TCX Dartwood boot review

In this video review, Chris talks through the TCX Dartwood boots.

Now, there are lots of short, motorcycle boots on the market. They are very much in vogue and, these days, most bikers will have a boot in this style for summer riding. Every footwear brand has at least one boot like this in their range. And most of them look pretty similar. We see a lot of them, and even we sometimes cannot tell one from another. Only occasionally does a boot come along that looks different. The Dartwood is just such a boot. It doesn’t look like all the other boots out there, and frankly it looks amazing. When the boot was first shown to us, we all decided that this was the boot we wanted to wear. It ticks all the boxes; and more.

And, of course, it’s made by TCX. Now TCX is not the fanciest, most exclusive footwear brand in this market, but rarely do they put a foot wrong when it comes to short boots; no pun intended! Their X-Blend boot is the most popular Caterpillar-style boot in this market. Their Street Ace was the best-selling trainer-style boot.

The Dartwood really does look the business. The leather is what is known as a ‘pull-up’ leather. This is leather that is dyed and then stretched. As the leather dries, variations of colour arise; darker in some ares; lighter in other. Bottom line? These boots have just the right level of patina. The boot looks authentically worn. They’re not the kind of boot you would wear to the office, perhaps. But they do look cool.

You get protectors in the heel and toe, and D3O in the ankles. There’s a small, rather subtle gear change pad on the toe. The boot sits somewhere between a trainer-style boot and a proper work boot. It’s certainly got a taller shaft than the old Street Ace or the new Street 3.

For waterproofing you get a waterproof membrane; TCX’s is called Dry Star. Now don’t ask us for stats. and specs. on the membrane like somebody did in response to our recent video review of the Street 3. In our view, it’s irrelevant. Yes this boot has a membrane, and in gentle rain this membrane will keep your feet dry, but in a heavy or prolonged downpour, that rain will come in over the top of the shaft. Frankly, if you really want dry feet, buy a taller boot.

The Dartwood has a deep crepe sole; it’s a style that’s pretty prevalent on the streets these days. The sole itself is what is known as a Groundtrax sole. It’s rubber, non-slip and oil resistant. But what we like is that it’s totally flat, making it easy to move up and down the pegs. Now on TCX’s site, they claim that the sole is self-cleaning, but this isn’t true. I went out for a ride in a pair; it was not a nice day and they got a bit muddy. I left them in the hallway when I came home. When I went out in the morning, the soles were still muddy. You just can’t believe what people say these days!

The Dartwood also has a strengthening shank in the sole. It has been designed not to affect the flex, toe to heel, meaning that it stays a boot that’s nice to walk in. But it does add transverse strength. This will held protect the foot if something were to drive over it. The shank is known as a zplate. There also an inner Ortholite sole that will, over time, mould to the shape of your foot. Again all in the interest of added comfort.

But what makes the Dartwood almost the perfect short boot is that it also comes with a zip up the inside. Now obviously there will be a waterproof gusset when you undo the zip, so it’s unlikely that you will be able to get in and out of the boot without loosening the laces, but the zip will certainly make life easier.

So that’s it; that’s the Dartwood. It also comes in black. But in all other respects, it’s the same boot. The price we also think is on the button. There are cheaper boots on the market. The Dartwood is more expensive than the Street 3, but we would expect it to be; it’s certainly a more robust boot. We like it; we really do.

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