Products reviewed by the Test Team are photographed by Bennetts BikeSocial before sending them out for review, so are shown box fresh. Products reviewed by the editorial team are photographed after use.
Date reviewed: May 2023 | Tested by: Sophie Utley, BikeSocial Test Team | Price: £139.99 | Furygan.com
The Furygan Angie D3O women’s motorcycle boots on review here have been put through the mill over the last month: five days a week, four weeks straight come rain or shine these have been on my feet. And when I say rain, I mean tropical rain. Raining buckets!
As a riding instructor and event guide rider, I’ve mainly used them on a Honda CBR500R and a CB500X, but also on almost every Triumph you can imagine from the Tiger GT Rally Pro to the Speed Triple 1200RR and more. Rides have ranged from 30 minutes to full days on the bikes, as well as walking around carparks and shows…
Pros & Cons
- Comfortable and well padded
- Reliably waterproof
- Reduced vibration
- Breathability during summer
- Gear change cover misplaced for most bikes
Construction and features
Furygan boldly claims that these trainers are ‘hyper-cool’, and the general consensus from people I’ve met is that they concur. I certainly felt casual, and as someone keen on skater shoes these are right up my street. It’s also good to see a pair of women’s trainers available in a more laid-back black, gold and grey scheme as well as the usual pink. Don't get me wrong, I’m a girly girl and I like pink, but sometimes it’s too much.
These boots are made of synthetic PU leather, polyester rubber, microfibre and an airmesh material, with reflective detailing at the sides and rear. A disappointing design point is that, on the size 39 I have, the gear shifter toe cover is completely misplaced. To be fair, this is not unique to Furygan as many manufacturers have not cottoned on to the fact that most gear levers are in the same place, but most feet are different sizes. I’ve damaged my left toenail from excessive gear change wear, so more reinforcement here would be ideal for the size 39 when used regularly. For weekend use or even commuting, it’s unlikely to cause such damage.
These trainers are proving tough and durable so far – regular bike boots often get torn on the bike stand when carting motorcycles in and out of our riding school’s container, yet these do not show a scratch.
Fastening
The Furygan Angie trainers are simply laced up. As with all of my skater-style trainers, I chose not to lace them up and just tuck the laces inside. They feel secure nonetheless, and this makes them super-easy to slip on and off. However, I’m sure the manufacturer doesn’t intend such superficial style-orientated laziness and lack of security. Come to think of it, I would find them far more comfortable and safe if I were to tie a bow! There’s no lace tidy, so tuck any loose ends away. [Yes, absolutely do lace them up Sophie. Even if you don’t lace them all the way to the top, having unsecured bike boots is like not doing the strap up on your helmet! Ed]
Protection and certification
D3O inserts provide the Furygan Angies with impact protection at the ankles (the ‘IPA’ on the label), though due to the height of the boot and the overall abrasion, cut and rigidity properties, they’re not the most protective you’ll find, with an overall Level 1 rating (out of two).
I would say though that having the option of a stylish easy to slip on shoe ensures that you do wear something more protective than the average trainer, which could tear through in less than a second, crush your foot or end up with your toe chopped off.
All motorcycle clothing sold in the UK and Europe is deemed to be Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This is a good thing for riders as it can help them choose kit that has provable levels of safety because, to meet this legislation, it must be tested to a recognised standard. To fully understand the labels found in all bike kit, click here.
Comfort
Super soft and supportive is how I would describe the Furygan Angie motorcycle boots. The inside is very well cushioned and seems to mould to your foot over time. At first the Angie’s seemed narrow, but soon settled in.
The most exciting discovery is the lack of vibration – the CB500X can rattle my ankle joints, but while wearing these trainers I really noticed the comfort and dampening. Don’t expect miracles though – I still felt it on the Triumph Speedmaster.
You might have expected trainers to be more of a summer garment, however I’d say the Furygan Angies are in some ways best reserved for the other seasons. They’re more reliably waterproof than many of my boots, and with temperatures of just 14°C they can get quite hot and smelly. It’s likely not helped by the lack of genuine leather, but the polyester is sweaty and the airmesh doesn’t do the trick, giving me the impression that it’s not present further down the boot. And I am not convinced that the membrane is particularly breathable, but it certainly is waterproof.
If the weather is chilly and damp, these will keep your toes cosy, but if it’s one of those rare summer days in Britain and you’re walking around a lot, be prepared to get a bit hot of foot.
Before and after… Studio shot before they went to Sophie, and how they look now…
Sole and grip
The Furygan Angie sole is grippy. Too grippy for my liking, as I struggle to pivot my foot when getting onto the bike, but if you like to be confident that you’re sure footed, then the sole works well.
Let’s face it, many bikes are taller than the average instep, so the texture of the sole does indeed provide grip, which is handy for the vertically challenged.
Waterproofing
These Furygans are well and truly waterproof. The high tenacity polyester and waterproof lining is impressive, even with shoe laces and buckets of water. One month in these have not let me down.
Of course, no matter how waterproof your shoes are, if you don’t cover the tops with trousers you’ll end up with trench foot. It’s surprising how much more suited to the wet these trainer boots are than most ankle boots from my experience though!
Three alternatives to the Furygan Angie boots
Skater-style, or high-top motorcycle boots like these are incredibly popular now, which means there are plenty of options.
- The TCX Street 3 boots offer better impact abrasion and cut resistance than the Furygan’s for £10 more, though I found them to be less water resistant when I wore them. You can read Bennetts BikeSocial’s review of the TCX Street 3s here.
- At just £69.99, the Spada Striders are Level 2 rated for protection in everything except boot height. Read the review of the Spada Striders here.
- The Road City Sneakers cost only £49.99, and are also Level 2 throughout (except boot height). They’re not perfect, but for the price they’re very impressive. Check out the review of the Road City Sneakers here.
These are just three of many alternatives – you can find all the motorcycle boots we’ve tested here and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership.
Furygan Angie boots review: verdict
While being a brilliant casual winter trainer, that’s not really the weather most people buy trainers for, but by being surprisingly water tight and warm, the Furygan Angies work well on the bike, while staying very comfortable off it.
The Angies are great when you get caught out in the rain, and for walking about away from the bike. They might not be so summery and cool, but like many of my friends, I do rate them for their ‘hyper-cool’ looks.
