Date reviewed: December 2020 | Tested by: Bennetts Rewards member | Price: £199.99 | www.nevis.uk.com
This review of the waterproof TCX Baja Mid motorcycle boots was carried out by motorcycle instructor and Bennetts Rewards member Jon Mansfield…
I’ve been wearing these boots for more than six months now, pretty much all day, every day and in all weathers. Besides using them on my own Kawasaki ZZR1100, I’ve been on a wide variety of machines for work and pleasure, from MSX125s to BMW S1000XRs…
Construction and features
The TCX Baja Mid waterproof boots have a leather upper with a ‘T-Dry’ waterproof lining that comes up to about three quarters of the height.
There are double layers of leather for the gear-shift pad and on the outside front corners for extra protection to the susceptible abrasion areas, and the tops are elasticated to help stop any drafts getting into the boots, especially if your trousers are tucked in.
Fastening
Like full-height adventure and MX boots, the Baja Mids have tough polyurethane micro-adjustable buckles to cinch them securely around the foot. Once adjusted via the teeth on the straps, opening and closing them is quick and easy with the off-centre cams that see them snap firmly into place.
There’s also a patch of hook-and-loop on the top of the outside edges, which gives some adjustment to suit various calf sizes.
Protection and certification
As all motorcycle boots should be, the TCXs are CE approved to EN 13634:2017, so they’re tested for abrasion, burst and impact resistance, as well as having a crush-resistant sole; you can check this yourself by laying a boot on its side and standing on the edge of the sole – if it folds over along its length, it’s not safe for use on a bike as your foot could be crushed if the bike fell on it in a crash.
The Baja Mids also have polyurethane (PU) mouldings at the heel and toe for additional protection. Overall, these offer good protection without being too bulky.
From April 21 2018, all new motorcycle clothing is deemed to be Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). To meet this legislation, it must be tested to a recognised standard. For more information on the law, click here.
Comfort
When I first started wearing them, I did find the TCX Baja Mids to be very stiff, so they took a good couple of weeks of regular use to really bed in, but from then they became really comfortable.
I will say, however, that the elastic retainer on top of the boots rubs on the skin around your ankle if your socks aren’t long enough or your trousers aren’t tucked in. This is sorted easily, but it’s something to keep in mind.
As I’m a motorbike instructor, I walk around in these a lot, but I’m very pleased to report that comfort off the bike is not compromised, unlike some other boots I’ve used.
Sole and grip
The sole is made of a special rubber compound that’s said to offer superior stability and traction on any terrain. Despite showing signs of wear, when walking on any surface – even loose gravel and wet concrete – the Baja’s soles do seem to offer brilliant grip. I haven’t ended up on my face while helping out errant students, so that’s got to be a good result!
Waterproofing
Even in heavy downpours (and this has been a very wet year at times), the TCXs have kept my feet completely dry, so no complaints here.
TCX Baja Mid waterproof motorcycle boots: Verdict
While echoing the styling of full-height adventure boots, these mid-height versions can’t promise the same levels of support and protection. But once worn-in they are extremely comfortable and really easy to get on with all day long.
My feet are very well protected a good way up past the ankles, and I’m more than happy to spend the day on my feet and in the saddle, so these £199.99 boots offer good value when you consider how much use I’m getting out of them; it’s no good buying cheaper footwear if you’re going to have to keep changing out of them to walk around.
As a good-looking, protective and practical boot, I’d definitely recommend these.
