Based in Montebelluna, Italy, TCX is kind of like the Lamborghini off off-road boots.
Sure, its biggest rival may be more well-known, but that has never stopped TCX from striving to perfect the art and science of the off-road motorcycle boot in its own way. The TCX Comp Evo Michelin is the company’s latest example of that. With an MSRP of $569.99, the Comp Evo Michelin is a top-of-the-line, high-tech boot that incorporates cutting-edge safety design without compromising comfort.
The TCX gets its name from the Michelin Hybrid sole that has been designed in conjunction with the well-known tire-manufacturing giant. In fact, it actually kind of resembles a tire tread. The Michelin sole is claimed by TCX to offer superior comfort, control and lasting durability along with excellent traction. The sole features what TCX calls a triangular micro-sculpture tread that is siped for multi-directional grip on the footpegs, and the heel of the boot is angled to offer the best possible traction as well. The center of the sole features a tear- and abrasion-resistant compound with micro-grooves that are designed to evacuate moisture and minimize slippage in wet or muddy conditions.
The Comp Evo Michelin’s bootleg consists of an external polyurethane exterior and a soft micro fiber internal upper design with double Velcro fasteners. The upper envelops the shin completely for a more precise fit. Comfort aside, we especially like the upper for its ability to resist pinching, which can cause tears in the fabric of normal uppers when the boot is being latched. At the top of the boot, and elastic upper collar helps to seal out gravel, dust and mud.
Externally, the Comp Evo Michelin features a glued rubber heat guard on the medial side of the bootleg to offer a solid grip when squeezing the bike. Out front, the Comp Evo Michelin’s PU shin plate is adjustable, allowing it to fit different lower leg dimensions and to accommodate knee guards and or braces. Adjusting the shin plate is easily accomplished by loosening the screws that shift inside hidden holes. The system allows the wearer a choice of two different positions.
Whereas older TCX boots we’ve tried used to have an issue with some of the buckles being difficult to close due to the awkward angle of the adjustable bands, the Comp Evo Michelin’s aluminum male and female metal outer/Nylon 66 inner buckles are more ergonomically correct, making the boots easy to fasten and unfasten even when the rider is wearing gloves and/or when the boot is caked in mud. The toothed bands are easy to adjust.
Testing our brand new Size 10 TCX Comp Evo Michelins on both motocross tracks and on off-road trails revealed that the boots deliver on their promise of comfort. Our main test rider, who usually wears another brand of boot, praised the lack of a bootie and noted that the boots took very little time to break-in to the point of offering comfortable flexibility, making it easy to shift the motorcycle’s transmission without giving it a second thought.
However, some riders may have an issue with the sole itself, which is designed to offer excellent footpeg feel. The compromise here is that the sole imparts a lot of flex when riding, leaving us to wonder if the bottom of the boot would transmit too much impact energy from rocks or other obstacles when in attack mode. TCX layers a composite midsole between the Michelin sole and the boot upper as safety barrier for the rider’s foot, and In all honesty, we never experienced any discomfort from a bottom strike, but if you are used to boots that offer sole flexibility more akin to Frankenstein’s favorite gym shoes, the “thinner” and more flexy feel of the TCX Michelin Comp Evo’s will definitely take some time to get used to.
Beyond that, we loved how easily the Comp Evo Michelins are to adjust, and our tester noted that the buckles reign supreme, offering a super-easy and super-secure engagement. And, even with the completely enclosed micro fiber inner design, the boots worked well with full coverage knee braces, offering excellent comfort with the braces stuffed in their proper position. Here again, this is mostly possible because the TCX Comp Evo Michelins do not feature any kind of bootie. The externally located DCF System is serving the same functionality, but it is doing so on the outside of the boot, thank you very much.
In the same manner that a Lamborghini Murcielago is a worthy competitor to a Ferrari 458, the TCX is a worthy competitor to the best boots from Alpinestars and other premium brands. It’s distinctly Italian, and it offers performance and comfort features that stand on their own merit. The TCX delivers a perfect fit and is extremely comfortable while offering innovative safety and performance features that set it apart from the competition. Even with their more sensitive sole feel, we’d be happy to slap on a pair for Comp Michelin Evos for hard motos or a romp across the desert and through the woods.
TCX Comp Evo Michelin boots are available in U.S. sizes 5-14 and in colors Red/White Blue, Scuba Blue, Orange, Black, Red, Black/Yellow or White. For more information, check out the company’s website at ridetcxboots.com.
TCX Comp Evo Michelin Boots
MSRP :$569.95
Novation North America, Inc.
TCX USA
55 Main Street, Unit 224
Newmarket, NH 03857
Phone: 603-292-6059
Website: www.ridetcxboots.com
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