[OCL]

On the subject of lower leg protection, I currently wear "Knee Guards". Many will argue these are NOT true Knee Braces, which offer much greater protection against over extension of knees. True. I choose not to spend the ridiculous (to me) $400+ on true knee braces. I choose to spend $100 on Knee Guards, which offer way better protection than ordinary CE approved knee armor that come on just about every riding pants out there. Anything is better than nothing at all. I choose the middle ground.

 

[StarfuryTH]

You misunderstand, the boots have that. They are just leather exterior. They provide the necessary protection. Check them out before judging.

As mentioned, the Forma Adventures do not have same level of protection. Even the Terra Evos aren't all that much better than my Corozals.

I've tried on the Forma Adventure, Forma Terra Evo X, Corozal, Belize, Toucan, and Tech 3, 7, and 10, all in one sitting. I played with them all for a bit to see just how much flex they'll allow.

The Forma Adventure is, IMO, a budget Corozal. It's not quite as comfy, but some of that may depend on your foot shape. The toe box is wider, so more accommodating to wider feet. I'm also not thrilled with their insole, which is very thin. It is, however, pretty affordable on the scale of boots.

The Corozal/Belize are the most comfortable boots I've ever tried on. They are far more comfortable than my work boots. The Belize would be great for commuting, and the Corozol work fantastic as light adv boots, similar to the Forma Adventure. I make the Corozals work for both, because that's what I have.
They have moderate impact and good abrasion protection. However, the only ankle protection is inner and outer malleolus impact protection plates. There is no ankle structure to speak of. They'll keep you from rolling an ankle while hiking, but they're not going to keep you from destroying an ankle in a crash. A good dab at the wrong angle while riding, or the crush force from dropping your bike on your foot, and your ankle is going to shatter.

The Terra Evo X is what I'd (personally) consider as adequate for mild off road duty. Decent compromise between flexibility and protection when you know you're going to be walking a bit and need the flexibility. That side hinge plate assembly helps provide some structure, but it's not on the same level as a proper MX boot. It will fold over with enough force (think about jamming your boot at an off angle while dabbing to keep the bike upright).

The A* MX lineup is progressively more protective as you go up in number (and price).
The Tech 3 is probably fine for most adv riding. Light, moderately flexible, good protection. Slightly better protection than the Evo X.
The Tech 7 is good for more aggressive riding, including MX racers. No hinges, but they flex a bit with break-in. They're better than the Tech 3 in pretty much every way, but obviously more expensive
The Tech 10 is bulletproof. You're not twisting an ankle, or shattering it, or crushing it. The major downside is that they're very bulky and heavy. Definitely not hiking boots. I can walk in them, but I'm not hiking a mile in rough terrain without thrashing my knees.

The Toucans are, IMO, the goldilocks adv boot. They're more protective than any other adv boot and even some light MX boots, but they're still light and flexible enough for hiking. They're also gore-tex lined. But holy crap, the price. One day I'll pick some up, but not today.

As I mentioned, PPE is a personal choice. If objective safety was the only concern, we'd all be huddled in our rooms instead of out riding two-wheeled death-mobiles.
If I know I'm going to be walking a bit, I'm more apt to take my Corozals when I should probably consider something more. Someone else may be fine in hiking boots. Basically, you do you. But at least understand your choice before you make it.

 

[tomo]

Tall boots save my shins. Also a maintenance note from Forma:
"Heavy waterproofing products or waxes can block the stitching lines which allow the boots to breath and dry naturally. Any lightweight leather conditioning and waterproofing products are ok to apply from time to time. Oil based leather products (like Mink oil) are not recommended as they soften the leather too much and can cause bonded soles to separate from the leather. We personally use Nikwax 'Conditioner For Leather' or Nikwax 'Leather Restorer'."

 

[Guyinnd]

Ok question I haven’t seen yet, does your chosen brand seem to run true to size? Meaning if I’m normally a 13 do I expect their 13 will fit me?

 

[Fepony]

Ok question I haven’t seen yet, does your chosen brand seem to run true to size? Meaning if I’m normally a 13 do I expect their 13 will fit me?

Mine were spot on.

 

[OCL]

Ok question I haven’t seen yet, does your chosen brand seem to run true to size? Meaning if I’m normally a 13 do I expect their 13 will fit me?

You have to try them on. I went through a cycle of buying, then returning. Some boots are deceiving in that they feel fine for 5 minutes in the store, then turn painful after a while. I hate shopping for boots.

 

[StarfuryTH]

You have to try them on. I went through a cycle of buying, then returning. Some boots are deceiving in that they feel fine for 5 minutes in the store, then turn painful after a while. I hate shopping for boots.

My wife refuses to go shoe shopping with me.
I refuse to buy a pair of shoes/boots without trying on several different pairs for comparison, swapping insoles, and wearing them around the store for a couple minutes. This apparently conflicts with her "it's a shoe, it goes on your foot, buy it" methodology

 

[Steve_S]

I bought these TCX RT-RACE boots several years ago when I was riding track days on my ZX6. I high sided at over 70 mph and rolled multiple times across the asphalt (judging by the gouges all the way around on both boots). I had no injuries or even discomfort to my feet or ankles. I broke my scapula and some ribs, but not related to the boots.
These aren't as tall as MX boots and I can comfortably walk around in them all day.

I don't ride without them.

 

[SirMarksAllot]

Ok question I haven’t seen yet, does your chosen brand seem to run true to size? Meaning if I’m normally a 13 do I expect their 13 will fit me?

I have the Corozal in 13, and it’s a great fit. I have narrow feet so I need thick socks to take up a little space.

 

[line6distortion]

After trying to get appropriate use out of a set of Thor's T30 which had a ton of protection, I realized it was overkill and for most rides I preferred a steel toed shoe. Knowing the protection of a bit higher boot (mid height?) would be prudent. I ended up finding a set of Gaerne adventure boots which seem to be the right balance for me. L6

 

[banditcilik]

That's not how that works. Leather is great for abrasion resistance, but it isn't going to protect against impacts or deformation like TPU (a flexible plastic which is commonly used in MX gear), which is why more TPU generally relates to more protection.

My Corozal boots are mostly leather outers, with some TPU shin guards and a couple malleolus plates. They're fantastically comfortable. They are not even remotely protective when compared to a proper motocross boot.

The Alpinestars Tech 10s I have are at least half plastic. Not only do they offer greater impact and crush protection, but they prevent the ankle from twisting in ways that it shouldn't.

These are almost polar opposites of the spectrum, but pretty much any decent MX boot is going to have a lot of plastic panels and structure. That's what makes them stronger, and that's exactly what you want in a MX boot. The better ones (more expensive) will also have ankle hinges to promote some limited flexibility there.

PPE is a personal choice. Each person will choose to wear the PPE they can tolerate based on their own risk assessment, which is fine.
But everyone needs to understand the products and what they bring to the table to make that assessment.

You misunderstood. I know why the TPU is there, I am just saying that the protection they offer also limit feet movement (due to bad design).
And then there are boots with lace. These boot designers must have never accidentally caught their lace on the shifter/brake while trying to put down a leg. Ask me how do I know.