Best Motorcycle Track Boots

Troy Siahaan
by Troy Siahaan

The most technologically advanced things you can put on your feet

Updated March 2021

Motorcycle track boots might look outlandish to some, but you don’t fully appreciate your feet or your ankles until you can’t use them anymore – that’s why you want the best boots you can afford. seemingly benign motorcycle accidents can be brutal if there’s damage to the feet or ankles. It used to be (and sometimes still is) the norm to simply wear leather work boots or military-style boots on a motorcycle, but if you’re piloting technologically advanced vehicles like sportbikes, you should have the best motorcycle track boots out there. Here, we’ve gathered some of the best track boots currently available on the market. Though they all perform the same basic function, each brand has its own specific methodologies.

Here they are, in no particular order:

Table of Contents

Alpinestars Supertech R – $500

Alpinestars started as a boot company, making hiking shoes for folks to climb the Italian alps. Since then, premium footwear has been at the heart of the company. The Supertech R boot is the pinnacle in Alpinestars’ track footwear lineup. The secret sauce for the Supertech boot is the internal bootie, aka the Biomechanical Ankle Brace. To sum it up in a few words, two fiberglass reinforced polyamide braces act as hinges on each side, allowing the ankle to only move in its natural direction (up and down) and preventing movement side-to-side. It works in conjunction with the outer boot (the part visible to the outside world) to provide ultimate impact, abrasion, and rotational protection, while still being thin enough to give the rider maximum feel of the motorcycle’s controls.

Dainese Axial D1 – $550

The Dainese Axial D1 boot is unique among race boots because it is the only boot where the upper portion is placed inside your leathers (Dainese leathers specifically, though custom suit makers can build their suits to accommodate). The result is a lightweight boot that still provides the same level of protection as anything else out there. Dainese’s D-Axial system is an articulated structure built into the boot that helps protect against twisting of the ankle. It also serves to distribute impact energy across the entire boot, and it’s the last line of defense in case a foreign object were to penetrate the outer surface of the boot – which in itself will be highly unlikely to happen considering the D-Stone fabric is a heavily reinforced nylon.

TCX RT-Race Pro Air – $500

The TCX RT-Race Pro Air is the Italian company’s premium offering in the racing segment, constructed from a microfiber base featuring TCX’s Double Flex Control System, which uses the large blade-like support brace at the rear of the boot to essentially control forward or backward movement of the ankle. Taking the boot on or off is through the zippered opening found on the outer edge of the boot, with a ratcheting calf closure at the top, finished off with the F.F.C., or Fasten Fit Control lacing system. On the inner side of the boot you’ll find a large swath of abrasion resistant microfiber to provide maximum feel of the motorcycle. Speaking of which, the RT-Race Pro’s sole features a double compound rubber designed in conjunction with Michelin inspired by the Power Supersport Evo tire. Other features include magnesium toe sliders and heel plate (check with your racing org if these are legal).

RST TracTech Evo III - $271

The TracTech Evo III is a waterproof boot from RST that has been developed with countless hours on the road and on the track. A new sole is bonded to a redesigned heel guard that features nearly full wrap-around protection from impacts. The enlarged toe box offers better impact protection compared to past RST race boots while also giving a little more room for those with wider feet. Little details like a calf expansion panel makes the boot more comfortable for a larger swatch of riders, and a TPU shin protector keeps flying objects from hurting your shins.

One of the most important jobs of a race boot is to keep your feet from moving in ways it shouldn’t. RST uses hinged ankle supports to ensure your ankle only moves in its natural range and doesn’t overextend. The SinAqua waterproof and breathable membrane keeps your feet dry and comfortable even in wet conditions.

Sidi ST Air Motorcycle Boots – $350

A long-trusted name in motorcycle boots, the Sidi ST Air boot is another in a long line of race boots. The Air in the name indicates the boot’s desire to breathe, and the perforation located up and down the boot shows its serious about flowing lots of air. Protection-wise, the external ankle brace system limits the amount the ankle is able to bend in any direction while making sure it only moves in the ways it’s supposed to. A thick, screw-on heel counter protects the sensitive heel/Achilles area, and the screw-on toe sliders add a thick layer of protection between the pavement, the boot, and your toes.

As far as comfort goes, Sidi’s exclusive cam-lock buckle system makes it easy to take the boot on or off. When donning the boot, you can then adjust the buckle for a tight fit around your calf. There’s double stitching in all high-stress areas, and inside the boot you’ll find a nylon inner sole with removable arch support.

XPD XP9-R – $460

Spidi’s footwear division, better known as XPD, brings us this latest offering from the racing lineup, the XP9-R. Similar to the Alpinestars Supertech-R, the XP9-R uses an outer boot and inner boot system for maximum comfort and protection.

On the exterior, you can see the 1.5mm high-resistance microfiber outer that provides similar abrasion resistance to leather. Usual features like a heel guard and replaceable (magnesium) toe sliders are also visible. Moving up the boot, the latest version of the AGS-3 removable inner boot features a combination of shock absorbers and rigid supports to blend protection and comfort even in the event of a highside. A speed-lace system secures the inner boot to your foot quickly, while an exo-skeleton ankle brace on the inner boot limits ankle movement only to the acceptable range. Seam tape along the stitches add an extra layer of comfort and durability, too. The XP7-R is also CE certified (as are most of the boots listed here).

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Troy Siahaan
Troy Siahaan

Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.

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  • Jean-Paul Taylor Jean-Paul Taylor on Jul 18, 2019

    Love my Sidi's...best boots I've owned in 30 years...

    • Mat Mat on Jul 22, 2019

      I was always buying Sidi and thought the same till I try Supertech R... Because of this double structure You can't feel the shoes at all. For me undisputed nr 1

  • Gabe Ets-Hokin Gabe Ets-Hokin on Mar 31, 2021

    What's with putting 2-year-old stories into the RSS feed?

    • Evans Brasfield Evans Brasfield on Mar 31, 2021

      The story was updated today, but for some reason, Wordpress is still serving the old story.

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