Chances are you'll have had your first experience of chilly or soggy feet by now if you've not got quite the right boots, and if you've received a bit of money from Christmas then maybe you'd like to remedy that! Bike Stop stocks a wide range of brands' boots, amongst basically any other piece of protective gear you might want to buy. One of our favourite brands is TCX, well renowned for their top quality motorcycle boots. This blog post will go through our top 5 TCX winter boots; perfect if you like the look of their boots and need a pair suitable for our current weather.
It's fair to say that waterproofing is an absolute must for any competent winter boot, so we're not even going to touch on the non-waterproof boots that TCX make. Many of the TCX boots Bike Stop stock are waterproof however, so we're still spoilt for choice.
Crucial to a warm pair of feet is use of the right socks as usually 'winter' boots are simply sturdily built with bombproof waterproofing, but no real insulation. A good pair of socks, such as Halvarssons long wool ones, will put you on the way to winter foot happiness. Never underestimate the power of wearing two pairs of socks either, just beware the risk of them riding up and bunching.
TCX's current cream of the winter boot crop are the Clima Surround boots, and they're a significant step away from the traditional waterproof lining boot. They're up at the premium end of the market (£249.99) but you're getting a boot that's capable of 3 seasons, possibly even a not-too-hot summer too. The selling point of this boot is its Goretex Surround tech; this includes the usual breathable waterproofing, but it includes a revolutionary way to ventilate itself, via its soles! The small holes you can see covering the sides of the soles are there to provide ventilation that simply doesn't exist on other boots, and means that breathability is increased massively. A highly abrasion resistant Cordura upper, alongside key reinforcements mean you have a physically protective boot also. Sure it's not a cheap boot, but you get one that's potentially capable all year-round.
Coming down a rung, and into more traditional territory, we have the SP-Master. This is available in both male and female fitment and benefits from a waterproof lining as well as increased solid armour over the previous Clima Surround. It won't have the same ability to be comfortably used when it gets toasty, but it undercuts it by price at £189.99.
Getting about as subtle as you can get (looks-wise) for a solid winter boot, the Explorer Evo makes a good case for itself. A Goretex lining with a Cordura and microfibre upper take care of business properly, with a subtle look that's easy to keep clean. Coming in at £169.99 these undercut the SP-Master with less fancy looks and physical armour, but an improved waterproof membrane.
Going for a different look entirely, we come onto the more casual style boot. TCX have made a great name for themselves in this segment producing boots that look like they've come out of a high street fashion retailer, but with proper protection. This isn't just limited to crash protection either, waterproofing is commonplace and extremely welcome. Sticking with higher ankles (better to keep your ankles dry!) the Hero and X-Blend are where its at if you want to look half decent off the bike, while maintaining a solid level of weather protection.
The Hero (£219.99) is the more capable of the two boots, including Goretex breathable waterproofing, although it goes for the more conventional membrance and sole design unlike the Clima Surround. Looking like a solid, stylish combat boot, the Hero would go well with a pair of aramid fibre jeans, or under more conventional textile trousers. A zip along the side of the boot means minimal lacing is required, making thm easier to use, while full grain leather allows for strong crash protection. The addition of a pad where your foot shifts is also key, bare leather eventually wears out with this action.
The X-Blend comes in under the Hero at £164.99, but makes do with a waterproof treatment for its leather rather than a proper membrane. That being said, with proper polishing or maintaining a waterproofing regime, you might not miss the convenience of a dedicated membrane that much. You'll also make them last longer, further improving the value for money. Similar to the Hero, these include full grain leather as well as a shift pad, but they don't include a side-zip.
If you're looking for a pair of aramid fibre jeans that can work in winter without the need for waterproof overtrousers, the pairs that Rokker push out could suit you to a tee as they include both strong crash and weather protection.
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