TCX Fuel WP Boot Review – A Waterproof Boot With a Classic Profile

Am I courting myself with my alternative of footwear? So be it. My outdated Frye engineer boots served me effectively for extra years than I ought to admit, however they’re finished now. Actually I might most likely have them resoled and journey in them off into the sundown, nevertheless it’s my job to assessment new stuff too, so how about these TCX Fuel WP boots? The Fryes aren’t actually even bike boots anyway, however that by no means stops us trend hounds. Like I mentioned in my 20-year outdated assessment of these puppies, you consider engineer boots on cruiser riders, however I’ve by no means had any issues carrying them on every kind of bikes.

Frye 8-inch Engineer Boot Review

Why not check out these equally styled TCX numbers? TCX is an Italy-based boot firm so you already know you’re going to get some model and just a little aptitude.

TCX Fuel WP boots

These boots aren’t made for strolling, if that’s what you will need to do, however they’re not dangerous at it, and even higher for driving – incorporating good safety right into a basic American design.

Aesthetics	8.5/10	Protection	8/10	Comfort	8/10
Value	7/10	Weight	7.5/10	Innovation	7/10
Quality	8.5/10	Options	7/10	Weather	7.5/10
Desirability	8/10	Editor Score: 77 %

+ Highs Easy in-and-out because of full-length zippers Comfy, versatile, not-bad walkers Grippy lug soles and extra protecting than common engineer boots

– Sighs Us southwestern individuals may like a non-WP choice Shifter patch is popping black, does it matter? Out of inventory in most sizes…

The firm was acquired by Dainese in 2020, so you already know you’re additionally getting high quality or not less than paying for it, which appears to fulfill some individuals.

The Fit

Unlike some Dainese boots, that are too slender for even not-wide ft, these TCX jobs really feel like there’s greater than sufficient room within the footbed for my normal-sized 8.5 US canines (dimension 42 euro, dimension 9 UK), and there’s even room for the Ortholite inserts they arrive with and possibly aftermarket ones. Off the bat, these really feel fairly comfy, and for me the sizing was spot-on.

With my outdated Frye 8-inchers, I complained about pant cuffs getting caught on high of the boot; with these 10-inch jobs, that gained’t be an issue – and since there’s a zipper on the within, the shafts may be adjusted to cosy proper onto your calves. When it’s chilly, that’s going to be factor. When it’s sizzling, it means you’re not going to get as a lot airflow down contained in the boots. All the time, you’re getting a snugger match than a tall boot with no zipper, which makes for simpler strolling and an all-around snugger, extra comfy expertise.

If you’re fortunate, you’ve obtained tall socks that may keep up; should you’re like me, it’s no huge deal, as a result of the uppers are lined with gentle materials that doesn’t chafe my leg meat even in direct contact on an extended stroll, the place the remainder of the boot is fairly cozy additionally. Stretch accordion panels on the Achilles tendon give these a bit extra flexibility. Those huge rubber lug soles give good grip in uneven going.

Cool stitching makes it appear like the soles are sewn on, nevertheless it’s actually TCX’s “Ideal” development. The leather-based higher will get pressed and stitched onto a devoted midsole, which is then bonded to the large lug sole. The artificial yarn is dipped in melted tar to make the yarn and holes completely waterproof. Old-world craftsmanship, says TCX, and excessive trend.

T-Dry

Speaking of waterproof, T-Dry is TCX’s model of Gore-Tex, which stays the Cadillac of waterproof membranes designed to let perspiration out and rain not in. I’ve by no means sampled T-Dry however I’ve sampled Alpinestars Drystar and Dainese’s D-Dry imitations, and there’s cause why each these corporations additionally usually provide dearer variations with actual Gore-Tex®: It retains working after hours within the rain, the place the imitators normally don’t. If you’re within the drying-out desert Southwest like me, you might not care. If you’re going to journey within the chilly Kentucky rain, caveat emptor. A few on-line opinions don’t communicate extremely of the Fuel’s waterproofness.

I’d kill for a journey in a pleasant drenching rain proper about now to seek out out, however that’s not within the forecast in my a part of the world anytime quickly. I believe Jamie Elvidge used to dip her boots in a pool? I ponder if that’s take a look at?

Inside

That T-Dry liner is woven right into a comfortable, gentle material that’s straightforward on the ft, so comfy you possibly can put on them with out socks. But good socks undoubtedly preserve my canines drier and happier. Especially these bamboo jobs. On sizzling days, of which there appear to be much more currently, a non-waterproof model would most likely be cooler.

Protection

Thick cowhide is your primary line of protection in opposition to abrasion, all the way in which as much as mid-calf, backed up by bolstered toe and heel packing containers. There are arduous plastic padded discs on each interior and outer ankle bones, the outer ones of that are additional protected by the metal adjustment buckle.

There’s a second layer of leather-based on high of your left boot for a shifter pad, which is popping black on my brown boot. Which is a bit unusual solely as a result of my outdated Fryes don’t have such a pad, and the shifter space continues to be as brown as the remainder of the boot 21 years later. Probably a small worth to pay, because the TCX Fuels really feel like they’d be fairly a bit extra protecting within the occasion of a fast, unplanned descent.

The Verdict

I’ve been carrying these about six months now, so the long-term jury will stay out for a decade or two. They didn’t want a lot break-in in any respect, and the extra I journey in them the extra I like them, particularly in cooler situations. Quite modern too, however not precisely low-cost at $290. Two halluxes up.

Shop for the TCX Fuel WP boots right here

FAQ

Is there or will there be a GoreTex model?

RevZilla says there may be, however solely in black and solely in Europe. If so, these will probably be not solely extra waterproof however extra breathable in sizzling climate as effectively.

What precisely is a “toe and heel box”?

Sometimes referred to as a toe and heel counter, these are just about plastic inserts between the leather-based and liner of the boot for a bit extra safety – kind of like what sportbike or race boots have on the surface however much less thick and fewer inflexible.

Will this model of boot work on a sportbike or bare bike?

Some of us have been doing it for years. The soles are a bit thicker and due to this fact clunkier, however we’ve by no means met a motorbike we couldn’t journey in engineer boots, some simpler than others. Your shifter’s adjustable, in case you forgot, and on some bikes you may want to lift it a smidge to work greatest with thicker-soled footwear.

Additional Resources

Best Motorcycle Boots for Cruisers

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