I only wear protective clothing that is comfortable the first time I put it on, and the O’Neal Sierra Pro adventure motorcycle boots have just the right amount of flexibility and protection that I’m looking for in this genre of footwear. The namesake of the 1960s motocross racing phenomenon, Jim O’Neal, O’Neal USA has been making off-road clothing since the 1970s. The Sierra Pro boots come from this experience and show it.
The Sierra Pro is 14 inches tall and has a nine-inch waterproof lining to keep your feet dry as you explore the depths of the rocky creek in front of you. Most of the boot is made of leather, with suede microfiber and TPU protection. There is preformed TPU on the shin, heel cup and foot area.
Remember that adventure boots protect your feet, ankles and shins from accidental blows, not the devastating blows that an entire MX boot is designed to absorb – O’Neal sells you its RDX 2.2 boots for this. The protection tradeoff is that you can comfortably ride, stand, walk, hike, and hang out all day for weeks or months. There are matching switch pads above the reinforced toe boxes. The shift pads and all seams that receive tensile pressure are sewn twice.
As far as my feet are concerned, the Sierra Pro is a D-width boot; I am a Brannock device measured D-width. The boot fits me comfortably with a sporty tube sock. If I pull a calf-high, thick winter sock over the tube sock, it becomes uncomfortably tight in width and instep. I drove for three hours at 38 degrees, at an unprotected speed of 50 to 65 MPH, and my toes didn’t get cold, just with a hose sock on.
I also walked around on snow covered grass to check the grip of the sole pattern. If you don’t want to play in the snow all day, tube socks or, even better, special motorcycle socks should be fine. The toe box height is great for getting under the gear stick Ultimate motorcycling Yamaha Ténéré 700 Project Bike. However, if you have a high arched foot or wear extra heavy socks, you will need to adjust the size of the O’Neal Sierra Pro boots that you purchase.
The rubber sole has a deep chevron pattern – similar to an ADV tire tread – with the heel in an inverted chevron. The sole adds a little more than an inch to my stride. This thick sole is very helpful for reaching the ground almost flat-footed Tenere 700.
The insole is made of nylon with a steel shaft. The steel shaft supports my 195 pounds standing on the pins for hours without bending or transferring pressure to my bow.
Two metal buckles pull on adjustable straps to secure your foot without constricting and in your preferred fit. There is a large Velcro fastener over the buckles to secure the upper foldable shin guard.
After deliberately walking several miles in the boots, I found that the placement of the buckles and bellows prevented the sides of the boot from buckling into my personal sensitive area – right above my outer ankle.
Adventure riding and the equipment that protects us get a lot of attention. The O’Neal Sierra Pro reflects decades of experience; It’s a durable and comfortable adventure boot at an attractive price.
Quick facts about O’Neal Sierra Pro boots
O’Neal Sierra Pro Boot Price: $ 230 MSRP
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