More and more apparel companies are offering riding shoes that have motorcycle specific features, but no real armor. I am not naive. I know that we don't all wear protective apparel every time we ride, but in terms of protection, more is better.
The Alpinestars Mille Shoes are motorcycle specific shoes with some nice features. They are constructed of a 1.6 mm suede leather upper. They have a shift pad to reduce shifting pressure on the upper foot, and they have internal toe and heel reinforcement. There is a mesh inner liner for heat dissipation.
There are some protective features in this boot. As was mentioned earlier, they are constructed of good thick leather, which is an inherently rash resistive layer. Also, they have both a lace and strap closure, which is a desirable feature for keeping the boot on the foot in a crash. On the down side, there is no integrated armor at the ankle and no lateral movement ankle protection.
In the end, the Alpinestars Mille Shoes are attractive, comfortable, mildly-protective footwear. Just don't look at these as armored crash protection. They are better than wearing your tennis shoes, but fall well short of full boots. They are offered in all black with sizes ranging from 6-14.
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