Indian riding gear manufacturer Trip Machine Co. entered the scene a few years back with a modest range of stylish leather luggage. Since then they’ve expanded their offering tenfold to offer a wide range of leather-based products. Amongst them is the brand’s new range of riding boots.
On a recent trip to India, I met the Trip Machine team and was impressed with what I saw. On the back of that encounter, I secured a pair of their Moc-Toe riding boots which I put to the test out in the wild.
Moc-Toe boots are nothing new. The style has been around since the early 1900s and was inspired by the Moccissin shoes worn by Native Americans. When the style was adapted to boots they were commonly worn by workers. Constructed from hardwearing leather and rubber soles the style is recognizable by the U-shaped seam along the top of the toe box. These days moc-toe boots are more commonly worn as a rugged fashion statement. With these particular boots, Trip Machine has utilized the moc toe style to create a functional boot for motorcycle riders.
The Trip Machine Moc-Toe boots feature a supple Buff leather construction. Buff leather is bull hide which has been processed to give it a strong yet soft finish. The benefit of this leather is that along with being tough, it has a very short wear-in period. Infact I found the boots broke in so fast that I had no concern about wearing them all day after the first few wears.
For fitment Trip Machine has stuck with a classic laced approach, avoiding side entry zips that can form a structural weak point. To make fitment easier the top 2 rows of laces are held by hooks rather than eyelets making removing and fitting them relatively painless. Trip Machine has also kept the moc-toe styling classic by opting against the inclusion of shifter pads that many of today’s motorcycle boots feature. This approach was likely influenced by the fact that Trip Machine offers its own solution for shifter wear in the form of a slip-on toe protector.
The Trip Machine Moc Toe motorcycle boots come in 3 colorways of black, tobacco, and a new mocha (brown) leather finish. All 3 styles feature contrasting yellow stitching on the leather which gives them a look reminiscent of Doc Marten boots. The boots finish above the ankle for added protection and there’s a pull tab at the rear to assist with fitment. As for branding Trip Machine has kept it subtle with embossed logos on the top edge of each boot.
The soles of these boots are made from an anti-slip resin which has proven to offer plenty of grip during the 500 miles of use I’ve subjected them to. They also offer a good amount of flex making them suitable for all-day on/off the bike use. The soles are sewn onto the boots so replacement is an option, but judging from how slowly the soles on my pair are wearing I doubt it’s something I’ll need to do during the boot’s lifetime.
Peering inside these moc-toe boots you’re greeted by a striking royal blue lining of lycra and leather. The leather functions as added strength and padding to the lace eyelets and armor while the lycra optimizes comfort. At the base of each boot is an insole made from bio-degradable Texon that offers a few millimeters of padding for comfort. Unfortunately, the insole isn’t removable so for someone with low arches (like me) you can’t swap them out for orthopedic insoles.
Safety is always key to a good pair of riding boots and Trip Machine has not overlooked that fact. Along with selecting a heavy-duty, abrasion-resistant leather for the outer construction, they’ve added 1.8mm of leather padding to the toes and heels. Embedded inside the resin sole is a metal shank that offers protection against impact and punctures. Rounding things out are internal and external impact-resistant malleolus armor pucks with padded liners. Despite all that the presence of these elements, both visually and for the wearer, is almost undetectable so the boots retain the appearance and feel of regular streetwear.
Like everything in their catalog, the Ttip Machine Moc Toe boots are designed and manufactured locally in their home country of India. The finish of the boots is top notch and I have no doubt I will get several years of wear out of these utilitarian boots. The moc-toe boots retail for $300 AUD (approx $195 USD) and are available in sizes 6 through 13.
Available from: Trip Machine
