Best Motorcycle Riding Shoes Riders Choice
We don’t all want to arrive at work wearing big cumbersome motorcycle boots so some bright spark decided to create motorcycle shoes.
What are the best motorcycle riding shoes? Arrive in style at your favorite restaurant or turn up at work with any of these five top motorcycle riding shoes. Watch our in-depth review video to see the best motorcycle riding shoes in action.
Click the links below for more information on any of the motorcycle riding boots mentioned in this video.
TCX X-Wave Waterproof Riding Shoes
Those of us who play in the Moto industry know the TCX X-Wave riding shoes available from Amazon are the other waterproof shoe from TCX, by that I mean that the X-Wave walks in a shadow, a shadow cast by the legendary TCX X-Street and its recent replacement the TCX Street-Ace.
Collectively they make the go-to riding shoes for pretty much every street motorcyclist everywhere ever.
I prefer the underdog X-Wave because it’s softer, softer leather and more importantly a more flexible sole. I’ve spent 12-hour days walking in both the X-Wave and the X-Street, in either shoe I was comfortable but only in the X-Wave did I forget that I was wearing motorcycle footwear at all.
It’s cloud level comfortable, it’s also kind of protective. I have really good ankle armor on each side, CE rated but the heel counter in the toe cup is more mediocre. You’re sacrificing some safety here versus the X-Street, but to be honest, riding shoes aren’t all that protective, to begin with so I think it’s worth it.
The X-Waves waterproof riding shoe membrane is extremely soft and it doesn’t suffocate my foot. I want a shoe for the XSR 900 review which involved 10 hours on a blacktop runway in 35-degree heat, by the end of the day I’d stripped off every piece of motorcycle clothing I brought except these shoes which were still cool enough to wear.
The X-Wave comes with a removable shifter strap that goes around the toe area but the thing was useless, it kept migrating up the toe and it was also annoying to walk on. I actually lost mine because I never wanted to use it.
With distressed full-grain leather, I don’t really care that my shifter leaves a mark. Fit wise the X-Wave runs slim, some people call that a European cut but feet are the same everywhere so I’m just going to call it stylish.
The closure is done with the very typical shoelaces that you learn to tie in kindergarten, yes it’s theoretically possible that you could catch one on a footpeg and topple over at the next stoplight but fashion is a pain.
Features:
Sex: Man
Waterproof: Yes
Gore-tex: No
Closure system: Laces
Selector reinforcement: No
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In front of me, I have two flavors of TCX X-Wave WP waterproof all the way to the top. Starting under the $200 mark it’s my brown version and my Black version, again these are in the same family as that X-Street or the X-Rrap as well as the X-Groove.
The X-Wave Air is the same price but they’re using Cordura and swatted materials with mesh so again, three-season warm to hot weather riding and you’re going to get airflow. Currently, it only comes in a black version. I would love to see an all-black version or a version that doesn’t have some of the hi-vis behind the mesh option.
If we look at it, whether your waterproof or whether your air versions it’s going to be higher than the X-Groove and again full-grain leather. Waterproof all the way up there’s no internal zipper like the new X-groove the X-Wave is more simple in its design.
I will tell you though that it is not as protective as the x-Street. The X-Street has about a 6 or a 7 out of 10 on the stiff scale on the sole, this guy’s about a 5 out of 10. A little bit more lightweight in the toe box, a little bit more lightweight in the heel but the ankle is rock solid. So rock-solid protection medially and laterally on the outside.
A quick note on sizing. If you think about the size chart from TCX they have typically been just fine within the American market. I will tell you on the X-groove of the X-Wave they got a hair more narrow.
So if you have a wider foot look at that X-Street, if you’re a more average foot or you’re used to wearing more Italian style shoes they’re not overly narrow they’re just a slightly more narrow footbed.
If we dive into some of the nuances you’re going to notice there’s no footpad or no shift pad reinforcement. You have light TCX embossing on the medial side, I actually really like how this supports the ankle and the lower leg up towards the top of the ankle cup.
If we move around maybe a little dash of reflectivity blacked-out hidden away would be nice.
If I swap it out really quickly for my black version get a quick shot of the black you’re going to notice it’s that dark matte finish oiled on the black I actually like the black better than I like the brown but that’s just my personal taste.
The air version remember has the see-through mesh with the high vis backing and I’m hoping they do another version that’s just black on black tonal which will be rock-solid. This bad boy is going to flow way more air but not be waterproof for summertime riding conditions.
Alpinestars Parlor Riding Shoes
My next choice is the Alpinestars Parlor riding shoes available from Amazon. This is a caviar and chateau Lafite kind of shoe. What you have with the Alpinestars Parlor Boots is a motorcycle shoe designed to go under dress pants.
Italian leather, classic cut, slightly pointed toe and none of the shifter panels, the logos and the other telltale signs of motorcycle footwear. For all your co-workers will know this is just a dress shoe.
Perhaps slightly chunky since the toe is padded to withstand standard abuse and the round ankle plates are best covered up, but still, it’s a chameleon. Protection is identical to that W-Wave we just talked about.
It has really good Armour on both the pointy bits, my ankle. Its dual-density for progressive impact absorption, then the toe box in the heel counter are more average and the sole is flexible and walkable if not that protective.
Had Alpinestars ended it there, the parlor still would have made this list. The usefulness of a dress motorcycle shoe is undeniable for commuters who wear a suit to work. but Alpinestar’s earn their place among the best riding shoes twice over by working in some hidden features.
They addressed the membrane which gets a passing grade for waterproofing and breathability and the sole has laser-ablated a grip which is just a fancy way of saying there are tiny ridges so you won’t slip on any oily asphalt.
My only beef with this shoe has to do with putting it on. For one there’s a side zipper and it’s totally unnecessary, I mean if you’re doing a lace-up design just let me tie the laces and leave the rest of the leather seamless.
The other thing I hate is that there’s a stitch on the insole, it’s really weird. It feels like there’s something stuck underneath my foot for the first five minutes every time I wear the parlor.
Features:
Full-grain leather upper construction
CE certified to CE 89/686/EEC – CAT 2
Traditional lacing system for convenient and secure closure
Soft, breathable textile interior lining throughout the shoe
Water-resistant Drystar breathable membrane for protection from the elements
Dual-density ankle protectors backed with soft padding for comfort and support
Shift pad inner foam inserts for a more durable contact surface with gear shift
Inner heel counter and toe-box reinforcement for support and protection
Alpinestars Faster 3 Rideknit Shoes
Now we’re going to move towards a sport style with the Alpinestars faster 3 riding shoes available from Amazon. Don’t let the technical design fool you, this is still a very casual shoe in terms of protection and comfort.
Yes there’s a toe box, heel counter, and ankle armor but it’s all quite soft, the same goes for the sole. The toe slider is better than nothing but it certainly isn’t a proper replaceable brick. In fact, if you ride like a real boss, they’ll grind through the pliable plastic in no time.
The faster 3 looks great under jeans and it has that European F1 inspired look, it’s also extremely lightweight to walk in. The pricing is very aggressive around the $200 mark and they make it in men’s and women’s waterproof and regular versions.
Alpinestars is gearing up to sell a lot of these shoes, and I think they will because casual Sporty’s are quite rare. Normally sportbike Footwear is smacked with enough hard parts to choke a rhino but I like that Alpinestars resisted the temptation.
Sure, this microfiber chassis will withstand the heat of an engine, the faux carbon-fiber makes a decent surface for shifting, the velcro strap holds my laces out of the way and I get a smidgen activity at the back.
But, despite all the motorcycling benefits, this is still more of a comfortable shoe than a protective one and if you’ve ever heard the term squid, you know there’s a market for that.
A couple of things I don’t like. For one Alpinestars nicked the reflective eyelets from the first generation in favor of this speed lacing system derived from technology developed in MotoGP.
For all, I can tell these are just basic shoelaces only they aren’t shiny anymore. Also, the shoe runs really narrow at the ball of the foot, so wider feet should be where.
Features:
Tongue and collar padding provides high levels of comfort and fits around the ankle and instep
Internal toe box and heel counter reinforcement is layered under the upper for a more ergonomic design
3D mesh lining for high levels of breathability with anti-slip micro-suede in the heel
Replaceable anatomical EVA footbed with Lycra lining on top
Absorption and features an integrated support shank for enhanced sole rigidity
Extremely lightweight, specifically compounded, rubber sole provides textured grip, excellent.
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Alpinestars S-MX 3 Riding Shoes
If I want bulletproof safety from a shorty riding shoe what can I get? For a sport rider, it has always been the Alpinestars S-MX 3 riding shoes available from Amazon. Yes, this is the exact same recommendation I made last year and yes this is the third Alpinestars in a row.
Sorry CD-speed ride, sorry CD-burner I choose the shoe that I like best whether they make a nice variety video or not. So, our S-MX 3 is the archetypical aggressive sports shoe.
I get a proper replaceable toe slider, rigid steel shank sole for quick foot controls, shifter grip panel hardshell heel cockpit, rock-solid toe box, no ankle armor though which is a bummer.
At least the contoured upper is meant to interface with an Alpine Start shin protector and the chassis itself is full-grain leather so abrasion resistance is not an issue.
The S-MX 3 is a full-on racing shoe at 7 inches and that height is important. See, Alpinestars knows that a rock-hard racer is only going to be walkable if it’s low enough. That’s why they gave me a dropped Achilles cutout to facilitate ankle movement.
Features:
CE approved
Clasp closure
Velcro top collar
TPU injected shift pad
Breathable textile lining
Microfibre upper for comfort
Ankle, heel and toe reinforcements
Replaceable TPU injected toe slider
Front and rear accordion flex zones
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Firstgear Kathmandu Lowe Riding Shoes
Finally, a very protective ADV and the dual-sport option would be the Firstgear Kathmandu Lowe riding shoes available from Amazon. Most ATV riders don’t actually use shorties because they have a nasty habit of dropping motorcycles onto their feet. But, there are some ATV riders, myself included, who prefer a short shoe when the adventure goes beyond the two-wheel territory it’s nice to have something I can hike in.
The toe heel and ankle protection make an absolute tank out of my foot and then there’s a grippy heat shield on the inner side, which is nicer when I’m standing up and pinching against the engine casing for stability.
Speaking of which, this sole is rigid enough to provide a stable platform for the standing riding position, it’s also durable enough to survive serrated metal footpegs. The shifter panel is durable too, a proper semi-rigid plastic to withstand sharp shifts.
Despite all that adventure spec, the Katmandu low is still walkable. At eight inches the ankle movement is blissfully free and unlike every other shoe on my list, the sole is within spitting distance of a proper hiker.
For one, the waterproof and breathable membrane in here keeps me dry for two seasons at best, this stuff doesn’t last.
Also breathable is a misnomer because the Katmandu Low is stuffy. First gear stitched a mesh comfort liner overtop for better airflow which only helps a wee bit. Also, these are the worst buckles I’ve seen in recent memory, doing them up means threading a lever through the loop and that’s not really an easy thing to do.
The Katmandu Low is still my favorite ADV shorty and one of the only ones to hit our market since my beloved Icon patrols got the shoe.
I do wish that first gear gave us an inner shoe to make a tight seal because as it is, this shoe gapes at the top a fair bit but beggars can’t be choosers.
I should finally mention that this is genuine leather mixed with not so genuine synthetics and that keeps the price to a low one hundred and seventy-five dollars.
Features:
Comfortably padded interior and tongue
Waterproof-breathable, full-leather upper
Lightweight, low-profile, treaded outer sole
Shift pad with debossed texture for added grip
The dual-buckle closure is fully adjustable and goes on-and-off quickly.
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Those are my favorite riding shoes, thanks for reading.
