[Cheshire]

I've been off-forum for a while. I finally rediscovered two wheels! I had to say goodbye to my bicycle, but I discovered scooters! No foot controls, my 125cc Genuine scooter goes a little over 60 mph, and my day-to-day mood is VASTLY improved. *happy sigh*

So. I know it's still summer, but autumn isn't too far away, as I'm getting ready to finish out my associate's degree. Leads me to my question: any ideas on motorcycle boots that are insulated and easy to get on and off? My right foot can't feel squat and once it gets cold, it's a nightmare to warm up again. I'm nervous of doing damage if it stays cold too long (multiple hours), but I want something that wouldn't turn to dust if I laid the scooter down.

Motorcycle crash-survivable, insulated as I plan on scooting to class through the winter as well as some touring, and able to put on a foot that can't point. Any suggestions? My current boots are the old-style army boots. They're...alright, but several hours in them and my feet don't like me quite so much. Plus, they're just leather...no insulation. My toes get cold even with wool socks. Drat this can't-regulate-temperature side effect of paralysis!!

[Slowlegs]

Cheshire, on Aug 16 2009, 03:49 PM, said:

I've been off-forum for a while. I finally rediscovered two wheels! I had to say goodbye to my bicycle, but I discovered scooters! No foot controls, my 125cc Genuine scooter goes a little over 60 mph, and my day-to-day mood is VASTLY improved. *happy sigh*

So. I know it's still summer, but autumn isn't too far away, as I'm getting ready to finish out my associate's degree. Leads me to my question: any ideas on motorcycle boots that are insulated and easy to get on and off? My right foot can't feel squat and once it gets cold, it's a nightmare to warm up again. I'm nervous of doing damage if it stays cold too long (multiple hours), but I want something that wouldn't turn to dust if I laid the scooter down.

Motorcycle crash-survivable, insulated as I plan on scooting to class through the winter as well as some touring, and able to put on a foot that can't point. Any suggestions? My current boots are the old-style army boots. They're...alright, but several hours in them and my feet don't like me quite so much. Plus, they're just leather...no insulation. My toes get cold even with wool socks. Drat this can't-regulate-temperature side effect of paralysis!!

Not sure if it would help but perhaps some thick socks such as thinsulate or wool may help. My brother used to have allstars and they had straps on the side and opened like snowboard boots from memory. Another thing which may help is one of those automatic heat pads which you could strap to the outside of your boots. They have a metallic spring in them and when you need them you bend the spring. A chemical reaction heats them up so could keep your feet warm. Mind you, you would want to make sure they don't get so hot they don't burn your feet. Perhaps a turkey temperature meter inside your boot could help, LOL. Also, a number of the italian scooters have foot heaters built in and great wind shields at the front. Happy scootering and good on you.

Post edit: I did find some heated motorcycle gear on the net, try out http://www.gerbing.com/ as they seem to have a good selection including inners for boots that are heated electrically. Some are battery powered and I presume some are powered off the motorcycle battery too. With a lot of older people getting into adventure sports, biking, etc then there can only be more of things coming up in the future. God bless the baby boomers because the disability market has been considered too small for too long for a lot of main stream things to be developed that can also help us.

This post has been edited by Slowlegs: 16 August 2009 - 07:41 PM

[Andy p]

Cheshire, on Aug 16 2009, 03:49 PM, said:

I've been off-forum for a while. I finally rediscovered two wheels! I had to say goodbye to my bicycle, but I discovered scooters! No foot controls, my 125cc Genuine scooter goes a little over 60 mph, and my day-to-day mood is VASTLY improved. *happy sigh*

So. I know it's still summer, but autumn isn't too far away, as I'm getting ready to finish out my associate's degree. Leads me to my question: any ideas on motorcycle boots that are insulated and easy to get on and off? My right foot can't feel squat and once it gets cold, it's a nightmare to warm up again. I'm nervous of doing damage if it stays cold too long (multiple hours), but I want something that wouldn't turn to dust if I laid the scooter down.

Motorcycle crash-survivable, insulated as I plan on scooting to class through the winter as well as some touring, and able to put on a foot that can't point. Any suggestions? My current boots are the old-style army boots. They're...alright, but several hours in them and my feet don't like me quite so much. Plus, they're just leather...no insulation. My toes get cold even with wool socks. Drat this can't-regulate-temperature side effect of paralysis!!

Hi try http://www.foxcreekl...er.com/766.html [based in the blue ridge mountains] they do a trooper boot bit like a paratrooper boot, but have a zipper up both sides really easy to get on and off, you could also try gore tex socks should be able to get them from an army surplus store, hope this helps good luck andy p,

[Cheshire]

Thanks for the responses.

Thick wool has turned out to be the way to go for socks. I tried smart wool and the like, but it's too thin...or something. Cold conducts through them and chills my feet, and once they're cold, it's game over. Heated gear makes me too nervous...I'm terrified I'd burn my feet and not notice. I did that last year? Year before? on the wood stove and had 2nd degree blisters on all 5 toes and the pad of my foot for over a month, which had me back in my chair 24/7 until the burns healed. NOT doing that again.

I did find a pair of boots from REI that are working nicely so far I thought I'd share. Got 'em for $110 or so, and they're rated "comfortable to -40 degrees". 200 gram Thinsulate. The company that makes them is Sorel. So far, so good.

Stay warm, y'all, and may you always have/find a reason to smile!