buuk.top / Lecia Landis
Sometimes, living life on the open road seems like a fun fantasy. With the wind blowing through your hair and some leather on your back, you’re sure to shrug the stresses of the daily grind away. Bonus points if the stereo is cranked up high, blasting some classic rock music in said fantasy. Even if that moment isn’t ever actualized, you can embrace the biker vibe through fashion—namely, motorcycle boots.
There are so many styles of moto boots to make an outfit feel whole, be they a pair with chunky heels or a more low-profile, lace-up style. Best of all, the stomper boots are built to last, so no need to worry about cycling through them quickly. If anything, this is a style that looks better with age and the patina that comes with it.
What constitutes a moto boot? “Signature elements of a moto boot are the hardware—particularly the buckles,” says Noelle Sciacca, Senior Lead of Womens Fashion & Strategic Partnerships at The RealReal. “They’re also generally pull-on or side-zip styles.” Need some inspo? Weve handpicked 10 of the best moto boots you can get right now, plus find key insights from Sciacca and style expert Zanna Roberts Rassi.
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Best Overall: Harley Davidson Women’s Madera Boots
Harley Davidson
$125
Buy on Famousfootwear.com
$125
Buy on Harley-davidson.com
$125
If you’ve ever been partial to the Harley Davidson aesthetic, you’re in for a treat. The legendary motorcycle company created these boots with quality and style in mind, so you can kick off the back of your bike (or wear ‘em to get drinks) with your best foot forward. The Women’s Madera Casual Boots are intended to be worn with just about anything and feature hardware that gives the look and feel of motorcycle boots.
Price at time of publish: $125
Heel Height: 1.75 inches | Sizes:5–11
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Best Budget: Schutz Luizia Graxo Leather Bootie
Schutz
$238
Buy on Schutz-shoes.com
$238
Buy on Zappos
$238
Get the most out of your moto boots with this decorated platform pair from Schutz—a mix of leather and silver-studded embellishments on a flat, platform sole. The rounded toe adds a softness to the edgier vibe, and we love the soft cow and patent leather material. We recommend going down a size, as the style runs larger than the standard size.
Price at time of publish: $238
Heel Height: 1.5 inches | Sizes: 5–11
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Best Modern: Stuart Weitzman Maverick Bedford Moto Bootie
Stuart Weitzman
$695
Buy on Stuartweitzman.com
$795
Buy on Zappos
$695
These Stuart Weitzman boots epitomize the fashionable biker aesthetic for less than comparably crafted pairs. They’re rugged (thanks to metallic hardware buckles and chunky lug soles) yet the cutout details on the sides and metallic studs on the back make them feel modern.
Price at time of publish: $795
Heel Height:2.2 inches | Sizes: 3–12
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Best Designer: Prada Leather Pocket Combat Booties
Bergdorf Goodman
$1750
Buy on Neiman Marcus
$1750
Buy on Prada.com
$1750
According to Sciacca, motorcycle boots tend to go in and out of fashion, so it’s smartest to invest in brands that consistently feature the style in their fall collections. “Since moto boots are more of a signature style for brands like Prada, they maintain a more steady demand and can hold better value over time.” We can see why, too. These combat boots feature smooth leather and a chunky heel and are dressed up with a buckled zip pouch at the side.
Price at time of publish: $1,750
Heel Height: 2.3 inches | Sizes: EU35–EU41
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Best Western: RE/DONE Cavalry Boot
Re/Done
$850
Buy on Shopredone.com
$850
Like Annie Oakley, this RE/DONE boot style is made from tough stuff. The leather boot features classic Western embellishments, such as a square toe and a circular, harness detail, and minimalist studs. Its thick soles ensure long-lasting wearability consistent with the brand’s mission to preserve fashion items and reduce industry waste.
Price at time of publish: $850
Heel Height: 1.5 inches | Sizes: IT35–IT41
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Best Heeled: Dr. Martens Leona Vintage Smooth Leather Heeled Boots
Dr. Martens
$200
Buy on Nordstrom
$200
Buy on Drmartens.com
$200
This Doc Martens style is packed with so many rugged moto boot features. It’s a lace-up silhouette with antiqued brass tunnel eyelets, commando soles, and platform heels. It strikes a great balance between femininity and toughness.
Price at time of publish: $200
Heel Height: 2.25 inches | Sizes: 5–11
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Best Lug Sole: Tamara Mellon Perfecto Boots
Tamara Mellon
$995
If you’re looking for something with a lug sole bottom, this Tamara Mellon style could be for you. The construction is clean and simple, so you can wear it with everything, but it also adds a flair of grunge with the spikier sole and side buckles.
Price at time of publish: $995
Heel Height: 1.97 inches | Sizes: 5–12
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Best Ankle: Jimmy Choo Youth II Buckled Leather Ankle Boots
Nordstrom
$950
Buy on Jimmychoo.com
$950
Buy on Net-a-Porter
$895
Biker boots are perennially popular in the fall, though, depending on the style, you can wear them with bare legs and dresses in the warmer months, too. This pair in particular is great for that, as they’re shorter on the leg and are detailed with nothing but two silver buckles. The pair features a loosely fitted shaft, too, so you can put them on and take them off with ease.
Price at time of publish: $950
Heel Height: 1.5 inches | Sizes: IT34–IT45
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Best Tall: Frye Tall Leather Harness Biker Boots
Neiman Marcus
$498
Buy on Thefryecompany.com
$498
Buy on Zappos
$498
Frye boots have been around for a long time—1863, to be exact—the brand started when John A. Frye began crafting shoes. The brand is now famously the oldest continuously operated shoe company in the US, serving pioneers heading out West to WWII generals, Frye boots are as American as it gets. If you’re looking for a pair of taller biker boots, you can’t go wrong with these moto heels, which are decked out with a harness and a platform heel. They’re the perfect cross between a moto boot (obviously) and a western-style shoe, which we all know is having a major moment these days.
Price at time of publish: $498
Heel Height:1.75 inches | Sizes: 6–11
Final Verdict
With so many moto boots to choose from, it can be hard to crown a winner. But after careful consideration, we’re giving top honors to Harley Davidson Women’s Madera Boots, which only makes sense given the brand is the OG when it comes to motorcycle boots. The shoes were quite literally designed for both long rides on the open highway and wherever else life takes you. A more affordable option, the Schutz Luizia Graxo Leather Bootie is a solid choice for anyone looking to lean into the trend without spending their entire paycheck.
What to Look for in Motorcycle Boots
Design
Sciacca mentioned previously that moto boots go in and out of style—so it’s smart to pick a pair that will translate well for years to come. That decision is totally up to you, so be sure to consider brands that you can see yourself wanting to sport years from now, as well as designs that will lend themselves nicely to tons of different outfits. We think the Jimmy Choo Youth II Buckled Leather Ankle Boots, the Prada Leather Pocket Combat Booties, and the Celine Buckled Medium Boot are great choices, as they’ll keep their value, but a simpler silhouette, like the one found in the Tamara Mellon Perfecto shoe, will last a lifetime, too.
Styling Potential
What often changes when a trend comes back into the fashion vernacular is how it’s styled, Sciacca points out. “The previous trend was tucking leather leggings or skinny jeans into moto boots; now, we’re seeing them juxtaposed with ultra-feminine pieces, like lingerie-inspired tops and mini hemlines,” she says, adding that moto boots are also a part of the rising metaverse matrix trend of avatar-inspired dressing. “I have a pair of classics that I wear with literally everything,” Roberts Rassi says. “Dresses and shorts in the summer; jeans or menswear suiting in the winter.”
Sizing
As with all things clothing and footwear, you’ll want to make sure the shoes you buy will fit your feet properly. Otherwise, you’re at risk for lots of pain in the form of blisters. Check each brand’s sizing before purchasing—you won’t regret it.
What are motorcycle boots?
When you think about tough boot styles, the primary ones that come to mind are motorcycle boots and combat boots. Signature elements of the former included studded hardware and bold buckles. They’re also mainly made as a pull-on or side-zip style. Combat boots, on the other hand, are known for their chunky lug soles and laces up the front. However, some consider these a form of moto boots, especially when designed with the aforementioned hardware elements, given their rugged design and durability.
How do you break motorcycle boots in?
Pre-stretch your moto boots with the help of a cobbler, or buy an apparatus to do it yourself. This pair is available for less than $30 on Amazon.
Why Trust buuk.top
Hayley Prokos, buuk.top’s Associate Fashion Commerce Editor, wrote this article and spoke with the below experts. buuk.top commerce writer Caitlyn Martyn updated this article. She considers herself a comfortable footwear expert.
Noelle Sciacca, the Senior Manager of Womens Fashion & New Initiatives at The RealReal
Zanna Roberts Rassi, a style expert, brand ambassador for Afterpay, and the founder of Milk Makeup
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