Comparing Enduro Boots: Buying Guide

When it comes to choosing enduro boots, the options are many and the selection can be complicated. If we are approaching enduro for the first time, it actually becomes difficult to find the right one for us. The costs are not trivial, especially among the major brands, and unfortunately it is not possible to try on boots for a ride and then, should we not like them, return them. So every enduro rider spends a lot of time looking for ‘his’ boot and often remains loyal to his chosen brand for many years.

Main factors to consider when choosing:

First and foremost is undoubtedly safety, i.e. the degree of protection the boot offers. A good boot must have reinforcements on the malleolus, toe and heel. These are mandatory features that cannot be ignored.

Secondly, they must be comfortable. And here a world opens up because each brand offers a different boot in terms of fit and each of us has a different conformation of the foot. So it is not necessarily the case that all brands suit everyone. Foot characteristics such as a wide sole or high collar make a big difference and, in our opinion, comfort is just as important as safety.

Having a high-quality, super-safe boot, but one that causes us discomfort while riding, is tantamount to ruining the day of enduro riding. On the other hand, having a boot that is comfortable but not very protective can mean running the risk of injuring yourself and ruining the next day!

Other variables to bear in mind:

What else should we look at when choosing a quality enduro boot? Waterproofness. Nobody wants to find their feet wet after crossing the first ford. So let’s check that it is waterproof but breathable, not even the sauna effect is what we want to feel during our rides.

Another element is grip. In fact, the sole must be designed to guarantee grip on different surfaces, even in the wet.

Then there are other variables to check such as the height of the boot, which must be adequate to best protect both feet and ankles but also part of the leg. Then we will look at the materials and finish, they must be quality and durable. The fasteners and the metal toe are usually two things that break before the others. Fortunately, in most cases they are replaceable. So, let’s also take a look that the manufacturer makes the relevant spare parts available.

Finally, since the eye also wants its part, we look at the design and choose the one we like best.

The size to choose

The sore point, the size. In our experience, it is always a rule to add one size more than you normally wear. We have to consider that an enduro boot is rigid and doesn’t adapt to your foot like a normal shoe, or does after many rides and always in a small way. So our advice is to go and try on enduro boots with a pair of thick socks, that way you should get the right fit.

At Enduro Experience Croatia every rider has his or her favourite brand and, doing enduro riding for many hours a day and many days a year, whatever the weather, we have tried different brands. Here are a few of them and our thoughts on them:

High-end enduro boots models:

Gaerne SG 12 Enduro Boots

Pro: Steel toe, robust double-stitched sole with steel inserts, elastic dust cover, gel insert in the rear of the sole. Interior made of memory material, exterior made of cowhide, durable. Shin guard is adjustable for calf stability, good ventilation, shank height 37 cm. Plastic parts and aluminium buckles can be replaced. Finally, the interior is washable and the sole is oil and petrol resistant. They have practically everything a good boot should offer. The quality is unquestionable.

Cons: They may be uncomfortable for those with a high instep; we recommend taking two sizes larger than you would normally use for day shoes. Also, the price. The Gaerne SG12 boot is a great boot but it is not suitable for all budgets.

SIDI Crosfire

Pros: the upper is made of full-grain leather, shin guards are replaceable and the buckles and calf system are adjustable. It has a nice metatarsal protection, anatomically shaped heel, steel toe and most importantly all parts of the boot can be replaced. Many colours are available and the aesthetics in our opinion are top notch.

Cons: Like the SG12, the Crossfire is also suitable for a thin foot with a normal or low instep. In addition, the boot is a little heavier than the first one. And, again, the price is not indifferent.

Conclusion: In our opinion, the two enduro boots are very equivalent from the point of view of production quality; our guides prefer the SIDI Crosfire but we have found many enduro riders who come to do enduro tours with us who like the Gaerne better.

Lower-end enduro boots

Fortunately, there are nowadays several good quality options even for those who don’t feel like spending too much money. Some brands are already established in the enduro world, such as Acerbis, others are making their way up and conquering market share in this segment quickly: these are houses like Forma or O ‘Neil.

Below are the most popular ones:

Acerbis Enduro Boots

We really like the X- Race model. It is sufficiently light, offers good protection and is comfortable even for a not-so-slim foot. The price is somewhere between a high-end boot and a budget boot. Both laces and soles can be replaced if worn. Also from Acerbis, which is cheaper, you should also look at E-Team. A little less performing than X-Race (for example, it does not have the ankle joint) but still a specialist boot worth considering. Always remember to take a size up.

O’Neal Rider Pro Boot

Not bad for cheap enduro boots. The protection remains decent, it has the four buckle closure and the metal toe. The sole has a decent grip on the footpegs and aesthetically it’s a nice boot. The buckles can be changed while the sole cannot. Also, we were told that we need two extra sizes because the boot is quite hard and takes a long time to conform to the foot.

Shape

There are enduro boots that always has similar characteristics to O’Neal, four buckles (replaceable), Velcro, the upper is made of leather and synthetic material. We have heard differing opinions. For us this can be a decent boot (although very hard) for easy off-road but for harder enduros we would rely more on more specialised brands.

Conclusion

In summary, the best enduro boots is often a personal opinion so let us know your experiences, we will gladly share them with our readers. Otherwise come and test your boots on a really tough enduro tour! To book with us, just go to our contact section .