TCX S-Race Boots - Review
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TCX Send us their S-Race boots as worn by James Toseland in this years World Superbikes, as a full fledged race boot we get to find out if they offer comfort and usability for day to day usage.
Initial Thoughts
TCX have been around making typically stylish Italian motorcycle boots for some time and have shod a number of racers and champions over the years, the S-Race is this years race boot and although it appears to pack in a massive amount of protection it stays inconspicuous and well styled - that is unless you go for the full fat, in your face white option that I did!
Construction
Sporting the latest version of their Torsion Control System (TCS) and Metatarsal Control System (MCS) the S-Race is full of protection products that have been finely tuned for comfort, this certainly shows while wearing the boot as unlike other sport and race boots you see very little of the armour system. You can however feel it working if you try and move the boot in directions your foot would not appreciate, the real test is if you can wear them comfortably off the bike without feeling too trussed up or restricted and the S-Race boots perform really well in this - actually they are ridiculously comfortable. The internal lining is a lovely soft honeycomb that works really well in dissipating any heat build up that can lead to sweaty and stinky boots and the full length zip deals admirably with having leathers tucked in even with chunky calves to deal with although they are a little tight in places and I do have a tendancy to worry about splitting the zip it has not happened.
Sizing is done in Euro measurements so my size 10 would be a 45 according to TCX, with my wide feet I can struggle having enough room in hot weather when our feet naturally expand, the TCX S-Race are actually a touch too big I would say in their size 45, I think I could perhaps have got away with a 44 which is certainly something to consider if you have inbetween sized or slimmer feet - a slim size 10 foot would feel lost in these and as a benchmark we have a set of TCX X-Cube boots in the same size on review which are a tighter fit.
The S-Race comes not only in standard black but also red, and blue and my personal favourite - white. While the all white boots (or pansy white booties as my wife describes them) can look a tad tarty and be more difficult to keep clean they certainly offer a lot in terms of visibility while out on the road, as a race boot they are perfectly suitable for road riding or trackdays which are two areas that other boots fail to span by focusing on being too sporty or too touring oriented. One thing the S-Race does not deal with particularly well though is heavy rain which is to be expected, however small showers have not been an issue during the review.
UPPER: micro fibre with micro-injected inserts and padded front area for a better comfort and flexibility
LINING: AIR TECH breathable, suede leather insert in the heel area for a better fitting
PROTECTIONS: polyurethane shin plate with 2 iron mesh air intakes; polyurethane shift pad
SLIDERS: replaceable high-resistant alloy toe slider with hidden screw system, polyurethane calf slider
CLOSURE: zip and Velcro® band
MID SOLE: antibacterial, reinforced
SOLE: 3 colours injected with specific grip area
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Editor reviews
Conclusion
The TCX S-Race is incredibly well thought out and constructed, with minimal amounts of armour out on show it looks like a touring boot without closer inspection.
Comfort wise the boots is very nice but the fit is a little roomy for its size, try some in a shop to be certain you get the right fit or try a european size smaller if you are unsure.
Money wise they are at the high end bracket, they are a high end brand though so this is to be expected, however they stack up well in terms of comfort, styling and price.
User reviews
Average user rating from: 1 user(s)
TCX S-Race
Just purchase a pair of TCX S-Race boots, and love the fit and overall protection of the s-race boots, over my sidi vortice a had gotten a few months back.
