Buying the right dirt bike boots is essential to your safety and comfort while riding. The last thing you want to do is to purchase a high-quality pair of motocross boots and discover they’re too big or too small. To help, we’ve created this guide to ensure you find the perfect fit the first time.
In this article, you’ll learn how to size dirt bike boots yourself and what the ideal dirt bike boot fit entails. We’ll discuss some of the best tools you can use to make this process easier, as well as information you’ll need to know to make the most informed decision possible.
Get a General Size By Comparing Shoes You Currently Own
Finding the perfect size for your dirt bike boots can be tricky, especially for your first pair. An easy way to start this process is to compare the sizes of shoes you already own.
Start your research for the ideal dirt bike boot size by comparing the sizes of your most comfortable casual, athletic, and hiking shoes. The goal is to see which size you tend to wear most and consider how your feet feel when wearing these shoes for extended periods.
There are a few reasons why you’ll want to start your sizing journey with shoes you own rather than going to an athletics store and trying on motocross boot after boot.
- The first reason is that these shoes are easily accessible from home.
- The second being that you know how these shoes feel, both laterally and horizontally, which will help ensure you find a dirt bike boot that matches.
Your current shoe size will be the same as your motocross or dirt bike boots size
The last reason why it is wise to start with shoes you own is because it is highly likely that these shoes are made by major corporations rather than small, niche companies.
This is important because corporations take extra care to adhere to industry standards for sizing versus niche brands that tend to run a bit large or small in comparison.
Here’s a video showing how to size and select a good motocross boot:
One of the best places to find Dirt Bikes Boots Here from Amazon where you can find almost every brand and size.
Get an Exact Measurement Using a Brannock Device and Sizing Charts
Now that you have a general idea of your preferred dirt bike boot size, it’s time to establish an exact measurement using standardized tools.
A Brannock device is the standard tool used by shoe salespeople to measure foot length and width. This will give you the exact horizontal and lateral measurements you need for shoe size conversion using charts.
While you could easily purchase a Brannock device online, a more cost-effective alternative would be to take a trip to your local shoe store where these tools are easily accessible.
Once you have these measurements, use them to find your US, UK, and EU shoe sizes. You can find a chart with all these metrics and conversions in both men’s and women’s sizes here.
Find Your Tipping Size
By now, you should have a fairly decent ideal of what your ideal shoe size might be for your dirt bike boots. However, before you move forward to the next step, we recommend finding your tipping size.
Your tipping size is essentially the nearest shoe size that suits you in the instance that a standard size doesn’t match your needs.
For example, if you used the Brannock device to measure your feet and found that you lie somewhere between a size 8.5 and a size 9, then your tipping size would be whichever shoe size you go up or down towards for the best fit.
This is important to know because not all dirt bike boots are made the same. Some will require you to measure up or down, and some are made of materials that will give more when broken in compared to others.
Knowing whether you tend to opt for a larger or smaller size in these instances will help you choose the right dirt bike boot the first time.
Here’s another video with more insight to the different types of riding boots:
One of the best places to find Dirt Bikes Boots Here from Amazon where you can find almost every brand and size.
Consider Boot Type and Materials
With your shoe size in mind, the next factor of this process you’ll want to consider before purchasing your dirt bike boot is the boot type and its materials.
When it comes to riding dirt bikes, most individuals will opt for a durable and comfortable pair of dirt bike or motocross boots. However, some will opt for alternative boot types, such as:
- Enduro boots
- Trail boots
- Track boots
- Touring boots
Each of these boot types features its own unique design that will affect how the boot fits. Material plays a particularly key role here because they will affect the boot’s rigidity, protection, and how much the boot stretch and conform to your feet over time.
Some boot types are made predominantly of leather, which will stretch over time versus those made with TPU paneling and molded plastic components that will need to fit perfectly from the start.
Another design factor you’ll want to keep in mind is whether you’re purchasing a short-cut versus a full-length boot.
This refers to the height of the boot’s coverage up your legs, so you’ll have to consider how it feels around your shins and calves just as much as your feet.
Understand What the Perfect Fit Feels Like
The last step of this process is being able to determine whether your dirt bike boot fits perfectly or not. Most motocross or dirt bike boots give little room for error, so it is crucial to know what you’re looking for before you start trying them on.
When a dirt bike or motocross boot fits perfectly it should feel tight around your feet and legs without being uncomfortable. If you’ve ever heard the phrase “it fits like a glove” that’s what we’re looking for here; a shoe that is essentially fitted to your foot but not too tight.
This tight fit ensures maximum maneuverability, control, and protection. Additionally, it keeps your ankle joints stables, which prevents excessive lateral movement that could cause discomfort and even result in injury.
Because a majority of dirt bike and motocross boots are made with durable plastics and similarly rigid materials, you don’t want to rely on the process of breaking them in to loosen your fit.
Some will stretch widthwise but very few will provide extra room toe room over time, which is why you should always opt for a fit that is too big over one that is too small if you don’t have the option of a closer, more comfortable wear. If the boot is too small, there’s virtually nothing you can do to increase your comfort, versus a shoe that is too big can be better fitted using thick socks, interior padding, and other items.
Final Thoughts
Finding the best motocross/dirt bike boot size might require some trial and error but following this guide will undoubtedly help the process go smoothly from your first measurements to the final purchase.
Remember to check the boot company’s sizing and measurement charts to guarantee you choose the size that suits you best.