tahoebrian5 Posted November 24, 2014 Report Share Posted November 24, 2014 Hi all, I know there is a ton of threads about boots and I've read most of em, but still have some questions. Lots of people seem to like the gaerne oiled boots for their feel and comfort. Can someone comment on the amount of protection offered? Is there some internal ankle protection built in? Does not look like much. I'm also considering the forma. These look very similar. Can someone comment on the protection of the formas vs the gaerne? Also considering the alpinestars, the sidis, and the TCX. These seem to be a bit closer to the mx boots I'm used to. Coming from mx I'm thinking any of these are going to feel very light to me. Any feedback on the TCX boots? Lastly as a person just starting trials with an mx / enduro back ground, would you recommend going with a boot with more feel to help learn, or more protection to help not get hurt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gasgas249uk Posted November 24, 2014 Report Share Posted November 24, 2014 tahoe I have the same considerations as you. I broke 4 toes in 5 of road riding when i hit a stump at speed. I've also ridden the Scottish a few times and it turns must trials boots to chamois leather offering little protection at all. Boots have got worse over the years offering less and less protection. The best trials boots are Alpine star without doubt. They offer decent feel as well as far better protection and support than the others. Many of the other boots look like they are made in the same factory with different branding slapped on them. I dont know this for sure but I really wouldn't be surprised if all of the other trials boots were made in China at the same place . After all , all these companies want is profit. Forma boots are about 100. The Gaernes look almost identical but cost way more. I'll had them all and am convinced Alpines are the best 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stpauls Posted November 24, 2014 Report Share Posted November 24, 2014 Hi Last Christmas (2013) I bought a pair of Wulf boots (about £110 EBay). The stiff, thick leather uppers give lots of protection, but not a great deal of feel. Also they were a bit uncomfortable, due to the middle strap holder digging in to my ankle. So, 3 months later, in March/April of this year I bought a pair of Gaerne Oiled boots from Bikesport at Chewton Mendip (£240 ish). Very comfortable, but not a lot of protection for your foot. When the (thinnish) leather gets wet, it becomes very soft - like a trainer, and foot protection disappears. I have hurt the side of my foot twice, bashing rocks or stumps. I also hurt the arch of my foot when the bike kicked back and my foot was not completely on the kickstart. So, if I think it will be wet or rocky then I wear the Wulf boots, with a foam pad to stop the strap holder from digging in. Gaerne Oiled? I would not bother again. PS. The foam pad that I use, to stop the strap holder from digging in to my ankle, would ride up when I walked about. I stuck some Velcro on to the foam and now it stays in place, without moving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tahoebrian5 Posted November 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2014 That's about what I feared. Ok you have convinced me to stay away from the thinner type boots. So how about the TCX or SIDIS compared to the Astars? They appear to have similar protection. The problem is there's nowhere nearby to try these on. I know sidis have a reputation for being a bit thin, and I wanted to buy the crossfires for mx and it was true that my foot was cramped for width. Is this true with the trials boot too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 I have the brown leather Hebo boot which I find still protective when wet but a touch heavier than my previous Gaernes .I have had a few bruises when wearing the Gaernes none from the Hebos Hebos take a bit of wearing in,but I feel more secure wearing them 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 I have the brown leather Hebo boot which I find still protective when wet but a touch heavier than my previous Gaernes .I have had a few bruises when wearing the Gaernes none from the Hebos Hebos take a bit of wearing in,but I feel more secure wearing them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gasgas249uk Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 Are the tcx and sidi trials boots ? . If not stay clear unless you want blocks on your feet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmeldrew Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 Alpine stars offer great support but they are expensive and don't last a season, the soles wear out very quickly and they are pretty hard to keep clean - especially the white ones. I use Gaerne oiled now, lovely and comfortable but less support than the Alpine Stars. I have clouted my toes a few times and boy does that hurt. Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cubik2 Posted November 25, 2014 Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 The Gaerne boots are amazing comfortable and 6 months later and still 100% waterproof after many days in full muddy , boggy wet rising conditions... However i broke my pinky toe and severely bruised the next couple two weeks ago by folding my foot over after a minor spill.... My fault but they do offer very little toe protection.... My other gripe is a piece of scrap barbed wire has torn through the leather surface on the toe upper which was lying on ground somewhere. The same thing happened with some other sharp edge on the other boot... Its not through the leather but annoying. As another comment states they do get very soft when wet. I tried the black Hebo boots before and they were completely crap. Totally un-waterproof, cheap plastic straps and terrible quality synthetic uppers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tahoebrian5 Posted November 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 Are the tcx and sidi trials boots ? . If not stay clear unless you want blocks on your feet Yes, they have a trials specific boot. They look a bit more like an mx boot and it sounds like they trade off a bit of feel for protection. I guess the thing to look for is whether any of the top pros use this style. At least I would know it possible to ride at a high level with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tahoebrian5 Posted November 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2014 Ok, well looking at some pictures it looks like Bou wears Astars, Raga wears Sidis. It can be done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baldilocks Posted December 1, 2014 Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 some of this is personal to my riding style but is hopefully going to give you some insight. Had alpinestars back in 2003, bought them cheap in Italy when on a ski ing holiday. Very comfy, good support for your feet but the uppers are soft. I tend to rub the inside of my boots on the frame, I wore through the alpinestars in a month ! Forma / gaerne as others have said not a lot of support, had both. Forma where at least comfortable, I found the gaernes very uncomfortable as they took the skin off my ankle first time out so went on ebay. I currently have sidi, very comfy, soles are very good and provide good support, ankle support not as good, I have twisted an ankle in them. Rainers which are imported by Birketts are probably the best vfm boot I have had in recent years and i'll be going back to them next. Rainers are not that trendy but they do the job, they are padded internally and last a year of major trials including the SSDT etc. I stopped using them when I got given a new set of Gaernes as part of a deal on a sherco, I have been round the houses since but really, despite spending more, I haven't found anything that suits me better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tahoebrian5 Posted December 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2014 For better or worse I went with the Sidis because I found em on sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ham2 Posted December 2, 2014 Report Share Posted December 2, 2014 For better or worse I went with the Sidis because I found em on sale. ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyboxer Posted December 2, 2014 Report Share Posted December 2, 2014 I like my Sidis, will have a look at the Rainers though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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