Back when I worked in a motorcycle clothing store, I often encountered customers who were looking for boots to give them a bit more height on the bike.
Some boots offer thicker soles and will boost a rider’s height by an inch or so. This helps give the rider extra stability, particularly if the seat height is slightly too high and the bike quite heavy.
Even if extra height is a priority, you still need boots that are well designed, tough, and in your price range. We’ve pulled together all the best boots for shorter riders to save you hours of research. Here are our top boots for short riders.
Daytona Max Sports GTX Boots
The Daytona Max Sports GTX Boots are premium-quality motorcycle touring boots specifically designed to boost the rider's height. They’re built to be long lasting, comfortable, and ready for anything.
Forma Adventure Low Boots
Forma Adventure’s Low Boots offer a lot of bang for your buck in terms of features. With a dual-density, thick anti-slip sole, they’re a great value boot for short riders.
Reviews of the Best Boots for Short Riders
Daytona Max Sports GTX Boots
Daytona makes some of the best motorcycle boots on the market, always using quality components. The Max Sports GTX Boots, which continue Daytona’s trend of excellence, are a great option for shorter riders. With a 2.36” heel, they are specifically built to elevate your height.
These boots also have a reinforced inner sole strengthened by a hot-dip, galvanized-steel inlay for maximum protection. The durable nonslip rubber touring sole is brilliant for maximizing the grip between your boot sole and the road surface.
On top of that, the boots are waterproof, with a Gore-Tex membrane, as well as a reinforced shin guard and ankle protector. Despite these advanced protection features, they’re breathable and easy to put on, with an easy, two-zip fastener for quick access.
Daytonas are the most comfortable motorcycle boots I have ever worn. Despite their comfort, they’re also known for their durability. While some riders might find them expensive, they’ll last for years. You should consider them a solid investment.
I’ve met Daytona owners who’ve had their boots for 10 years or more, and they are still good to go.
Pros:
- 2.36” heel
- Strengthened inner sole
- Nonslip sole
- Waterproof
- Comfortable
- Durable
Cons:
- Pricey
Forma Adventure Low Boots
The Formal Adventure Boots come in a standard or low style. For the purposes of this article, we’ve opted for the low style so that short riders might avoid any issues they might have with a taller boot.
These calf-friendly Forma boots are as robust as a pair of boots can get, with plenty of protective qualities, such as TPU inserts and reinforcements. But it’s the dual-density, anti-slip sole that really makes these boots a great pick for shorter riders. It’s nice and thick for the extra height you’re looking for.
There’s also plenty of room inside the boot to add a comfort insole, and the velcro closure and buckles are adjustable so that you can get the right fit. With a waterproof Drytex lining equipped with memory foam for comfort and an antibacterial footbed, the value for money you get with the Forma boots is second to none.
Pros:
- Excellent value
- Double-density, anti-slip sole
- Waterproof
- Steel shank midsole
- Ankle protection
- Comfort features
Cons:
- Quite stiff
- Not suited for warm weather riding
Daytona M-Star GTX Boots
Daytona’s M-Star GTX Boots are a pair of tall boots that have been equipped with a 2.5” insole to provide essential extra height so you are always in control of your bike.
Just like the shorter Max Sport Boots, the M-Stars are backed with a Gore-Tex membrane, as well as reinforcements in all the necessary areas and a steel inlay fitted in the inner sole.
The boots utilize a nonslip touring sole, so you get the necessary grip when you put your feet down. The contoured insole not only boosts your height but makes the boots comfortable both on and off the bike.
If you like the idea of a pair of Daytona boots but you don’t like the shorter Max Sports, the M-Stars are the way to go.
Pros:
- 2.5” raised insole
- Strengthened and contoured inner sole
- Nonslip outer sole
- Waterproof
- Comfortable
- Durable
Cons:
- Pricey
SIDI Vertigo 2 Boots
The SIDI Vertigo 2 Boots are our best pick for more traditional, sports-style boots.
The sole is not as thick as some of the other options, but it is thicker than most other sports boots. The major bonus of the Vertigo 2s is that they have an amazing dual-compound sole for the best grip you can possibly get.
Sports bikes are notoriously pretty tall, so shorter riders tend to struggle to flat-foot most sports bikes, even with modifications. However, as long as you have the best grip on the road surface, you can still remain confident, which is why the Vertigo 2 boots made our list.
Related: Most comfortable sports bike options
They also have an easily adjustable calf feature to maximize comfort and accommodate your leathers whether you tuck them in or wear them over your boots. Protection-wise, the boots are great, with an ankle support brace, slide mechanism, shin-deflector plate, shock-absorbing heel cup, and a padded Achilles area.
SIDI has thought of everything, including double-stitching in high-stress areas and a removable comfort arch pad. You could remove the arch pad and add a height-increasing inner sole to give you that little extra boost.
Pros:
- Quality construction
- Protective
- Excellent grip, dual-compound sole
- Comfortable
- Room for a height-increasing insole
Cons:
- Run small
TCX Drifter WP Boots
The TCX Drifter boots are a sturdy set of Adventure boots that look the business. They have quite a thick sole and enough adjustable options and space inside for you to fit an insole too.
TCX has also fitted the Drifter WP boots with an excellent sole that offers a great grip on all terrain. The WPs are adventure boots, so the protective properties are fantastic, with protection in all the essential areas and a waterproof lining to keep you dry.
Despite being tall boots, the Drifters are adjustable and pretty wide in the calf area, so don’t be put off by the full-size nature of the boots. They’re quite bulky, though, so these boots might not be suited to all motorcycles, such as those with small and narrow controls and footpegs.
Pros:
- Excellent grip
- Thick sole and room for an insole
- Protective
- Comfortable
Cons:
- Not suited to all motorcycle types
Daytona Lady Star GTX Boots
The Lady Stars are the equivalent of the Daytona M-Stars, except for female riders.
The boots utilize the same 2.5” height-increasing insole as the M-Stars and feature the same nonslip outer sole for maximum grip.
These boots are going to suit female riders who need the height boost but don’t necessarily want to wear boots that have a high heel on the outside. The insole cleverly disguises the height boost while looking like a traditional pair of riding boots.
Pros:
- 2.5” height-increasing insole
- Strengthened and contoured inner sole
- Nonslip outer sole
- Waterproof
- Comfortable
- Durable
Cons:
- Pricey
Buyers Guide
Buying a pair of motorcycle boots doesn’t need to be complicated. Check out our in-depth guide to choosing the right motorcycle boots here.
If you need a pair of height-boosting boots, here are a few extra features to bear in mind.
Soles
The absolute first thing you need to be looking for in a pair of boots is a thick sole. You need one that is definitely going to boost your height, not just look like it will.
Generally speaking, adventure/touring boots are taller because the extra padding and protection make them bulkier.
On the flip side, sports boots tend to be lighter, with thinner soles. However, they offer excellent traction thanks to super grippy soles, and, like the SIDI Vertigo 2 Boots, they often have a reasonable sole height with the benefit of brilliant grip.
One option is to fit an insole that increases your height, but you need to make sure the boots have enough room to accommodate that. These Height Increase Insoles on Amazon offer up to four different layers, so you can adjust the height to suit.
Plenty of Grip
Traction is an essential element of a good motorcycle boot, but it is even more important if you are on the slightly shorter side of things.
Having boots with a really grippy sole will ensure you are glued to the road surface when you put your foot down, so you’ll be less likely to slip and lose balance, even if you can’t get your whole foot down.
Look for boots with nonslip soles, such as those on both Daytona boots on this list.
Protection and Comfort
Making sure your boots are protective is essential, and there are a few questions you should ask to ensure you get both protection and comfort out of your riding boots:
- Are they built of durable components?
- Do they have adequate protective armor in the right places?
- Will they protect your foot and ankle from being crushed if you dropped the bike?
- Are they protective enough for your style of riding?
When it comes to comfort, shorter riders may find that tall boots don’t suit them because they come up too high on the leg. You need to be able to do your boots up properly, and tall boots on shorter legs can mean your calf muscles make this difficult.
Also Adventure boots might interfere with your knee joint when you’re in the riding position. They can rub behind the knee causing discomfort.
If you choose shorter boots to accommodate your shorter legs, just make sure that they still have as many of the protective features you’d find on tall boots as possible.
Final Thoughts
The Daytona Max Sports GTX Boots are the best motorcycle riding boots for riders who want to add some extra height. They’re durable and stylish, and while you might look just as cool as Maverick (aviator shades not included), you’ll definitely be taller.
If the Daytonas are too steep, give the Forma Adventure Low Boots a go. They’re still well built, if a bit stiff and stuffy, but they won’t break the bank.