RIDETECS 6" Double Zipper Reflective Riding Boots for Men Full Grain Leather Review

Amazon has let me down lately so I haven't been writing reviews but I had to write one about these.I got my first leather biker jacket in '93 and have been in love with leather ever since; as soon as I opened the box I could tell by the smell that these are made from top grain leather. They are superb! There are some uncomfortable spots but that is to be expected before they're broken in, I'm going to saddle soap them in a minute and we'll know in about 100 miles if the rough spots soften but I'm very optimistic. The zippers make it very easy to take off and put on yet keep the boot tight to your foot when wearing.I wear an 11.5w or 12w, ordered the 12w and they fit perfectly so when in doubt order big but they fit as expected.I've ridden motorcycles for over 20 years, as soon as the rain stops me and these beauties are hitting the street!Do yourself a favor and if you need good riding boots order these! They are literally half the price of other boots of this quality! I paid more for boots this good in the 90s!

Good quality, heavy-duty boot supports the ankle well. The leather is good quality and smooth. It will probably take a shine with leather polish after some time. There is plenty of cushion and padding in this heavy boot that makes it comfortable. Lace up and tie according to your preference for fit. Use the zippers (2 per boot) for an easy on and off while keeping the laced fit. The embellishment may be a little too much for some people. For example, the Ridetec logo is a plastic motorcycle emblem attached to the outside of the ankles. There is also a flat metal toe embellishment that has 3 little screws. These additions may not appeal to some people that just want a simple leather boot, but overall the appearance is basic.

After considering several other motorcycle boots, ordering at least two others, and comparing each one to the ridetecs, I went with this boot and have not regretted it. Have used it a lot over 8 months now and I would rate it very high on quality of materials, fit, and stylish looks. Among other "tests" I put it to, before buying it, and comparing it to the other two options, I asked my wife and adult daughter to give me a "what looks the coolest" vote. Hands down, it was the ridetecs. If it was looks alone, without fit and quality, then who would want it? However, after months of riding, and admittedly, motorcycle boots don't get worn and subjected to wear like regular everyday shoes, but that said, these have no visible signs of wear (other than scuff marks on the left toe from shifting), and I'm a bit amazed that this quality of boot is available at this price point. Skip the WAY too expensive Harley boot products; this is a real classy looking well made boot for far, far less!

*Note- I normally wear New Balance shoes in 9.5 4E. I bought the 10." Wide boots.I had spent a couple of months looking for a pair of boots with a side zipper when I found these. Compared to the pair of Bates boots that I tried at Sears- these are a far better buy. They don't leak nearly as much- but mainly for rainy weather- your not going to be wading in these. The zippers are YKK types- much stronger than the flimsy cheap zippers on the Bates.In terms of fit- 10 was unavailable and these are not available in 9.5 4E. I wound up getting 10 2Es- and they fit perfectly, so I'd say they run a bit smaller than New Balance. I have rather flat feet- and the insoles are perfectly fine for me. They will take a bit to fully break in, but so far I've never felt better when standing for long periods.The toe is reinforced- these aren't steel-toed. The soles have rather aggressive treads- so make sure to knock the mud off. The zippers are really handy for taking the boots off without having to deal with the laces after a long day. For the price this is a great deal, as the Bates go for 120$.These are manufactured in Vietnam.Highly recommend this pair of boots if your looking for a pair of boots with a tall ankle cuff+ side zipper.3 Year update-It's now well into 2019 and I still have this pair and the smaller version. I did have to get them both re-heeled at a cobbler's as the lining on the cuffs began to shred apart and clump up about 2 years in. The insole top liner glue was also starting to lose tack and the liner was coming off. The trip to the cobbler's probably increased the boot's lifespan quite a bit for ~ $50 for the pair (I got a late delivery discount).The soles still have excellent tread and no leaks anywhere else on the boots whatsoever. Both zippers are still working like a charm and I am still using the same laces that came with the boots.One downside that I don't think can be fixed- and as others have also stated in their reviews as well is the finish on the toe section of the boots. I believe it's some kind of thin rubberized vinyl that is heat-shrunk or glued to the toe itself. I haven't kicked rocks or dragged them across asphalt, but small sections of the finish are flecking off. Not at an aggressive rate, but after a while it will look pretty ugly.The stitching on the front section of the heel that curls up to meet the toe has also come out, though the heel is not coming off and there is no gap anywhere in the front toe section. I will hazard a guess and say this stitching is not structural.Overall still pleased with my purchase- best pair of general everyday wear I ever bought.

These boots come with a lot more logos attached to them than the picture is showing. Most you can remove with a simple screwdriver except for 1, and it's a big one. On the outward facing of the boot, around the ankle, they appear to have riveted a logo to the boot. This isn't shown in picture and if it was, I probably would have skipped these boots. I don't mind they have their logo on the boots but the size of this and the unexpectedness irritates me. Removing it looks like it might take more effort, and money, which is also a draw back.So, just know these boots are nice, but not as they appear in the picture.