DC Travis Rice Boots Review

Hello and welcome to my DC Travis Rice boots review.

In this review I will take a look at the Travis Rice as freeride snowboard boots.

As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Travis Rice a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other freeride boots.

NOTE: The 2022 model was the last model of this boot, so, naturally, this review has not been updated beyond the 2022 model. Note that DC now have the Transcend, which is a similar boot to the Travis Rice, but not exactly the same. 

Overall Rating

Boots: DC Travis Rice

Price: $419 (USD recommended retail)

Style: Freeride 

Flex Rating: Stiff (9/10)

Flex Feel: Mid-Stiff (7.5/10)

Rating Score: 87.4/100

Compared to other Freeride Boots

Out of the 17 freeride boots that I rated:

Who are the Travis Rice Most Suited to?

The Travis Rice are best for harder charging riders who want a boot that can handle deep carves and bombing, but that aren't unforgivingly stiff - stiff enough, but with some forgiveness too. 

Best suited to boards in that 6/10 to 8/10 flex range. 

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Board Demoed With: Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker

Bindings Demoed With: Burton Malavita

Outersole Length:  30.9cm (mondo 28cm)

Difference between Mondo & Outersole: 2.9cm

Backstay Height: 11.9" (30.2cm)

Weight: 2lbs 10oz (1180 grams)*

* The average of the boots I've weighed is 1018g (2lbs 4oz), so heavier than the average but typically stiffer boots tend to be heavier than average. Heaviest were 1320g (2lbs 15oz) and lightest were 740g (1lb 10oz). . 

Flex

DC rates these boots as a 9/10 flex, but they didn't feel that stiff to me. I have seen other reviews rating this as a medium flex, but they felt stiffer than that to me. They were marginally softer than the Ride Fuse (which I rode that day also), but noticeably stiffer than my control boots (Adidas Tactical ADV). I rate the Fuse an 8/10 and the Tactical ADV a 6/10. The DC felt closer to the Fuse, so more like a 7.5/10 than a 7/10, IMO. 

Fit

Width: They felt medium to me. Other DC boots I've tried have felt more mid bordering on mid-wide, but very medium to me in terms of width. 

True to Size?: The size 10s were just right for me - and I'm typically a size 10 - so I would say true to size. They were just the right amount of snugness all around my foot. Length-wise toes just brushing the ends, but with no pressure and in general hugged my foot will with minimal pressure points. 

High or Low Arch: The most pressure I did feel from these boots was the top of my feet. Nothing too crazy but a little more than normal. As per normal that feeling dissipated the more I wore them and rode them. They would break in really well for me, but those with higher arches may find they take longer to feel comfortable for the top of the foot.    

Responsiveness

Noticeably better than my Tactical ADVs in terms of laying into deeper carves - really held on nicely and provided a really stable feel and could just get the board to carve harder than with my control boots. 

On the flip side, they did make short sharp turns at slower speeds a little more difficult compared to my control boots. 

Both of these things were expected given the stiffer feel of the Travis Rice. 

Heel Hold

Heel hold was really good - both when doing my in office try on/test and when I was riding in them. Very minimal heel lift. 

Adjustability

The double boa on the Travis Rice doesn't give complete separation between the upper and lower sections of the boot. The front boa works on some of the same wires as the side BOA. Certainly some separation, but some overlap too.

For tightening the liner they have a traditional lacing harness and a velcro strap for the top of the liner. This all works as it should. The clip for the liner lacing harness feels cheap (as I've noticed with a few higher end boots lately) - which always surprises me on boots that otherwise feel like really high end, good quality boots. 

As I've found with other DC boots, the velcro strap for the top of the liner, I find that I could max it out in terms of tightening it - could still get it tight enough, but really used that whole strap. I haven't got the thickest ankles/shins/calves, so that's the main reason, but there are those skinnier than me in that region, so just note if you've got really skinny ankles/calves, then you may not be able to get that strap as tight as you'd like it. 

Let’s Break up this text with a Video

Comfort

Got a minor amount of calf bite on my first lap - and felt more pressure on the top of my foot than I normally would (always get some pressure there). But the calf bite went away after a while and the pressure on the top of my foot lessened more and more as I rode them. 

All round really comfortable boots, that would have become even more comfortable the more I rode them. Even for the amount of time I rode them, they were feeling really quite comfortable by the end of the day. And typically stiffer boots take a bit longer to break in. 

Shock Absorption

Really decent in terms of shock absorption. On inspection there's a good lump of gel in the heel - and in the stomp test versus other boots I was testing for, it was up there. In the stomp test versus the Tactical ADV (my control boots), they weren't as good, but nothing is as good as those!

On snow, they felt really good. More shock absorbing than the Fuse I also rode that day. Not quite Tactical ADV, but still really decent. 

Board Feel

Board feel not amazing, but not bad for the stiffness of the boot. 

Traction

The sole seems really good quality (as you'd expect for the price) and it seems there's a really good amount of rubber content in there. The tread pattern isn't that varied and the tread depth isn't super deep either, so don't seem like they'd be super grippers, but decent enough, and should be durable, given the rubber content. 

Reduced Footprint

Pretty much average in terms of the profile. Not overly bulky but not super low profile either. 

Entry/Exit

Pretty easy to slip into – and with a snug fit after getting in. Snug but not overly tight. Double boa, so pretty easy, and moderately fast. 

As mentioned in the adjustability section above, there is a standard lacing liner harness and a velcro strap for the top of the liner. The clip for the lacing harness feels cheap, but otherwise does what it's supposed to. I used all of the length of the velcro strap to get it tight around my relatively skinny ankles/calves. Shouldn't be an issue for most, but those with skinny ankles/calves might find it hard to tighten fully. 

The Travis Rice are a high quality boot. You do pay for it (as you typically do with stiffer boots), but you get quality for your money. Can't say for sure in terms of durability, but they felt like they'd last a long time. 

They are great for those who want some forgiveness in their boot, but still want something that they can charge hard with and lay deep carves in. But are still comfortable and all round just don't have any weaknesses.