Kids Dirt Bike Boots – Boot Buying Guide

As a parent, we love to see our kids enjoy things we may not have got to experience at their age. Riding a dirt bike is a great way to stay involved with your child in an activity that you both can enjoy.  Your child riding a dirt bike can be exciting and scary at the same time, but keeping them safe is what we try to do as parents.

If your kid is going to ride a dirt bike, then they need safety gear to protect them. In this article, I cover buying them boots. Kids dirt bike boots are an essential piece of gear for all dirt bike riders. So let me help guide you through the process of picking him or her a pair of dirt bike boots and why they need them.

WHY SHOES WON’T WORK FOR DIRT BIKE RIDING!

This should be a no-brainer but unfortunately, there are those that ride with shoes, don’t let your kid ride in their shoes.

• Shoelaces and front sprockets do not mix: When the front sprocket and chain decides to snag on to their shoelaces they are going to hit the dirt.
• Shoes come off: The 3 or 4  buckles you see on every pair of dirt bike boots are to keep them firmly attached to your body. I can guarantee their shoe it’s staying attached during a decent corner and the bike moves out from under them and they catch the bike by planting their foot.
• No toe protection: Crushing injuries are quite common on dirt bikes. Rocks, logs, and tree stumps, they’re all foot-peg magnets. Their shoes are going to do a whole lot of nothing to protect their toes.
• The leather is not enough: Dirt bike boots use injection molded plastic re-enforcing to help stop sharp objects from piercing the foot and ankle. The thin leather and soft flexible sole on most shoes are quite easily penetrated by even a small stick.
• Zero Ankle Support:  Shoes were built for comfort and flexibility, not to support the ankle. With zero ankle support, a pair of shoes leaves their ankle joint vulnerable to serious injury including sprains, dislocations, and fractures. Or all 3 at once.

As a parent make them ride with boots, it will save them a lot of injuries. Let us find a good pair of kids dirt bike boots.

If you been shopping for dirt bike boots then you know there are several different styles, colors, and brands. Don’t over think this, don’t spend $200 on them a pair of boots they will grow out of in the next year. Boots are like shoes we all have the one pair of shoes we truly like, so let your kid help pick out their boots. Give them a budget ($100 is what I recommend), then show them their choices, then let them pick.

My top picks for kids dirt bike boots:

For The Girls: O’Neal Women’s Rider Boots (Black/Pink), they cost around $100. Built to the quality of a first class racing boot but sold at an entry-level price, this boot simply can’t be beaten for overall value and style!

For The Boys: O’Neal Boys Rider Boot (Black), these also cost around $100. These O’Neal boots are a great entry-level boot that is made with great quality and will keep his ankles and feet safe.

These are my choices for a good entry-level boot, now you kid may want a pair of Fox Racing Comp 5 Boots at almost $200 but for their first pair – I would go with the O’Neal’s. Plus, you never know about dirt bike riding, they may decide it is not for them. I’ve watched kids fall in love with riding, and then a year later they move on to something else. So until they slow down on growing, and you’re sure they are going to make dirt bike riding a hobby, get them a pair of the O’Neal’s.

The protection side is excellent with O’Neal boots. These boots have protection against internal and external rotation and all that with a good amount of flexibility. O’Neal just makes good boots that are highly protective but lack a bit inflexible. Your kid will need to wear these booths and give them some break-in time because they are stiff when they first start wearing them, but most boots are like this.

As your child gets his or her bearings on the dirt bike, falls and crashes will be the norm. Don’t worry even the best riders – hit the dirt from time to time.  But with a good boot, their foot and ankle will be protected from most injuries. Dirt bike boots are like no other shoe or boot your child has worn, they will find them hard to walk in at first and may say they don’t fit right. So use these suggestions during sizing.

How to Size Your Motocross Boots

• Use the size chart provided
• Jump up a size from regular shoe size
• Measure foot while wearing riding socks

Keep in mind some brands may provide their own specific boot size chart. So, depending on the brand, go to there official website and look-up their sizing chart.  Size does vary by brand, so take the time to look-up their chart. For most kids, I would go up one size compared to what they wear in a tennis shoe. You can always have their foot measure, just make sure they have on a good pair of riding socks.

What To Keep in Mind

• Break-in time required
• Wear boots before riding
• Alpinestars dirt bike boots are narrow and require a plus 1 size for most kids if they wear an 8 get them a 9.
• Gaerne dirt bike boots are wider if your child has a wider foot, Gaerne boots may be a great choice.
• Sidi dirt bike boots are a narrow boot and require a plus 1 size.
• O’Neals need a plus 1 size up.

If the boots remain overly tight or the buckles prove difficult to close without discomfort, get a larger size. If they’re new to dirt bike riding consider an entry-level boot until they find their bearings on two-wheels but if comfort is a factor in their ability to ride, then try a higher-end boot. The best kids dirt bike boots fit right and tight, they provide the protection your kid needs to safely ride. The O’Neal entry-level dirt bike boot is a great choice for your kid. Remember, it is all about protection for your kid, not looks. Now let’s get them geared up and lets ride.

Full disclosure: I don’t wear O’Neal boots, nor am I affiliated with them. They just make a great entry-level boot that I recommend for kids.