Residing opposite helmets on the riding gear spectrum comes boots. Not only must they battle elements while riding a motorcycle, they bear our load (literally) when off our bike as well.
I recently tested a pair of TCX Sunray Gore-Tex womens boots and reach for them now every time I hop on a motorcycle. The Sunray boots arent just smaller-sized mens boots. TCX engineers designed them specifically for a womans foot using a specially designed last, or foot shaped mold, that reproduces the differences in the instep, heel, and metatarsal zones naturally found in womens feet.
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Additionally, these boots provide many motorcycle riding-specific attributes, namely protection. The Sunray boots have a pre-formed rigid shell plus shock absorbent material to protect the ankle, semi-rigid plastic for the shin plate, and anti-wear rubber guards over the toes to protect the boots from shift lever wear and tear.
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TCX uses top-grain leather for the boots, which it treats for waterproof-ness. In addition, a Gore-Tex membrane increases the waterproofing capabilities as well as the boots breathability. I can attest these boots do keep your feet dry. A side gusseted zipper closes the boot while sealing out water, and inserts made from a stretch material help ease the 10 1/2-inch tall height over your calves. The boots feature padded, malleable leather at the traditional flex points the front, where the foot meets the ankle, and the front and back top of the boots, to increase comfort while eliminating “new boot” stiffness. The rubbery, womans specific sole provided all day walking comfort as well, and seemed to lift me a tad higher than similar style boots Ill take extra reach to the ground in any increment I can. Reflective patches above the rear ankle would increase nighttime visibility if they were visible themselves but my riding pants always covered them. Lowering these reflective spots would make more sense.
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These Sunray boots accompanied me many thousands of miles, never leaked, never felt overly hot, needed only about one day to “break in,” and performed without a hitch. They offer basic styling with tons of performance and I can highly recommend them. They only come in black, and their sizing runs slightly odd. They come in womens sizes 4 1/2, 5 1/2, 6 1/2, 7, 8, 9 and 9 1/2. I normally wear a size 6, which they dont offer, so I tried the 6 1/2. The boots fit fine, not overly loose or sloppy, but not a perfect fit, either. I usually wear thicker wicking wool socks that sometimes make other boots fit too tightly so I deemed this combination of sock and boot acceptable.
Dont hesitate to consider the TCX Womens Sunray Gore-Tex Boots if youre searching for a truly comfortable, full-featured riding boot designed for the female foot. These boots retail for $249.99, and are available at various retailers and motorcycle store Web sites. For more information visit the TCX website at TCXBoots.com.
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I am looking at these boots online but am not familiar with the sizing or fit of these boots. I wear an 8 in runners and other shoes, and have an average width. I have tried on shoes that are a narrow fit and they are to tight. Are the Sunrays a narrow fitting boot?
They are medium width.
This was a very informative article, covering all the valuable features I look for in a riding boot. This is definitely a boot I would consider for an addition to my riding apparel.
At present my favorite pair of riding boots are from a company call Ariat, the company got its start making equestrian riding boots for women that preform in and out of the saddle. They make a zip and a lace model for women and sizes are available 5.5 thru 11 (B) and 6 thru 9 (C), they also have a removable and replaceable insole. My only complaint regarding this boot is it does not have an additional piece of leather on left foot to guard against wear from shifting.
I have ridden 3,000 miles in mine this summer in the all kids of weather and also walked in them ablot doing some sight seeing as we traveled and have had no “footwear regret.”
I have enjoyed these boots for the past 7000 miles of riding and I have to say that I have absolutely no complaints about them. They are comfy on and off the bike and perform as advertised. They really add to my feeling of security on the bike. Mine are called Oxtar Sunray's and are the same model just the last ones made before the company changed their name to TCX.
I am currently shopping around to see what is available in boots suitable for a woman motorcyclist. I'd like a boot that is both functional while riding (including breathable and waterproof) and stylish when off the bike. This boot meets most of my needs; however, my legs are thin and I see no way to tighten the top of the boot. Loose boots are about as comfortable as a loose bra! Yuck. Am I missing a feature or are they designed for C ankles?
So, what about all of us who wear 10's 10 and 1/2's and 11's? There are a ton of women out there with larger feet than 9 1/2. In fact, of the women who ride (drive, not a passenger) I'll bet more women have 10 or larger just due to the fact that their legs would be longer and it is easier to sit on and handle a bike. Many women have told me they don't ride their own bike because they are too small or too short.
Anyway, these boots look way cool and I am bummed I can't get a pair!
These sound like great boots for women!
Pam covered all the important points that I look for in boots. I'm printing this article so I'll have it when I need to replace my current boots – probably won't be to far in the future.
Thanks!
I had the TCX Sunray Boots for a little over a year. They provide good protection and were very comfortable, even when walking around off the bike. However I recently noticed that a good amount of the tread on the soles had worn smooth. They do have a non-skid sole which is made of a softer compound and wears out more quickly than other soles, but I expected them to last longer than they did, especially for the price. They also seemed to scuff very easily. Since they can't be resoled I replaced them with a different pair of boots.