Hotfooting it: Best summer motorcycle boots

These ankle-length boots from legendary manufacturer Frank Thomas look and feel like shortened full-length sports boots. They have front and rear accordion panels to allow the foot to flex while the upper is made from perforated leather to allow cooling air in. They feature reinforced heel and toe boxes as well as ankle padding on the outside with a strengthened shank in the sole to prevent twisting.

If you get past the basic passes in the CE rating, these are pretty good boots. They actually feel protective on – they are chunky and rigid where they need to be, but are comfortable and work really well on the bike as well as off it. The waterproof membrane is very handy and the fact it is also breathable means that your feet don’t get sweaty. If you’re happy with the slightly weird name, they are a good option.

 love these boots. They are sporty enough for almost any road use but are superbly comfortable and very reassuring, with the armour and protection. They go under most of the jeans I normally wear in summer and easily go under textiles while leathers also fit inside easily. They have kept my feet warm and dry for two years on a variety of bikes and have plenty of life left in them yet.

Read Jim's full review here

These were my first pair of specialised riding footwear and I have to say they fitted my criteria perfectly. The reinforced padded leather in the upper construction and heel, together with the reinforced soles, feels very safe and secure when on the road, and the perforated material to the sides allowed for cool and comfortable summer riding. Changing though the gears is super satisfying in these kicks with a slender but firm edge which offers precision when changing up though gears. Off the bike this hi-top shoe works with all my riding jeans and didn’t look out of place at casual or professional events.

"Substantial shin plate and prominent ankle bracing give these a very racy look. Feel quite stiff in construction though – it can be difficult to reach your left foot forwards enough to get under the gear pedal. That bracing had a habit of digging into ankles on both sides too. Waterproofing is provided by RST’s own SinAqua membrane, which stayed totally dry in the spray test, thought did let water through when the boots were submerged. Fit is good, through it takes a couple of goes to get the main zip done up and the Velcro closed properly."

These short boots are formed in perforated leather for airflow to the feet with an air mesh lining to maximise the cooling effect. There is TPU protection to the ankle and reinforced heel and toe cups while the sole is impact-absorbing and has a dual-flex insert. There is padding on the tongue and around the ankle and they achieve the higher of the two safety ratings in all areas, the 1 indicates they are a short design. Impressive.