Breaking in your boots? How to? How much do they improve?

[Tazmool]

Greetings Everyone, 

After a long search, both on reasons for, and looking into what to get, I ended up getting a pair of boots made for 'Adv' riding (also for some more serious dirt riding)

A long search for best price, what size to get etc, I got a pair of Alpinestars Toucan boots:

This is my second pair, as the 1st was too narrow, 1/2 size up & these fit ok.

 

I'm no stranger to boots, and heavy footwear, but after just one ride and a bit of walking around in them, this has got to be the worst (stiffest) pair of boots I have ever owned....
The only boots that I remember being stiffer than these, are ski boots....

 

The one ride I had while wearing these boots, I can't feel and barely manipulate the shifter and rear brake!?!

 

I do understand that these require a bit of "break in"  but how is this done? 
Do you just "power through" by wearing them more?  keep riding? 
How long does this break-in take?  and how much do the boots improve? 

Reviewers seem to like these boots....

 

Any insights and experience would be appreciated.

 

Tazmool

[Stevoh]

Power through method for sure, I bought a pair of Forma adventure boots, they wore in pretty quick actually, but when I ride on the road I still struggle with gear change, but as soon as I hit the dirt it seems the struggle magically disappears. I think it's true that boots are at their very best and most comfortable when they  are ragged ripped and nackered and just about ready for the bin!

Nice looking boots those Alpinestars though.

Edited April 2, 2021 by Stevoh

[Idarex]

Ditto for me... I’ve got a pair of Alpinestar Tech 1.  After the first ride, I never wanted to wear them again.  Now, two years later, they are broken in.  I only use them dirt biking but they are very comfortable.  The real problem with them is I still can’t feel the shifter or brake.  Totally sucks.  I don’t think these boots will ever come correct.

[BADDANDY]

That's the tradeoff, Motorcross boots, or ones having the same armor, no feel, stiff, and noisy. Hate wearing them, but oh the protection!  Adv boots, light armor, no break-in needed, plenty of feel, waterproof, and very comfortable on and off the bike.  Love em, but I'm not gonna wear these riding my dirtbikes.

Edited April 2, 2021 by BADDANDY

[ADVUSA]

40 minutes ago, Idarex said:

Ditto for me... I’ve got a pair of Alpinestar Tech 1.  After the first ride, I never wanted to wear them again.  Now, two years later, they are broken in.  I only use them dirt biking but they are very comfortable.  The real problem with them is I still can’t feel the shifter or brake.  Totally sucks.  I don’t think these boots will ever come correct.

 

As I understand from others and I'm sure you know this,  the rigidity is what will help prevent a broken ankle or insured foot much better than an adventure boot.

I'm glad a learned this and will need to keep adapting.

[Hibobb]

2 hours ago, Tazmool said:

 

I do understand that these require a bit of "break in"  but how is this done? 
Do you just "power through" by wearing them more?  keep riding? 
How long does this break-in take?  and how much do the boots improve? 

 

 

[Louis]

I broke my boots in walking the dogs at night in the dark, so I didn't look like a goose! Also works for jackets in the cooler months. 

[rumrum]

I bought a pair of Forma Terras. just like any other boot just got to wear them as much as possible, yo do get used to them after a while. What I don't like was the little metal toe guards that come with them. Every time you walk on a hard surface its like your wearing tap dancing shoes or have a stone wedged in the tread.

[Canadian-t7]

Yeah those look more like a motocross boot and as such they may get more comfortable,  but they won't bend or flex more.  They take getting use to but if you plan on riding any  moderate to difficult terrain  they are worth there weight in gold.  I laughed when you said ski boots, that's more or less accurate. Imagine trying to ski in soft leather boots.......

You may need to adjust brake and gear lever height to better suit the boots too. Good luck. 

[Tazmool]

Thanks for the insights everyone, 
I think I will start just wearing the boots on walks and try to break them in that way (on the bike I'll swap them in every once in a while and just power through it)

These Toucan boots are actually Alpinestars adventure boots, they are an older model and their most armoured up ADV boot (as far as I can tell, I believe their Corozal adventure boots are next and somewhat more comfort oriented)

I wanted good protection for when taking the T7 off road.
Motocross boots are even taller, more buckles, and stiffer (I guess? have not tried those)

 

Tazmool

[delirium]

Just walk in deep water few minutes then ride on to dry and repeat. This is Eskimos way.

Edited April 4, 2021 by delirium

[Doc Brown]

On 4/3/2021 at 6:40 PM, Tazmool said:

Motocross boots are even taller, more buckles, and stiffer (I guess? have not tried those)

 

Tazmool

I am sure you will get used to the boots. I have Gaerne SG12 and they are stiff as concrete. In the beginning I had too look down to see if my foot was on the brake. Took half a year until I got used to them. Now when I wear lighter, more comfy boots or just normal bike boots I don't feel protected  

[Spacejunky]

You can even wear them around the house. If they're still brand new, you won't have to worry about dirtying up yoru home with your dirtbike boots. You can get many hours of boot time that way.

As others have noted, it requires a change in how you shift. My Sidis are so stiff that I can't bend my ankle up or down to upshift/downshift. Shifting has become a full lower leg movement; ankle stays rigid, so I use my entire foot to shift. It's well worth the trouble. I've banged off rocks, become pinned under the bike, cut it too close to a tree stump and wedged my leg between the stump and the bike, and came away with zero injury.

Before getting my Sidis, I had a pair of steel toe boots. I slammed a foot into a rock with those and broke my toe (what an amazing shade of purplish black it turned). They were clearly not made for the moto; they fell apart in the middle of my ride, with the sole separating itself from the boot. I had to zip tie my boots together to get home. Stick with the Alpinestars!

[Unimogbert]

I'm wearing Gaerne Midlands. I've had a hard time feeling the brake on my R100GS because I wasn't sure I was moving the brake lever or just pushing the boot toe down over air.  After 5 years I still am not completely sure. It doesn't help that the GS rear brake is so weak.

 

As to break-in, you could consider mowing the lawn in them or going for short hikes.  Or just ride in them a lot.

[DazR]

Adventure boots= Adventure bike riding ....... Motorcross Boots = Motorcross bike riding.....never let the 2 meet,  and the problem disappears