I’ve been working at Autocar for close to two years, which means two monsoons spent shooting bikes in the pouring rain and having wet feet because I didn’t have waterproof shoes before this. Being out for many hours at a time in the rain with wet feet is really unpleasant (to put it mildly), and seeing Rishaad have no such issues because he wore Gore-Tex boots drove me to buy these – the TCX Airtech 3 GTX.
The TCX Airtech 3 GTX are unique in the world of Gore-Tex boots in that most are not perforated and can feel quite warm in our climate, but these are quite breathable due to the large mesh panels on the front and back. They also needed no breaking-in and were comfortable right from the get-go. Despite being full-length boots, they feel comfortable throughout the day, and I wear them to the office daily.
I am pleased to report that in the month that I’ve been wearing these shoes, my feet only got wet once, and that was due to my rain overpants not being closed properly, which let water in from the top of the boots. Otherwise, my feet have been as dry as when I put the shoes on, which I’m truly grateful for. You might think I’m waxing lyrical about these boots, but you’ve not walked a mile in my wet shoes (pun intended), which is a genuinely dismal feeling. Believe me.
The Airtech 3 GTX boots look sporty, but their protection is quite limited. They’re designed more for casual road use. You have protective inserts at the ankle, heel and toe and a thermoformed protector on the shin. But you don’t have any lateral protection like you would on racing and MX boots. This could be a pro or con, depending on your preference and intended usage. Personally, I’m just fine with this level of protection for urban duties and the odd Sunday ride. You have a zip and Velcro closure here, and I like the sturdy pull tab on the zipper, which makes it easy to zip them up.
What I’m not happy with is the soles’ grip. When these boots were brand-new, they were quite slippery over wet surfaces or in the mud, to the point where I would have to clean the soles before setting off, or my foot would slip from the bike’s foot peg. This issue has improved over the nearly 3 months I’ve been wearing them, but it still hasn’t gone away entirely.
In India, a pair of TCX Airtech 3 GTX boots will set you back by Rs 32,600, which isn’t a small amount, although they’re well worth the money. You can get them for much less abroad at $300 (approximately Rs 26,000). If you want all-day comfort baked in with complete waterproofing, the TCX Airtech 3 GTX is hard to beat.
Where: highnoteperformance.com
Price: Rs 32,600
Gavin Rodrigues
Rishaad Mody
