TCX Competizione – Our Review and the different versions

Click here to see the best places to buy

When looking for a new boot I did a lot of searching around for the best mix of protection and price, and in the TCX Competizione S you are definitely somewhere close to the perfect mix. The boot comes in at a RRP of £149.99, but you should be able to find prices closer to £100 like we did (see below for the best prices we found).

So what about the TCX Competizione S features I hear you ask. I was going to save it for the big finale but instead I’ll start off with its best feature which is something called TCS (Torsion Control System) and it is THE single reason why I went for this boot over others.

The TCS is a polyurethane body and heel section that starts right at the bottom of the heel and works its way around and up both the inside and outside of the foot up to the ankle. This special section is there to help prevent any abnormal flexion of the foot around the ankle area but it allows normal movement quite freely, and it is a feature that is absent from most other manufacturer boots, even those that can cost up to twice as much as the TCX Competizione. Another plus of this feature is that as it’s on the outside of the boot it also acts as armour against knocks for the ankle and heel.

Other features worth mentioning include AIR TECH breathable lining to minimise clamminess, polyurethane shin plate and toe sliders, as well as an oil and petrol resistant sole with specific grip areas. Believe me that last one comes very much in handy for road riding. All armour on the boot is CE approved as you would expect.

I’ve had this boot for around 6 months now and thankfully I’ve not had to test it in a crash situation, but from a comfort and day to day perspective I can say that it is very easy to live with both on and off the bike, even when wearing the boot for an entire day.  I’ve had boots in the past that start to cause aches after a certain period of time, but I’ve had nothing of the sort with the TCX Competizione. Also there is next to no wear and tear on the boot, but I am a fair weather and track day rider so those hardcore commuter types might see more wear in the same period of time.

The Variations

TCX Competizione S Gore-Tex: Top prize to whoever can guess the difference in this version. Correct! The Gore-Tex version of this boot offers all the same features as above, but has been given the same membrane lining as we see with all Gore-Tex branded products. This gives the boot the added benefit of being waterproof, so those proper bikers that go out in the wet will have nice and dry toes.

TCX Competizione RS: Again this version offers all the same features of the S boot listed above, yet the RS comes with another features similar to the TCS I spoke about earlier. They call it MCS (Metatarsal Control System) and works in the same way as the TCS, but it is fitted around the metatarsal region to prevent any adverse flexion to that area of the foot.