Remember when there were no boots made specifically for ATVers? You had to buy heavy motocross boots that are relatively stiff and often pretty expensive. They offer great protection for your feet and lower legs, but they are difficult to walk in, not always comfortable and operating a shift lever can be problematic for an inexperienced rider.
ATV Sport
Enter the age of ATV boots! Of course, if you’re going to race, ride aggressively or you simply want all the protection you can get, you’ll still want the top-dollar MX boots. However, if you’re just going to ride casually and want a more affordable, comfortable boot that you can walk around in, ATV boots are for you.
Let’s start at the top of these Italian-made boots from Acerbis. Compared to an MX boot, they’re about an inch shorter. A taller boot doesn’t compromise comfort, really, but it is slightly heavier. So, these boots don’t offer any protection at the upper part of your shin, but the thick plastic shin plate will protect the mid part of your lower leg from branches, rocks or an errant footpeg.
The plastic lever-lock strap system found on this Acerbis boot has become industry standard. For quick-adjustments, each of the three levers has two locating positions for the straps, which are also adjustable and stay secure when fastened. Acerbis supplied a few extra straps with the boots we tested and we wonder if the straps, when unfastened, have a way of coming loose over time and getting lost.
The boot is constructed of waterproof split-grain leather. More expensive top grain leather (the top layer of the cow) is more durable, but it is typically thicker and stiffer than split grain. The Acerbis split grain, unlike on some really flimsy ATV boots we’ve tested, offers a good compromise between flexibility and support.
Yes, operating a manual foot shifter is more difficult when wearing any boots than it is with tennis shoes, for example. But, if you insist on wearing tennis shoes while operating an ATV, you deserve the injuries you’ll eventually receive.
A breathable lining made with Impraprem (sounds like a drug for pregnant women) keeps your feet cooler and drier, while internal plastic plates at the ankles and heels protect those areas. The thin insole is removable, should you want to upgrade to an insole of your choice for sizing or greater comfort.
And now we’re at the sole of the boot and this is the part we don’t get. When ATV boots were first introduced several years ago, a big selling point was a full cleated sole. Typical MX boots have a uni-directional sole which allows dirt bikers to drag their feet in turns and not have the boots grab at the dirt. Of course, ATVers don’t drag their feet in turns and so full cleats make a lot of sense and offer a surer footing when walking around in slippery terrain. So, why do the Acerbis boots have a uni-directional cleat pattern? It’s a mystery.
On the other hand, a boot with a cleated sole doesn’t mean much if it’s not comfortable and supportive, which the Acerbis ATV/Dual Sport boot is. It’s comfortable from the get go and, after a solid weekend of riding, didn’t cause hot spots or blisters.
This $140 boot is available is sizes 5 1/2 to 12 1/2 and in black with a white or gray plastic shin guard.
