I need deciding on boots. Need some street boots. The white S-MX 5 boots, or the white Spidi XP-3 boots? My concerns are protections, and mainly quality. The toe also has to be small enough to fit under shifter. Stupid requirement, but hey. I like how the S-MX 5's are almost completely white,

http://images.motorcycle-superstore.com/ProductImages/OG/2009_Alpinestars_S-MX_5_Boot_White_Black.jpg

but the Spidi's seem like they might have more protection...which leads me to believe quality might be a bit lower than the A*. However, I'm not completely sold that the A* are completely great quality. My gloves started losing their decals. I might be nit picking, but I'm unsure.

http://images.motorcycle-superstore.com/ProductImages/OG/2011-Spidi-XP-3-Boots-Black-White.jpg

Thank you in advance!

~nick.

Mate, I love my S-MX5 (I have all white aswel). Took a a couple of rides to break and in and get use to them but now I feel naked riding with out them, super comfortable.I don't have any experience with those other boots but my mate has S-MX5's and had a high side off a 15m cliff drop (Through the mountains pass... He's alive though) and his ones held up real well so protection is no issue. No foot/ankle injuries to report.

I might go with the S-MX 5's. I'll wait a week or two though. I have time.

Spidi's look better and have more airflow...I'd get those.

Sidi Cobra Airs http://www.sierrabmwonline.com/images/Cobra_air_blk.jpg

http://www.revzilla.com/product_images/0013/4000/Alpinestars_S-MX_5_Vented_Boot_Black_detail.jpg
I have an SMX-5 (waterproof version), and my feet do get a little warm sometimes when it is hot outside. Other than that, boot has worked great for me so far. They do offer a ventilated model with perforations.

On the other hand, I have to say the sizing seems to vary quite a bit within Alpinestars' boots. I have a size 43 SMX-5 that fits well, perhaps on the roomy side. I bought a new size 42 from Iron Pony a ways back and it was too narrow and hurt my toes. Trying on a size 42 at the local store had different results. I tried on an SMX+ the other day size 43 and it was huge. Like an inch between my big toe and the end of the shoe. If you go the Alpinestars route, try to fit the boot you buy to your foot if possible.

I wanted completely white boots xD so no cobra for me lol

I have the Spidi VR6 and wish I spent the extra 20 bucks to get the additional protection (on the back and whatnot). But mine are very comfortable, and I lowsided at a slower speed in them and they held up well, just a few scuffs. No issues with the shifter after I got used to them. I'd say you couldn't go wrong with Spidi.
Both look like good boots!

Two friends have SMX-5 and love them. They are a well reviewed and well liked boot, a good option for street riding. I am bias to Sidi boots thought because they just fit me better than other brands I have tried.

My SMX5's have lasted a year and still truckin...they even helped me in a bad lowside. They are super comfortable and have provided good protection.

I would consider either pair, but I would lean toward the SMX-5's.

Neither. Get the Dainese Torque Out. I've had them for about a year now and absolutly love them. Fits like a glove, not too bulky, no stupid plastic pieces. And best of all they protected me when I had a spill.

http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/product_images/dainese_torque-out_boot_black.jpg

Love the look of the Alpinestars.

Plastic actually is good. It absorbs energy in an accident..more so than leather alone. You want energy to absorb into materials not your body. If the plastic gets hit..it will deform due to the energy transfer. Leather..not do much..

I agree with Miles that the plastic is good as it offers much better impact protection by spreading the force out over a wide area. The plastic also slides better on the asphalt to also help avoid injury.

That's exactly the reason I was looking more towards the XP-3's.

I have the smx 5s and they are amazing. Also, they're really comfortable for just walking around in.

I have the Dainese TRQ Race Out Air boots. Used for a year, best piece of my equipment, no complaints at all (there are things about my jacket, gloves, and pants I wish I could change). I've worked in them (not a full day), gone shopping, pretty comfortable given the ankle protection. Not super bulky, you can wear them under jeans (yeah, I said that), and not look like a power ranger.

Also come in white.

http://images1.revzilla.com/product_images/0033/1292/21e801e9c2fe37492e542babe46febfa_zoom.jpg

I bought the Vented Black SMX-5 in August, and I love them. They are the most comfortable shoes / boots I have ever worn. It took a few days to break em in but they awesome. At first I was like **** ima crash, I couldn't shift and they were stiff - after probably two days and now I feel naked with out them.

I almost regret getting vented bc it got cold here for awhile and more to come and my feet got really cold. But eh, probably worth it for the really hot and humid days I had them.

I wear them everyday to work and take em off at office with dress shoes. I would wear em all day bus casual. They are 10x more comfortable than crapy dress shoes. After work I have class directly after and I wear em till I go home. STG has 2010 model on close out.

Take it from someone who as white boots. Unless you like cleaning black marks and scuffs after every other ride, then go with another color.

I'm kinda a neat freak anyway...but, I will most likely go with black. I feel like it'll be less power rangery.

Just found out that Ironpony.com in their closeout section has some super killer deals going on. trust me you don't want to miss this one.

I'm getting myself a new pair of the SMX-5's tomorrow to put in reserve when my current pair dies.

A few months later...my VR6's got scrapped..chose to replace them with SMX5 waterproof. Will only get black boots from now on lol, after having white boots, yes, they get dirty too easily.

What do you mean scraped?

scrapped, not scraped..though they did get scraped too. Last year when i lowsided they got scraped up, insurance covered them so they took them and cut me a check. bought the smx 5 waterproofs! love em! besides the toesliders anyways

Oops. Sorry haha will probably get blue boots

I have two pairs of SMX-5s, a black and a white pair. I noticed on the first ride with the white ones that they'd be hard to keep clean.

I have two pairs of SMX-5s, a black and a white pair. I noticed on the first ride with the white ones that they'd be hard to keep clean.

+1, as much as I like white, it's just too difficult/too much work to keep clean. :(

http://www.revzilla.com/product/alpinestars-smx-plus-boots

Why not SMX-Plus? RevZilla currently has them for $280 shipped.

Ordered a pair for myself as I couldn't find a good reason not to get these over the SMX-5 boots when the price difference was only $40.

http://www.revzilla.com/product/alpinestars-smx-plus-boots

Why not SMX-Plus? RevZilla currently has them for $280 shipped.

Ordered a pair for myself as I couldn't find a good reason not to get these over the SMX-5 boots when the price difference was only $40.

i dunno about the others but i chose the smx-5 because it came in a waterproof version. i would have gotten the plus if it was waterproof, but the only one i found was the goretex version which was as much as the supertech's. didn't feel like dropping that much cash lol

I chose them, because the price difference was much steeper at the time. I didn't want to spend more than $180 at the time and already flexed my budget to accommodate the SMX-5.

Those might be a bit over kill lol... might be too uncomfortable and weird looking to walk in. I'm also considering lowering my budget and purchasing the Teknic Chicane boots. That or the almost exactly the same Cortech (?) version. I still can't decode between waterproof or ventilated either. It never gets that hot in upstate ny, but we do have a few killer days. I think I'd see more rain than hot days. So may have to get either a pair of waterproof boots, or covers for them.

What do you guys think?

i got waterproof boot covers for my other boots..it's too much of a pain really, and it looks silly and is cumbersome. waterproof boots all the way, if you wanna ride in the rain

Hard decision.

I absolutely love my S-MX5 Waterproof boots.

Fit wonderfully, not too clunky, sound -awesome- on hardwood floors, and keep my feet warm and dry.

I have been told they look like Stormtrooper boots, which is pretty great; because I love Star Wars.

DreamN Can you point me to a review of the boots by you? Or just write it here, if you don't mind. My main concerns now are ventilating v. waterproof, protection over comfort, and cost.

i bought me some Spidi xps-3 boots. my ONLY gripe with them is the sole of the boot has this little POS insert that moves around and crumbles up very easily if you decide to walk around in them for any longer than 5mins.

Not thaaat big of a problem. the Spidi xp5-s look pretty noice.
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/spidi-xp5-s-wrs-boots

DreamN Can you point me to a review of the boots by you? Or just write it here, if you don't mind. My main concerns now are ventilating v. waterproof, protection over comfort, and cost.

Sorry, but I haven't had them long enough to give a proper review nor do I have anything to compare them as they're my first boots. Also, I went with the vented version as obviously being from California I wouldn't deal with much cold and rain.

Comfort wise I actually find them more comfortable than the SMX-5 boots. I tried both boots on at Cycle Gear as I actually planned on getting the SMX-5s due to pricing. When I found out RevZilla was having a sale on the SMX-Plus I didn't hesitate.

There are dozens of reviews on these boots regarding protection, comfort, and overall quality. Seems to be a huge favorite for a lot of people.

Cost, well it's a $40 difference for a better product that would normally be a $110 more.