by Mark
I have to admit to being a little ignorant when it comes to who TCX are. After some extensive Googling I’d like to say I’m more the wiser but sadly that isn’t the case.
The official website tells you very little about the company but you can see they’ve been going for a few years at least. Most of what we know comes from the recent release about the launch of their 2010 range.
I was able to find that TCX were the first motorcycle boot brand to achieve CE certification.
TCX also have some pretty good exposure when it comes to racing. Randy De Puniet wears their boots, the race versions of the S-Race GORE-TEX, and the Ducati World Superbike team of Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio used to wear them. Also Troy Bayliss, James Toseland and Gabor Talmacsi all stick these boots on their feet. So they must be doing something right!
The 2010 range has nearly 30 different models with racing, touring and off road all catered for. TCX are also releasing their ‘Women fitting concept’ which they say is pioneered specifically to the anatomy of women’s feet.
We unable to tell you how that works, owing to the fact that I’m not a woman, and we haven’t been sent any women’s boots to test!
However, what we have kindly been sent is a pair of TCX S-Race Gore Tex Boots and today I took them for a spin.
The boots cost around £200 and they don’t quite have the look of, say a pair of SiDI boots of the same price, but that’s probably more to do with the fact they are a lot more subtle.
The one’s we have are black, all black. The only colours on the boots are a grey TCX logo on the large panel at the front of the boots and some white and red detailing on the sole.
There’s no arguing with the build quality, the leather is extremely supple from the get-go. The boots are done up in the usual way these days with a half zip, on the inside of the leg, with a tag you can Velcro to the top half of the boot that wraps around the calf.
The toe slider is replaceable and you receive the relevant Allan Key to change them from the standard plastic, sorry ‘polyurethane’, one’s you get.
In Use
Just a quick mention about sizes if you’re thinking of purchasing a pair of these boots. I would strongly recommend you try them on before buying. We received a pair in UK size nine which is what my other boots, and shoes, are. However they seem to be slightly on the large size, it’s not an issue as such, and is something I’m sure wouldn’t occur if you tried them on before hand.
Walking in the boots I was surprised by just how much ‘spring’ there seemed to be from the soles. Comfort was good, almost, but not quite, as good as the Vitesse boots we have previously reviewed and are streets ahead of my usual SiDI’s.
I should mention conditions during the test, the ground was damp from the recent rain but drying out, and it was bitterly cold.
Given the conditions I would expect to experience a bit of sliding if I’d been wearing my SiDI’s but the grip on the soles of the TCX’s are unbelievably good. There’s a number of different treads and patterns on the soles and it’s clear these are working to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground.
On the bike the boots also stick to the foot pegs like nothing I’ve used before, if they’re even half as good in the wet it would be impressive.
The down side I could find to this was that there was a lack of feel through the boot, particularly on the sole where I could hardly feel the gears or brakes which, if you’re used to your bike, should be fine and it would probably get better the more you wore them.
It also took me a few minutes to find the optimum foot position when it came to gearing as, initially, I couldn’t feel the gear through the top of the boot either which lead to me stalling the bike.
However after a while I found the correct position, or perhaps just got more used to the boots. There’s an area on the left boot you can see has been designed with feeling the gears in mind and is a slightly tougher, almost rubbery section. So perhaps it’s just a case of letting this ‘bed in’.
The boots were nice and warm, which I’m sure comes, in part, from the Gore-Tex, but there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of ventilation and I think they’d be pretty warm in the summer.
The boots are also superbly light. There’s a very noticeable difference between the weight of these compared with the Vitesse or SiDI boots.
Technology:
Torsion Control System:TCX have redesigned the Torsion Control System for the S-Race boot and it is designed to provide a balance between flexibility and protection. The TCS system is designed to allow lateral and longitudinal movement of the wearers ankle within its physiological limits. This, in turn, prevents excessive torsion and any risk of joint injuries. The system has two main elements, both of which can be clearly seen on the boots: a polyurethane body and heel, both of which are sewn to the upper and connected by two lateral and one rear flexion point.
Gore-Tex Membrane: We all know about the waterproofing effects of Gore-Tex. It also has good temperature resistance as well as wear and tear resistance. The special microporous structure of the Gore-Tex fabric in expanded PTFE contains around 1.4 thousand million microscopic pores per square centimetre. These pores are approximately 20,000 times smaller than a drop of water, but 700 times larger than a molecule of water vapour. So while water cannot penetrate the Gore-Tex membrane in liquid form, sweat (water vapour) can easily evaporate. This results in a completely waterproof barrier that means the boot can be used in all climates, guaranteeing maximum comfort and optimal breathability.
Metatarsal Control System: The new Metatarsal Control System has a polyurethane structure with a flexion point positioned in the metatarsal are to allow it to adhere more closely to the anatomy of the foot, to give necessary freedom of movement while riding and to guarantee maximum protection in the event of a fall. In practice this means the slider has a cut-out section of around one centimetre towards the rear. This doesn’t go all the way through and leaves a further one centimetre at the bottom creating a ‘hinge’ which appears to be directly where the boots crease as you walk in them.
CE Certificate: Novation Motorbike SpA was the first manufacturer to launch professional motorcycling boots with CE Certification. All products bearing this certification can be considered personal protective equipment for motorcyclists. CE Certification is only issued by an accredited laboratory to products that pass stringent resistance test performed on products to guarantee the end user the very best protection.
- Impact energy protection of shin and ankles
- Transverse rigidity of footwear bottom
- Upper cut resistance
- Abrasion resistance of the outside
- Abrasion resistance of the upper
More Safety: Safety, already certified under current European Community regulations after numerous resistance tests on the boot, is further increased thanks to a lateral polyurethane support between the T.C.S. and the M.C.S. systems that protects the whole outside area of the foot from possible trauma in the event of falls or violent impact.
More Feeling: Both the T.C.S. and the M.C.S. safety systems have been redesigned to make the shape as streamlined as possible, for a structure with an ergonomic form, especially inside the boot – smooth surface that guarantees maximum grip to the bike frame. The triple injection sole, with its differentiated grip areas, offers maximum sensitivity while riding.
More Comfort: An even more comfortable fit thanks to new shaped padding with different thickness in expanded rubber. This is a new generation material that is waterproof and able to maintain its elasticity and original shape unaltered over time, allowing the foot to be perfectly covered when the boot is used for long periods. The new construction last, which is snugger and a softer microfibre upper, help make the boot even more comfortable.
More Lightness: The overall weight of the boot is notably diminished, thanks to careful design of the new T.C.S. and M.C.S. systems, whose structure is even slimmer and more streamlined. S-Race, which weighs just 1860g is one of the lightest technical boots on the market today.
Details:
| Upper: | Micro fibre with micro-injected inserts and padded-front |
| Lining: | GORE-TEX membrane |
| Protections: | Polyurethane shin plate with two iron mesh air intakes; polyurethane shift pad |
| Sliders: | replaceable high-resistant alloy tow slider with hidden screw system, polyurethane calf slider |
| Closure: | Zip and Velcro band |
| Mid sole: | Antibacterial, reinforced |
| Sole: | Three colours injected with specific grip area |
| Size range: | EU 38 – 49 US 5 - 14 |
