Motorcycle boots in Canada: EN 13634 ratings, and short, sport, touring and adventure boots compared

A motorcycle boot carries a short code that most listings never explain. The European standard is EN 13634, and the label shows up to four digits, each a Level 1 or Level 2, followed by optional letters for ankle protection, shin protection and water resistance. In ALLR’s Canadian catalog, only 32.2% of boot pages (1,446 of 4,489) state EN 13634, and the levels are stated on far fewer (ALLR data, counted 2026-10-21). This guide shows how to read the code, how short, sport, touring and adventure boots differ, what the examples cost landed in Canada, and what to check before you order.

What EN 13634 tests

EN 13634:2017 is the standard for protective footwear for motorcycle riders. SATRA, the testing body, lists the main groups of tests: general design (including the height of the upper and the seam construction), whole-boot integrity (the bond between upper and outsole, and transverse rigidity), tests on the upper, lining and insole, and the impact cut and impact abrasion resistance of the upper, measured with the methods in EN 13595 parts 2 and 4. The sole has its own tests for abrasion, hydrolysis and the cleat and thickness design (SATRA, EN 13634:2017).

SATRA also lists five optional properties a maker can test to make a claim: impact protection to the shin and ankle, resistance to water penetration, fuel-oil resistance of the outsole, slip resistance of the outsole, and water-vapour permeability of the upper. Those are the letters you see after the digits.

How to read the label

A boot information notice written for EN 13634:2017 (tested by a notified body, Ricotest) explains the pictogram: it shows the performance level reached in four tests, each Level 1 or 2, and says Level 2 offers increased performance for riders with greater accident exposure, but likely at a penalty in weight and comfort (boot information notice).

Under EU Regulation 2016/425 these boots are Category 2 personal protective equipment, which the notice describes as protection against medium risks. EN 13634 is a European standard, and it is the benchmark Canadian retailers cite when they state a boot’s protection. Gloves have a parallel system, covered in our gloves guide.

How many boots state a standard?

A missing standard on the page is a gap in the listing, not proof the boot is uncertified, but it means you cannot compare it with a boot that states its code. Ask the store, or check the label inside the shaft.

Short, sport, touring and adventure boots

The standard is the same; the build and the optional protection change with the job. Prices are the lowest listed landed price to Canada on each product page, in CA$ and excluding GST/HST/PST, read 2026-10-21 04:48 UTC. “Stated” means as stated on the product page.

• Short and urban: ankle-height boots and shoes you can wear off the bike. They suit commuting and warm weather. The first digit of the code is the height of the upper, so compare it, and look for IPA if you want tested ankle protection.
• Sport: stiffer and often with hard ankle and shin protection for fast riding and track days. Level 2 sport boots exist, such as the Sidi above; check the IPA and IPS letters and see our track day prep guide.
• Touring: waterproof membrane boots for long, mixed-weather days. WR on the label shows the waterproofing was tested, and the membrane is covered with rain gear in our rain gear guide.
• Adventure: taller, stiffer boots that handle walking, gravel and standing on the pegs. See the adventure and dual-sport guide for the full kit.

Sizing and fit

Boot sizing is the least consistent in motorcycle gear: brands use EU, Mondopoint and US charts and offset them independently, so the same EU number can be up to a full US size apart between two makers. Measure your bare foot in millimetres, use the maker’s own chart, and read the conversions in the sizing guide. Try them with your riding socks and with the pants you ride in.

Buying boots from outside Canada

In the 2026 Customs Tariff, ankle-covering footwear with leather uppers (6403.91.00) has an 18% general rate, listed “Free” for goods originating in the US, the EU or the UK. ALLR’s estimate uses 18% for boots from every foreign store, because most boots are made in Asia and the preferential rate needs a proof of origin that the reseller cannot give. Boots were the most contested category in our local, US or overseas comparison: overseas stores held the lowest landed price on 43% of boot pages in the 2026-10-05 sample. Work out one order with the import duty calculator. Browse Sidi, Alpinestars, TCX, Klim and Gaerne, or the full boots catalog.

Check the landed price

Each product page ranks stores by landed price to Canada (method on the methodology page). For the rest of the kit, see the beginner kit under $1,000 and the women’s gear guide.