Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/713106
P94 CN III PRODUCT REVIEW TCX COMP EVO MICHELIN BOOT LIST PRICE: $569.99 www.tcxboots.com STANDOUT FEATURE: The Double Flex Control system makes break-in time almost zero and allows great up and down movement. Limitations in the design help keep the ankle from flexing too far. READER ANALYSIS: If you prefer boots with an inner bootie, try on a pair of bootie- less TCX Comp EVOs. These are ultra comfortable and just might convert you from being a bootie lover. We really like the easy-to- use buckles on the Comp EVO, they work even when covered in dirt and grime. And the strap length is the easiest adjustment of any boot around, making quick adjustments easy. Break-in time is just about zero thanks to the Double Flex Control system. The premium Michelin dual com- pound sole sticks to footpegs wonderfully. After months of use the Michelin sole shows a little wear. Usually when a sole is as tacky as the Comp EVO it chunks and wears out quickly, not so with Michelin sole. Even with a steel shank, the base of the Comp EVO has a good amount of flex and feel for the footpegs. Some testers felt the sole area flexed too much for their taste while others liked the extra give. Shifting and brak- ing is easy with the Comp EVO boot and the overall weight of the boot wasn't an issue for any of our riders. The Comp EVO is a very roomy boot on the inside, so riders who struggle wearing tighter fitting Eu- ropean boots, or those with nag- ging foot injuries will want to try a pair on. For riders comfortable in tighter-fitting boots, the TCX will possibly feel too big around the front ball area of the foot. The sizing is a hair on the big side and our riders who typically fit nicely into a size 9 found the Comp EVO size 9 just a tad big—likely from the roomy sensation. The TCX Comp Evo fit simply works better for riders with wider feet or those who get claustro- phobic in tighter fitting boots. Our testers who commented on the extra room feel had narrow- to-average feet and preferred tight-fitting boots. Another sizing consideration: the shin plate adjustment offers two different positions, but for our shortest riders, the largest setting was barely big enough to get the shin plate over the out- side of the boot when buckling. Average and taller riders didn't have this issue. Overall the Comp EVO is a very high-quality boot with premium components that last. The fit is ultra comfortable and it breaks in quickly. Trimming down the size of foot/toe box and stiffening of the foot bed would elevate the Comp EVO's performance for most of our testers. Certainly, the TCX Comp EVO is a top-of-the-line boot for the right foot. Adam Booth The Italian company TCX has been in the boot game a long time. Not only do they produce boots under the TCX label, they manufacture boots for other labels out of the TCX factory (think Fly's Sector boot). The all-new TCX Comp EVO Michelin boot is now their premier boot, ready to go up against giants like Alpinestars, Gaerne and Sidi.