (although I’m not sure they’re much lighter than the current SG12’s). They have a lower toe box which will help shifting. They also have quite a bit more plastic so it’ll be interesting to see how they last but the quality appears just as good. Overall weight and comfort, the SG22 is the winner but time will tell if they last as long as my 10yo SG12’s 😂

[@eugenesimons3726]

Love the 22. Had a 10 and 2 12’s.

[@TheSuicide222]

mine sg 22 cracked after 40 hours

[@mb2stroke816]

Ive had good luck with Arnette boots. Although I can't ride super often so they wear slower

[@DmitriyAdv]

I have two pairs of Gaerne SG12's and love them. My first pair has probably 300 "engine" hours, and twice that much walking, bike dragging, lunch having...etc hours on it. They're about due for their third sole right now, but the rest of the boot just refuses to die. Only other piece I've replaced is a single buckle. Most of the exterior of the boot is plastic, the leather piece is starting to show a good amount of wear, but is still very serviceable. I use them for all my really "hard" type of riding now, just to try to kill them. They get trashed every ride and refuse to give up. No loss in stiffness or protection either, the old boots feel about the same as my newer pair. I actually don't actually do anything particularly special to maintain them. Often I just wash them at the same time as I wash the bike, trying to be a bit more gentle with the power washer (not get too close) and the same soap I use on my bike. I do use a gentle boot dryer (Peet, love it). Just goes to show that when you buy a product that uses quality materials and craftsmanship, you don't need to baby it. I also have some Forma adventure boots that I rode all over the place, including Alaska. Once I managed to get all the Alaskan dirt and chemicals off of them, they still look pretty damn good. Much better than the Sidi Adventure boots that have way fewer hard miles on them.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Good to hear, Dmitriy. I tend to agree.... you hear a lot of guys saying boots will only fail if you don't clean them very carefully and maintain them. But when you've got a great boot it doesn't seem to really matter.

[@Motofamilyracingteam]

I have the terrible peeling of the fly boots for my daughter. Son and I use alpinestars tech 7. I feel like the soles are weak against the sharp footpegs but haven’t ever detached. I’ve never owned them past couple years old though. I do try to touch the metal screws or latch parts w WD40 after getting cleaned because those have rusted. Not sure if that’s right or not but has solved the rust problem

[@arunvichetroth9391]

In Cambodia I have destroyed 2 Sidi crossfire srs and srs2. Plastic and soles are rubbish, no more Sidi for life. Than I jump for SG12, it is the best boot but I will wear Oneal sierra for easy 30mins ride form home. Oneal sole start to pile off after a few heavy water crossing ride and wet Sg12 become too heavy to ride. Found Leatt 4.5 and 5.5 on amazon for $150, its good for Utah weather and I go with 4.5 since it has a better angle moment.

[@glenobrien727]

For those in South East Queensland , for sole repairs etc see Joes Shoe Repairs Coorparoo , Brisbane , 5 Star workmanship , this guy knows off-road boots (esp. Sidi) plus if he doesn't reckon they are worth repairing he will tell you.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Good to know!

[@7-v4z]

Motion is the universal law, we evolve not die ,although nothing peculiar to the person moves with the soul ,🙏

[@videosbruno]

Acerbis X Rock MM2 🔥👊🏻✊🏻

[@roblalo]

How come No-One ever reviews BMW Boots ??? I've had a pair of GS Pros for 10+ years and they are absolutely the best I've ever owned !

[@chillozz1]

only use SIDE's for trial i have a pair sidi trial boots. i had for over 12years sidi crossfire 2. Know i have the sidi crossfire 3 SRS. Dont now iff the RSR is the better option.. Time should tell me that. The hyperextsension lock i liked that option olso realy much. think that is a great extra option

[@DETH_FROM_ABOVE]

I have SG12's, they have saved my foot a few times now. How long are boots expected to last?

[@anotherider2]

My Gaerne boots lasted close to 15 years of regular rides and next to no cleaning, always comfy. Their Axo replacements were in a far worse condition after only three years. Cheaper but false economy.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Hard to say. A rough rule of thumb? Assuming a ride every two weeks? Very cheap boots will probably only last a year or two but you'll find exceptions of course. At the other extreme there are guys who have SG12s that lasted 10 to 20 years (with a resole). Our group rides almost every weekend and somewhere between six to eight years is the norm.

[@DETH_FROM_ABOVE]

@@crosstrainingenduro Thats what I was hoping. Thanks for the reply.

[@dathonlawler81]

“ you’ll be dead soon, ride more”😂😂😂

[@janniksims5740]

O'Neal were the worst boots I ever had. Followed closely by an alpinestar tech 10. My gaerne boots have been holding up now for almost 5 years of Motocross racing and 2 years of adventure/rally style riding. I will buy new boots now and I will definitely go gaerne again. The top of the line tcx from my dad have been solid for years of Mx racing as well and now he is using them as his adv boots. Solid piece of kit as well

[@mikelowry007]

3 years of hard abuse and i just lost a seam on the side of the heel on my sidi. If i find a companu to resole in the US, i hope they will glue that as well. 😅 The sidi probably got 200hrs on them, so i cant blame sidi.

[@gottlobwut4742]

Enduro/Hard Enduro/MX -> Gaerne Soft Enduro/Street Enduro/Street -> Daytona . My opinion. (Riding since 1982)

[@SkankHardEnduro]

I got the TCX Comp evo 2 with Michelin soles a few months ago, they're holding up very good so far and all I do is hard enduro (even did a little review on them), in fact, after buying them I don't wear my SG12s anymore. Surprised you rated the brand so badly. If you're riding hard and often and get 1 year out of a boot IMO you're doing ok. Those boots you showed in the video falling apart look like they been used and abuse for years.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I'd certainly hope they were holding up after just a few months! Even the cheapest nastiest boots should generally last more than a year to avoid warranty claims. TCX boots used to be made in Italy which is generally where all the best boots are made. Then they transferred manufacture to Romania for their top boots, and China for their cheaper models. Typically an Italian made Gaerne SG12 will cost about 20% more the Evo 2 (at least here in Australia). My personal take is if the boot lasts twice as long, then that's good value. Everyone I know gets at least six years out of their SG12s. And there are guys who report between 10 and 20 years.

[@SkankHardEnduro]

@@crosstrainingenduro i ride 3-5 times a week, 2=3 hour training/work out sessions, and the boots are holding up, i agree long term will be the true test. My sidi Atojo soles feel off after 2 rides. Sidi told me to F off!!! I repaired them with 3M auto wind shield glue. Been following your channel for 5 years, Like your content. Keep it up

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Unfortunately Sidi have really nose dived in recent years. Not everyone gets a bad set of boots, but it's pretty often and just shouldn't happen for the price they are charging.

[@loopeyshooter503]

I have the old tcx pro. 2s with the booty, pretty sure they are over 15 years old and still doing the job. If I saw them in any shops I'd try them on for sure but no luck. Seriously considering the sg12s.

[@bryanreeme8584]

quarter cup of mouthwash in a tub of h2o is best trick I've learned for stank boots/socks.. like magic

[@burkaanc]

got sg12, at least a half size larger than my usual boots, cant wear them as i get terrible pain in heel, and top/side of fot around lower buckle, even if they arent closed un most rides, now thinking what to do.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Bummer. Usually the only fitment issue is some guys find them tight around the ankles. But shoving a pile of rags or newspaper to widen that area usually fixes this. 🤔

[@Shelby8371]

Get Tech 7s - you can work in em for 8hrs a day they’re that comfortable

[@イエンスヨハンセン]

I wear formas because they fit. I have short wide feet…

[@cHaotix210]

Here in Philippines sir we replace the sole with our offroad tires then parts of the boots that are damage is replace by inner tube of trucks or hd tubes. 😁

[@crosstrainingenduro]

magandang ideya, ginoo... murang mura!

[@gearhigher2027]

GARNE S12 PERIOD!

[@splintergg]

Disagree with you on the stitched sole boots, I've just replaced my Tech7's after over 13 years of abuse, not one screw needed 👍

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Interesting! Apparently the problem is worse in recent years as certain glues were banned in the EU due to health risks. It sounds as though your boots were before that time, and also a worked applied glue liberally!

[@gottlobwut4742]

Meg Braap in your vid? 😳 Double like!😘

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Rode a lot with her on two visits to Canada so whe pops up regularly!

[@pitchwife7573]

alpinestars tech3 are the cheapest of their lineup and are CRACKING boots!

[@edsteward7717]

I always loved the tech 6, until they discontinued them. The year they ended I bought 2 pair. Lasted me 6 years.

[@tubeme4vr]

I always wash my sg22 with pressure washer 🙄. Damn it. I will take a step back and use a brush.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

They seem to be so well made I doubt it's an issue. But I'd be less likely to do it with other boots. Or at least not spray too closely.

[@ENDUROMAD7]

Leatt 5.5s for people with a wide foot, tech 7s etc far too narrow, unfortunately

[@chrishhm]

Sg12

[@tjpighin]

The alpine souls didn't work for me. Waste of money and that was taking it to a cobbler

[@dougdunedainownerofthedoom2205]

Boots will always be the most expensive piece of gear you own apart from your bike.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Yep, you get what you pay for with motorcycle boots.

[@minkusmcminkus7598]

Good for the soul

[@dirtbikesicehockey4788]

What? No slippers?

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I'll do a vid about boots for night riding soon.

[@ljprep6250]

That means my moccasins are right outta there, eh? Darn.