After you have pulled the plug and purchased your first motorcycle whether it be a Harley-Davidson or not, you are going to need quite a bit of gear. Sure you can ride without a helmet and safety gear, however it is really smart to purchase various protective gear to ensure that if you are involved in a motorcycle accident, your risk of injury is reduced as much as possible. If you want to wear “all the gear, all the time” as the saying goes, then you are going to at the very least need a helmet, a riding jacket, riding gloves, maybe even riding pants, and some motorcycle boots. Motorcycle boots are not only essential for look cool, but also for protecting the rider from injury and the heat the motorcycle gives off, in addition to a variety of other things.
There are a variety of different companies that produce motorcycle boots of all styles. However many people choose to stay brand loyal with one of the most popular companies in all of motorcycling: Harley-Davidson. Harley-Davidson has been around since 1903 when they were founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Since the company was founded it was not long until the began building some of the highest brand loyalty among their consumers, compared to other motorcycle manufacturers. It was this brand loyalty that allowed them to be one of two major American motorcycle manufactures to service through the Great Depression. The company then decided to break out into other motorcycle related industries, most notably clothing, gear, and motorcycle accessories. Harley-Davidson sells leather jackets, boots, helmets, various accessories, and other goods. We are going to take a look at some of the various boots that the company makes.
Starting at the low end of the Harley-Davidson boot selection are the Carter Performance Boots. These boots are an introduction in motorcycle boots that provide the user with basic function at the lowest price point. These boots are made for Harley-Davidson by the Wolverine Boot company. The boots themselves are made from lightweight black leather and a EVA rubber outsole. There is a removable sock lining on the inside, and the Harley-Davidson logo on the top near the ankle. On a side note, Harley-Davidson made $40 million last year alone on licensing their brand name and logo. The boots feature a YKK locking zipper on the inside, to make it easy taking them on and off and Goodyear Welt Construction, which according to Harley is “the most durable method for bonding the sole to the boot”. The boots have a shaft height of 6 inches and a heel height of 1.25 inches. They are also abrasion, slip, and oil resistant. These entry level riding boots are $148 dollars.
Now if all you care about is contemporary style, with no added function at all, then the Darrol Boots are for you. These boots come in either brown or black and are considerably more stylish than the Carter Performance Boots (at least in my opinion). These boots are part of Harley-Davidson’s “Black Label” footwear collection. They are made from full grain leather and a simulated leather outsole. The sole of the boots are made from rubber and they also abrasion, slip, and oil resistant. These boots cost $150 dollars.
For a more traditional style motorcycle boot, check out the Parker Performance Boots. These boots have a much higher shaft height and feature a side zipper and three heavy-duty straps located on the outside of the boot. The benefit of straps is that you never have to worry about your shoe laces coming united when riding. These boots are made from quality leather and cost $190 dollars.
If you are looking for a more “outlaw” or cowboy styled type of boot, then you should check out the Hustin Waterproof Performance Boots. These boots are some of the nicer boots that Harley-Davidson sells. The feature a massive shaft height of 11 inches ensuring high levels of protection. In addition to being abrasion, oil, and slip resistant these boots are also waterproof. The leather is waterproof and additionally the boots have a Hydro Guard waterproof membrane, ensuring that your feet will remain dry.
Finally the top-of-the-line boots that Harley-Davidson sells are the FXRG-3 Performance Boots, which are also their most expensive at $254 dollars. The boots are made from oiled waterproof leather and breathable Cordura underlays. There is also a breathable Gore-Tex waterproof membrane inside these boots. There are also shock absorbs throughout the boots to ensure comfort. These combined factors make for a solid motorcycle boot.
Hopefully this small list can help you decide which type of motorcycle boots are for you. For more information check out Harley-Davidson’s website.
Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Boot Photos from harley-davidson.com
