Having used the Oxtar TCS Sport Boots for about eight years, I think it’s time to retire them. And review them before I send them away. In this case, the long-term review has been redefined since you’ll see as you go further that I’ve used the boot till it literally fell apart.

I ordered this boot in November 2005 from MotorcycleGear.com. (If you have not seen that post I created long back when I got the Oxtar TCS boots, I suggest you read that first and then return to this.) It was carried back for me by a good friend, and I still remember the pleasure of finally owning a pair of motorcycling boots. It had never been a priority till then. Before I let them go, I would like to review how the boots worked for me over the last few years. Bought primarily for racing, this boot has been with me on incredible journeys on and off the road.

Construction

The construction quality of the boot has protected my foot more than once over the last few years. The skeletal structure of the boot is such that it forms an excellent tough barrier over which I have had my motorcycles fall and trap my foot. But for some muscle pain, I’ve gotten away with some big crashes.

The leather survived pretty much anything I threw at it, and from the pictures, you’ll see that it’s been put through a lot. The toe area is scuffed from all the off-roading.

Anyone who’s used Oxtars will know of the way these boots squeak. If you do not keep all the TCS joints well-oiled, the boot squeaks away as you walk. I got so used to the squeaking that I stopped noticing it and oiling the joints. But, anyone new in the group does point it out. It’s a small price for TCS, and I liked that feature over the years.

Comfort

The boots have been quite comfortable as long as you are riding a bike where your foot is below or behind you. During the racing days, this made it ideal and gave perfect comfort while riding any of the track-oriented motorcycles. Off the bike, the shoe is relatively comfortable. Not for walking considerable distances, but not so uncomfortable to make you want to get out of it while hanging around at one of the rest stops on the ride.

The TCS, which is excellent at keeping things together, does not allow too much movement on a bike like my Thunderbird, where the foot is slightly forward. Over the years, I got used to it, and since I ride with the foot in a slightly different position, this has not been too much of a problem.  But, it is not ideal for motorcycles with forward pegs.

Easy in, Easy Out

The full-length zipper opens the top of the boot well enough to remove it quickly. The velcro that encloses the zip has worked well over the years, not losing its ‘stickiness’. Since this does not have an enclosing flap inside, like some of the fully waterproof boots, wearing the boot and removing it is very easy.

Weather Protection

Decent weather protection overall. Your foot will get wet, especially in the torrential rain that we get here in India. As you can see in the picture alongside, the boot does not have a waterproofing flap inside the zipper, so water does enter while doing water crossings. But, for what the boot is meant for, it does an excellent job. Though it’s not a fully waterproof boot, the quality of the interiors and exteriors of the boot have not fallen apart due to the weather.

Downsides

The biggest downside of the Oxtar TCS Sport boots is the location of the gear shift patch on your left foot. It never felt in the correct position for any motorcycles I rode. Over the years, this patch started falling, mainly due to the contact area of the shifter, with the boot being at the joint. This got exaggerated while in the Himalayas last year, and I had to run to a cobbler in village Karu, on the outskirts of Leh, to get my boot stitched.  But this was after years of hard riding, so again,  I am just nitpicking.

If you plan on using this boot outside the race track in real-world conditions with the slush and dirt of India, the soles will suffer. They will wear out quicker than the rest of the boot and give you little grip. When they are on the pegs and the tarmac, they work well.

Value

I paid about 200 USD for the Oxtar TCS Sport boots, which lasted about eight years of riding. The first 5 were pretty hard riding, and the last three have been milder. So, at an average cost per year, this is about 25 USD annually, which is amazingly great value for money.

I bought extra toe sliders when I bought the boot. I did not opt for the titanium toe sliders, which were supposed to give out sparks as you went around corners, but the regular ones. I’ll leave all the fireworks to Oxtars of Troy Bayliss; thank you.

Currently, the shop I bought my shoes at sells comparable TCX S Race boots at $339. Everything gets more expensive with the time.

Oxtar TCS Sport Boots – Buy again?

I have expected the boot to have come apart more than once during its time with me. I have been amazed time and again about how it survived and saved my feet in the process.

Buy again? A big yes.

What’s Oxtar?

Don’t go searching for new Oxtars. Oxtar is what TCX Boots used to be known as till they got sued by Alpinestars.

As you can see sites sell, popular sites like MotorcycleGear.com and Revzilla.com sell boots like these S-Race Boots under the TCX brand.

Their current website is http://www.tcxboots.com/