Royal Enfield TCX Stelvio ADV boots

Royal Enfield has been steadily introducing riding gear of all forms in the market, most of which have been developed in collaboration with established names. And when it comes to riding boots, I’m glad they chose TCX. Full disclaimer – I’ve been wearing TCX road/track boots for close to six years and I swear by them.

Right out of the box, these knee-length adventure boots looked and felt sturdy. The outer surface is made of full grain leather with double stitching on the edges for better resistance to wear and tear. While the Stelvio is based on the TCX Baja Waterproof boots, they use a T-Dry waterproof membrane instead of the more expensive and revered Gore Tex that’s available as an option in the Bajas. The boots look high-end and the best part is that while the TCX logo is prominent, the RE logo is discreet, saving you from becoming a walking billboard for the brand.

In terms of protection, there are hard cups built into the heel, ankle and toes for impact protection. A TPU surface on the shin area rounds off the list of items integrated into the boot to save your leg from any damage, in the event of a spill.

Wearing the boots is a quick affair, with a wide opening that allows you to effortlessly slip your leg in and out of the boot. A triple buckle closure system offers a snug fit, with an elastic band at the mouth of the boot to form a seal. While this will help with waterproofing, my only gripe is that it leaves elastic band marks on your skin when you wear riding pants over the boots. Nevertheless, that’s a small niggle to bear with, considering the comfort and utility that these boots offer.

I’ve been wearing the boots day-in and day-out, while riding everything from a scooter to an adventure tourer. Throughout my time with the boots, I’ve found them to be super comfortable over the course of a full day. The Ortholite in-sole offers enough cushioning for your feet and despite the waterproof membrane, these boots are quite breathable in most conditions. However, on a few hot days, it does get mildly warm inside the boot. The happy trade-off for this comes in the form of effective waterproofing, as I discovered during one of those unseasonal showers that we faced here in Mumbai. Despite the intensity of the rain ranging between moderate to heavy, the boots kept my feet from getting soaked. That said, I found the socks had a few small damp patches after taking the boots off at the end of that rainy day. Given the copious amounts of water that the boots were exposed to, I’d say they did a pretty good job of keeping my feet dry.

Good waterproofing aside, the Stelvios are pretty functional as ADV boots. The sole offers enough grip to walk on pebble strewn trails. The suede finish on the inside of the boots assists in gripping a motorcycle while standing on the pegs. And while these boots can’t offer the level of protection as a full blown MX boot, or even a more technical ADV boot like the Alpinestars Toucan, these are adequately safe and comfortable for day-long tours with mild off-roading involved in the itinerary.

All things considered, the TCX Stelvio is a well-rounded product, with cherry on top being the Rs 21,000 asking price, which is about Rs 15,000 lower than you’d have to pay for the very same Baja Gore Tex boot sold by TCX. There is nothing quite like these boots that retails at this price point, and given the fact that they are made by a highly reputed Italian boot maker, the Stelvio is a steal.

Where: www.store.royalenfield.com

Price: Rs 21,000