I was in the market for motorcycle boots since I had grown tired of using my old race boots for my cruiser. They had great protection but were not very comfortable to use while walking around the office. Read as much input as I could on the Bates boots and it seemed to hit all the criteria I wanted. I've summarized a few points that I felt was important to me.

Durability - I was initially worried that the toe area would wear down quickly over time with shifting on a motorcycle. So far, I'm pleasantly surprised that they are holding up and not leaving too many markings on the top of the shoe.

Protection - I haven't taken a fall in these so take what i say with a grain of salt, but they seem sturdy. The heel and toe seem to be semi rigid to provide some protection in an accident. It's nice that there is some abrasion-resistant fabric mixed in as well and thicker than I expected around the ankle. It's not going to be on par with my old race boots but I am not riding insanely fast either so it works for my usage.

Comfort - Fantastic for comfortable compared to my old race boot since it's not as highly rigid. It actually feels like I have nice hiking boots. I can wear these all day and still feel okay. Additionally, I can feel the shifter so much better with these. It's really nice to have the side zip feature as well as it was one of the main selling points to me since I thought it was very convenient to have on my old boots. One negative for me is that I find it somewhat tight to take on and off, but it's not bad enough where I would take off a star.

Overall, I am pretty happy with the purchase and would recommend it to all riders looking for a comfortable boot that packs a lot of features.
Given that I have only worn these a couple of weeks, I reserve the right to change the rating later if I feel like the quality and value is no longer there.

These felt comfortable. No pinching or obvious chafing, however, they started squeaking after wearing them for 5 minutes of walking around the house. Squeaking is usually a sign of cheap, corner cutting manufacture with the sole to upper attachment. After reviewing customer pictures and examining the points of failure, I have to say I believe the issues are not solely user error as the non leather or canvas material is like vinyl and IMO, not very durable. Also, the zipper got stuck about 1 inch from the bottom for no apparent reason, and I felt like I would eventually break the zipper struggling against its being difficult to move up and down, even where it didn't bind up. I have to say, bates quality does not seem as great as it was 20 years ago. Another classic american quality bait and switch to chinese quality manufacture. So I am sending them back and cannot comment on their durability.

I am a wedding photographer and needed a waterproof comfortable boot that would last a long time. Since I spend around 8-10 hours a day on my feet I needed something that would protect my feet and support my ankle with my demanding job. So far, so good. I would have preferred the 6" boot but this 8" boot got far better reviews. The only issue I had with this boot is part of the leather near the base of the laces was digging into the top of my foot. But after breaking them in, it was fine and no longer bothered me. Unlike other similar boots, there isn't a lot of padding on the sides and tongue. But the boot is supportive, quiet while walking (except on linoleum), waterproof and lightweight. You don't have to unlace them every time you take it on an off thanks to the zipper. When tightening, all I have to do is pull the top laces tight, and pull the excess tight before tieing...super easy and quick to tighten without quick laces. So far, this is the best boot I've owned (have tried Timberland and under armor duty boots in the past..not a fan of either one). I may update this review to see how it fares against Occupational wear and tare.

Shoes are very comfortable but with inserts. I deliver mail so I walk miles in them each day. The leather on the outside is holding up well. The ankle portion just stretches out more and more with time. Finally to the point where the ankle portion provides very little support. I wore them in a severe rain storm and my boots were very wet in the inside not quite sure why being they are suppose to be waterproof.
Zipper broke in only 3 months of use. The tread is very worn down and peeling off but not sure if that is just from the mileage put on them. They performed better than a previous brand which only lasted 2 months. Considering their a Bates I thought they would last alot longer.

I purchased these to wear when riding my motorcycle. They are extremely comfortable, as is generally the case with Bates, much more so than my motorcycle boots. The side zipper means I can have these on and ready to go in seconds. The velcro that goes across the zipper is a great idea, as it holds the zipper at the top, negating the possibility of the zipper working its way down and unzipping the boot.

Regarding the waterproofing, these boots actually are waterproof, even at 70+ mph on a motorcycle.