5 Best Dirt Bike Boots under $200

After your helmet, your most important piece of protective gear is your boots. Accidents can happen at any time. Even at slow speeds, a simple fall can cause a nasty ankle injury. Here’s a look at 5 of the best dirt bike boots under $200 for entry-level riders.

Whether you’re racing motocross or just general off-road riding, good boots are essential. While it’s important to go for the best boots you can afford, the reality is we can’t all go for the top end $500 plus boots.

With this in mind, I have selected what I consider to be 5 of the best dirt bike boots under $200 for this review.

All of these boots in this review have what I consider to be the necessary requirements to give you the protection you need. My riding and racing experience spans 4 decades, and I’m using the O’Neal Rider boots at No. 1 below, and feel totally protected in them.

These boots are suited to Motocross, Enduro, and Trail riding. If Adventure riding is your thing, there are 5 great adventure boots reviewed in this post: 10 Best Boots For Enduro & Dual Sport Riding

Quick Summary

Here’s a quick summary of 5 of the best Dirt Bike Boots under 200 dollars being reviewed here:

1. O’Neal Rider Boot – Best Value For Money
2. Alpinestars Tech 3 Boots – Top Pick
3. O’Neal Element Boots
4. Fly Racing 2020 Maverik Boots
5. Fox Racing 180 Boots

How To Choose Dirt Bike Boots

Top 3 Things to Consider:

1. Safety Features:

Obviously, safety is the number one reason to wear dirt bike boots. Your legs from the knee down are especially prone to injury, whether it’s on or off-road riding.

Good boots protect your feet and ankles from being crushed between the ground and your engine and footpegs. They protect your calf from the hot engine parts and exhaust, and your shins from impacts.

Nearly 40% of dirt bike injuries involve fractures or internal trauma, and over 60% of injuries involve an extremity like arms legs, and feet. <Source>

My own injuries, smashed ankle, and wrist confirm that. To learn more on dirt bike safety: Dirt bike Safety Tips – How To Avoid the Dangers

Look for boots with ample TPU protection to the shin, ankle, and toe box.

A heat-resistant panel on the inner (medial) side of the boot is also an essential feature. It also doubles as a panel to aid the grip and control of your bike.

A good outer sole is essential. Developments in recent years have now given you a choice between two sole types. The old-school stitched-on type sole, or the bonded sole. It’s a matter of personal choice as to which is better.

2. Boot Comfort:

Choosing boots that fit correctly and are comfortable is vital. If you don’t have comfortable riding gear you will find yourself not wanting to wear it. Comfortable boots not only make your riding enjoyable but also make you a better rider.

An important part of boot comfort is flex at the ankle. It allows you to have a good feel of your gear shifter and brake lever to control your bike.

Boots that are too stiff make it difficult to feel the click of your shifter’s movement. A boot that has adequate ankle flex is essential or an articulated ankle feature that is built into the boot is a bonus.

3. Your Budget:

As with anything you buy, you have to first decide how much of your hard-earned cash you want to spend on boots.

Obviously, the more you spend on boots the more protection you get. As with helmets, the technology developments in recent years have meant that some of the features once found in top-end boots are finding their way into the mid and entry-level boots.

All of these boots below, in my opinion, give good value for money in the sub $200 price range.

Other Features to look for in Dirt Bike Boots:

Plenty of interior padding around the ankle area at a minimum
Quick-release buckles – preferably replaceable and work even when caked with mud
Durable rubber outer soles for grip on your pegs and ground
A good gaitor to keep out dirt and water

For more on choosing the right boots for you: Dirt Bike Boots Buying Guide

Let’s look at the 5 boots in more detail:

1. O’Neal Rider Boots

The O’Neal Rider is a quality entry-level boot from a well-known and respected company. It is the boot I have just purchased for myself. I have used several O’Neal boots over the last 20 years and have had a good run, so I have gone with O’Neal again.

They are available with the new O’Neal logo on the front of the boots (as shown above) or the traditional more understated logo of previous years.

The main construction of the boot is microfiber reinforced with TPU in the hard-wearing areas that take the most impact.

The boots feel very plush to put on, thanks to the 3D air mesh interior lining around the ankle and there is a cushioned insole. They feel a little stiff at first and need a bit of wearing in time. My pair were nicely worn in after about 3 hours of riding time.

Around the top of the boot’s interior is a tougher internal lining to help prevent wear from knee braces and knee guards.

Accordion panels at the front and back of the boot allow the boot to flex and make walking more comfortable.

A shifter guard protects the top of the toe, and there is a metal guard that wraps around the front of the sole to protect it from impacts and delamination. The plate is screwed in place to ensure it doesn’t work its way loose.

The inner (medial) side of the boot, is protected by lots of hard TPU, with extra depth TPU over the inner ankle area, which is the area of the boots that gets a lot of punishment from your bike’s footpegs and engine.

At the top, there is a layer of synthetic leather that gives some heat resistance and aids grip on the bike.

The sole is the traditional stitched-on type, as opposed to the bonded type sole, which is used on a lot of boots these days. It’s a personal preference, but having used both types of soles over the years, I’ve found that stitched-on type sole has lasted me the longest.

The buckle closure system is 4 buckles and is fully adjustable. The buckles have a good solid snap close to them, and while they’re not metal buckles, they feel very strong and are replaceable in the unlikely event you break one. There are extra-depth TPU deflectors on either side of the bottom buckle for added protection.

The steel shank in the boots adds a bit of rigidity to help keep the boot shape.

The fit is pretty close to ‘True to size’. They are available in one color – Black.

The Rider boot is also available in a youth version for kids, and a women’s version. There is even a ‘Shorty’ version with two buckles which may appeal more to adventure or street riders.

Features

CONSTRUCTION

Microfiber with TPU reinforcing in hard-wearing areas
Metal toe guard to protect the front of the sole against delaminating
Durable Goodyear welt sole which is properly balanced so there is no unstable rocking

SAFETY FEATURES

Synthetic leather heat shield on the inner side which also helps with grip on your bike
Metal shank insert which reinforces the boot and adds support
Injection-molded TPU plates for impact protection

CUSTOMIZATION & COMFORT

Moderate grip sole which is great for track, trail, or ATV riders
Snap-Lock fully adjustable four buckle closure system
Air mesh interior lining, generous heel support, and cushioned insole for extra comfort
Rear pull tab for extra leverage when entering or exiting the boots
Straps and buckles are replaceable
Colors available: Black
Sizes available: 7 to 15

Pros:

Excellent value for money
Sturdy construction with a steel shank reinforcement

Cons:

Quite stiff out of the box – need a break-in period

For a full review of the Rider boot: O’Neal Rider Boots Review – A Great Entry Level

2. Alpinestars Tech 3 Boots

The Tech 3 is the entry-level boot from Alpinestars. It incorporates a lot of the DNA of the higher-priced Tech 7.

The main construction materials of the boot are microfiber and Thermoplastic Polyurethane, known as TPU.

Microfibre is similar to leather in comfort and adaptability but offers greater strength and durability. This microfiber is in the areas that require more flexion, the accordion panels at the front and rear of the boot, and around the top of the boot.

TPU is used for protection in the areas most prone to receive impacts such as the toe box, heel, inner ankle, and shin.

A textured rubber material is used on the top of the toe in the gear lever zone to protect the boot and aid in gear lever control.

The interior of the boot is a breathable fabric with foam reinforcement in the ankle area for comfort. A synthetic PU gaitor helps prevent the entry of water and dirt.

The boots are water-resistant, not waterproof, as is the case typically with motocross boots.

The insole is replaceable and made from EVA foam and covered in fabric at the top to provide arch support and comfort.

The outer sole is also replaceable and is made from an exclusive rubber compound to provide a high level of grip on all surfaces.

There is a regular Motocross version and an Enduro version of this boot, and the only difference is in the sole. The Enduro version has more of a lug-type sole for a bit more grip. Both versions have a replaceable sole.

The closure system is three replaceable polymer buckles which include a ratchet with memory and a quick-release/locking system.

The Tech 3 is also available in a women’s version, the Alpinestars Women’s Stella Tech 3, and a Tech 3S Youth version.

The fit is pretty close to ‘True to size’.