TCX Climatrek Surround boots review | The most versatile boots I’ve tested

Date reviewed: July 2024 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: £199.99 | www.nevis.uk.com

Having been using the TCX Climatrek Surround boots on review here for almost two years  now, on bikes like the Zontes ZT350-T, 2001 Honda VFR800, BMW S1000XR and BMW R1250GS, I need to apologise for it taking so long before I told you about them. I will use the excuse though that they’ve been in such constant use – and become such a part of my daily riding – that I haven’t paused to consider how superb they are…

Construction and features

The TCX Climatrek surround boots are a fabric and synthetic material mix upper, with a ‘Groundtrax’ rubber outsole.

Neat touches include a reflective band around the outside of the ankles, an elastic lace keeper on the tongue to stop them flapping about, a tab on the back that’s big enough to slip your finger through, and of course the ventilation holes in the sole.

The toes and around the balls of the feet have raised sections of the rubber sole, providing more protection to the fabric and synthetic material that makes up the majority of the construction.

The ‘Ortholite’ footbed is quite thin but does help in making these comfortable to wear all day, and not just riding – I’ve worn these for dog walking and many other trips out away from the bike.

My only criticism of the TCXs is that the gear selector protector on the top of the left boot (there’s one on the right too, either for symmetry or classic bike riders) is too short. There’s no damage to the boot, but on some bikes the selector is quite noticeable after a long ride.

As you’d expect, the boots are showing some signs of wear to the outer, but nothing that’s causing any problems at all. I’m impressed.

Fastening

On boots like this – which look pretty ‘normal’ for everyday use – laces are the best bet, and are a reliable way to help get a good fit.

I was concerned that I’d see wear in the lace ‘holes’ – which are fabric loops running up the sides of the boot – but after almost two years they’re still absolutely fine. All I would say is that this design makes it a little harder to pull the laces tight as there’s more friction than you’d find with traditional eyelets.

Once the laces are tied, the bow can be tucked into the elasticated keeper attached to the tongue if you’re worried about the laces getting caught on the bike.

Protection and certification

The TCX Climatrek Surround boots are certified to Level 1 2 2 2 under EN13634-2017. That means they’ve achieved the highest levels of protection in impact abrasion resistance, impact cut resistance and transverse rigidity (the resistance to crushing if trapped under the bike). The first ‘1’ refers to boot height, as these are classed as short boots, though they do have protection at the ankles.

It's great to see boots with this level of protective performance, even without using more traditional materials like leather.

All motorcycle clothing sold in the UK and Europe is deemed to be Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This is a good thing for riders as it can help them choose kit that has provable levels of safety because, to meet this legislation, it must be tested to a recognised standard. To fully understand the labels found in all bike kit, click here.

Comfort

Comfort is of course entirely subjective, so try any motorbike kit on for yourself before buying, but I’ve found the TCX Climatrek Surrounds to be great both on and off the bike, all day long. They are a little harder in the sole than normal trainers or walking boots, but there will always be a compromise to ensure the boots give the structural integrity required for safety.

The sizing seems true – I accidentally ordered a 45 instead of my usual 44 (but didn’t realise until I’d been wearing them for a while), and they are a touch too large for me.

Sole and Grip

The Groundtrax rubber sole has worn well over more than two years’ use, only showing small areas of tearing to some edges of the tread. Grip is good in the wet and dry (though as usual, beware of wet tiles), but of course it’s the ventilation holes in the sole (like on the TCX Clima Surrounds reviewed here, which have now been superseded by the Clima 2s) that are most noticeable.

Hot and cold weather use

By allowing air to pass through the sole, warm air is drawn away without compromising the waterproofing. This Gore-Tex design is more than just holes in the rubber – the idea is that the membrane that surrounds your foot is effectively exposed within the channels of the sole, allowing heat and water vapour from for your feet to escape. Don’t worry though – if you stand in a puddle the water still doesn’t get in.

It's a clever system that does provide some noticeable effect when the wind can flow over your boots, but don’t expect them to feel cold, or even significantly cooler. When in more still air while walking (or especially when driving the car), the fact that these have a waterproof membrane means they tend to be warmer to wear than most, but while I can’t compare back-to-back, they do appear to help avoid that sweaty feeling at the soles.

I’d love to see this tech in a pair of summer boots, with just the Gore-Tex membrane in the sole. It sounds daft to have only some waterproofing, I know, but short boots are rarely great in really bad weather, so removing the membrane from the upper would make them much more suited to summer rides, while the membrane in the sole would be able to breath, while not allowing a puddle to ruin your day.

A very real additional benefit of the Gore-Tex Surround sole is that it’s a little taller than a standard one, which has been just enough to give me added confidence on some bigger bikes, without looking like I’ve got medical shoes on!

Waterproofing

I’ve had no issues whatsoever with rain getting in through the boots (or the sole), though of course they are a relatively short design, which means in heavy rain, unless your trousers seal well against them, water could get in through the top. If you regularly ride in bad weather, I’d suggest the new Clima 2 Surrounds instead.

Three alternatives to the TCX Climatrek Surround boots

There are loads of different boots available, so think about whether you need waterproofing, and if you prefer tall or short boots…

• TCX Clima 2 Surround £289.99 | These are the tall versions of the Climatreks, with the same sole. Well worth a look, and BikeSocial’s Steve Lamb was very impressed with the first version in this review.

• Altberg Roadrunner £299.99 | Tall boots again, but worth mentioning as they’re a custom fit. Read our full review of the Altberg Road Runners here.

• Stylmartin Shadow £129.99 | If you’re looking for a pair of causal-style yet protective summer boots, the Shadows have an ’80s vibe that our motorcycle instructor tester loved in this full review.

These are just three of many alternatives – you can find all the motorcycle boots we’ve tested here and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership.

TCX Climatrek Surround boots review: Verdict

The fact that I’ve worn these TCX Climatrek Surround boots so much, on and off the bike, shows how much I like them. The thicker sole has been great on taller machines, especially the S1000XR, giving me that edge in leg length that’s really made the difference in confidence. For that reason, and the comfort and practicality, I thoroughly recommend them.

The ventilation in the sole does help reduce sweating, but I’d really love to see a summer version of these, as in heavy rain I tend to wear long boots anyway. With the cooling sole and a more vented upper (and of course the bonus of a little extra height), I think they’d be the best possible hot-weather boots.

Do you own these boots? Tell us what they’re like, or ask us questions about them at bikeclub.bennetts.co.uk.