I Could Hardly Walk!!!!
Sidi Adventure 2
I could hardly walk after wearing them!
I originally bought my Sidi Adventure 2 boots in a bit of a panic. I was booked on the 2019 Kielder 500 Rally and my then I found my Adventure boots from Revit were leaking. A couple of days prior to setting off on the event the Sidi’s arrived, so the trip from my home in the West Midlands up to Kielder would be their first real test.
It was not really much of a test to be honest as it was just a fast, dry, bright and warm spring ride up the M6.
The next day however was a bit more of a test. 250km around Keilder on forest roads. The weather ranged from sunny and dry, through drizzle to ending up wet. How were the boots? Dry and warm. But after Twelve hours on the bike , much of it standing, I have to admit they felt pretty uncomfortable. I could hardly walk. More of that later
Wear and Tear
They have been used when riding on my XT660z mainly. On trails in the Welsh hills, wet, dry, hot and sunny. To day I am very happy with the amount of wear on the boots. There are some to be expected scuffs on the toes, a bit of wear on the side of the boot where it contacts the bike. The sole which must deal with standing on some aggressive SW Motech pegs shows hardly any wear at all.
A quick was down and dry off with a microfibre cloth gets them looking almost as good as new, with a patina of use.
Comfort
I have already mention that after a day wearing these boots, I could hardly walk so that not really a good review as far as comfort is concerned. Except that is If I were not to take the blame. Basically, I found that I had done the boots up too tight. Using the excellent quick close buckles I had been a bit over zealous in preparation for my days off roading. Slackening off from a tight to a snug fit made all the difference. Now I was experiencing all day comfort.
These are not it has to be said the warmest boots I have worn. However, it was only in minus freezing conditions that my toes began to get cold. A good pair of thermal ski socks seems to do the trick. In the warm weather they are not uncomfortable, and the Gore-Tex does allow your feet to breath. Off the bike they are comfortable enough to walk around, if a little noisy. The suffer from the notorious Sidi squeak. Nobody seems to have a solution for this, and it adds character even though you end up sounding like a corroded Terminator. I can live with it though.
I found them so comfortable I purchased a pair of the short version for when I am doeing mostly road riding. These are great boots, good looking under a pair of jeans, comfortable and allow you to walk around as if you are in a pair of sturdy hiking boots.
Weather protection
My feet have remained dry in all conditions in both boots. The only time I have had water ingress is going through deeper water too fast and having that water shoot up the leg of my trousers and over the top of the boots.
Fit
If you are going to by a pair of these boots either try them on or go a size up. They are slightly on the small side. The foot shape is also quite slim, compared to say a Revit Pioneer when by comparison makes my feet look two sizes bigger.
The tall boots are also slim enough to fit inside adventure trousers without any issues.
Protection
These are not motocross or Enduro boots. They are primarily designed as road boots you would sometimes take off road, in the same way a GSA1250 is primarily a road bike that your sometimes take off road. If you think of them that way they are 100% fit for purpose and I have found give excellent protection in the type of drops and offs Adventure bikers typically have when on the rougher stuff. Adventure bikers will typically be tackling these roads in a more circumspect way and most likely at lower speeds than say a 250 to 400 green lane special. If that’s your thing then maybe a MX boot is where you should be looking.
The Tall boots do have a protective shin guard and ample ankle protection. They also limit the ability for the ankle to be twisted. In that respect they do everything I want them too.
The shorter boots just miss out on the shin protection, simply because they don’t go up that far.
Cost
At the time of writing the tall boots are on sale in the £215 to £260 range, with the short version being just under the £200 mark. The Tall adventure version also comes in three colourways, Black, Black/Grey and Black/Brown.
Are they worth the money?
I would say they are. In total I have probably covered more than 10 000miles in each type and I am extremely happy with them. I have also spent days walking around in the short boots and never found they made my feet tired.
Gripes
Just one. The Velcro on the short boots can undo itself. Not always but sometimes. When it does, I just find it slightly annoying. Just a bit, not much.
