Riding boot break-in help

[Bryan Raffa]

If leather Use OIL.. it will also waterproof them! ,, baseball glove oil works good... but 10-30 works good also

and after I hose them off after a ride I spray them with tire shine foam... keeps them soft and shiny!

[Billy Golightly]

I had the same issue when I first got my boots, I have Thor Quadrants as well, and had always worn work boots. I wore mine everyday for about a week and a half. In Walmart, everywhere, and they finally loosened up. Shifting is still a pain in the ass, and I can get much more precise shifts with work boots, but I don't have near the ankle and leg protection. Plus if your jumping alot, the arch support of the riding boots can't be beat. Doesn't hurt your feet nearly as bad when you land hard.

[Mosh]

Shifting is still a pain in the ass, and I can get much more precise shifts with work boots, but I don't have near the ankle and leg protection. Plus if your jumping alot, the arch support of the riding boots can't be beat. Doesn't hurt your feet nearly as bad when you land hard.

^^THAT is exactly why I quit wearing riding boots.^^
Shifting sucks. You either move your shifter up and get good upshifts, or move your shifter down and get better down shifts. No in between.
I actually tweaked my ankle bad jumping wearing riding boots when I landed perfectly because of the arch issues. I slipped off the pegs more with them on, than with work boots.
IF I were a full time professional quad rider, I would wear them just for the fact that you will be getting banged around.
I have found a good hi top pair of workboots work fine, and coupled with shin gaurds will some decent protection for the recreational rider.
The only downfall is the back of your calf is exposed to the footpeg if something goes wrong there.
Not to mention, riding boots tear the crap out of your seat vinyl and other stuff on the atv.
That is cool with me..Keeps me in business.

[Billy Golightly]

When I was flat track racing, I refused to wear riding boots because of the shifting issue. Unless your a pro level rider (And you arent) that has been using them for 15 years, your going to be worse shifting with riding boots than you are with work boots. The other problem I had was, because my bike was so low, I actually couldn't get my riding boot under the shifter without it catching the ground. I could with work boots.

[300rman]

Practice, practice, practice. Nice boots help too. i tried a cheap pair, and couldnt shift. went to Tech 10's, and was immediately better. with some practice, i can shift it fast and accurately, without having to have changed the pedal around.

i know tech 8's have a lip on the toe meant for catching the shifter, those are even easier to shift in, but arent as comfortable.

as for the foot slipping off, i had that problem too. problem wasnt grip, but rather it was harder to feel where your foot was at on the peg.

[Kintore]

Im with ya on that,

im thinking these "cheaper" boots might be your problem bud. Im running Alpinestar tech 3's, I bought for 200 bucks like 2.5 years ago.

I know they arent cheap like your 60 ones, or expensive as the 600+ dollar ones.

All I did was wear them around everywhere for a few days and I was golden, yes I have had to move my shifter up on my R. But I have no issues shifting with them.

The ONLY problem with them I had was, the way my fenders were cut they would get stuck inbetween the fender and the peg and wedge me in. SO I solved that with a lil grinding no biggie.

[fabiodriven]

I really want to thank all you guys for the responses. I think I know what I have to do. I'm just gonna stick with work boots.

[300rman]

If your not jumping huge or crashing, then the boots arent really necessary for a trike or quad.....on a dirtbike, its required....i cant count how many injuries they have saved me from, from something as simple as sticking my foot out and catching part of a stump out on a trail.....

[Dirtcrasher]

I tried on TANK's THOR QUADRANTS yesterday, they were about 1 or 1/2 size too large or I would have bought them from him, they were 11's I believe.

These boots felt FANTASTIC and plenty flexible, plus a superior clamp system in comparison to my GAERNE boots that need to be replaced severely.......

I told him to come over next weekend and we will bend, add to it and adjust that shift lever to suit him. He mentioned the bottoms were flat but mine are also.

He also mentioned he kept hitting the rear brake and I reminded him that we can raise and or lower it to suit his position on the trike.

Say what you will, but in the type of riding we do; My boots have saved me many a broken ankle or foot. That solid feel right up to your knees gives you allot more confidence when hitting a jump.

I'll ALWAYS wear riding boots. I've always broke them in just wearing them around the house and climbing stairs or rocking back and forth and side to side. Like we've all said, soaking them helps too.

Roys boots were very comfortable, didn't seem to even need breaking in. We just need to custom fit his 2 pedals to suit him. I think he'll be all set and glad when all is said and done!!