Time to actually purchase some motorcycle specific boots. After researching I have narrowed my search down to SIDI. I am looking at the Vertigo, Cobra, and Fusion. The input that I am looking for from the members that wear any of these versions of boots is:
How comfortable are they.
What temperature range do they work for you from hot to cold (Oklahoma gets hot in the summer and cold in the winter).
I am toying with the idea of getting the rain version but I really do not ride in the rain that much and really need more of a 3 season boot, I figured the rain version would be really hot in the summer, but tell me how the rain version works for you in that respect.
Avoid velcro at all costs, it doesnt last and Dont buy anthying you havent actually tried on, there's an obvious difference, between say alpine star and sidi fitment, not necessarily size, but just the way they wear, sole support ect.
I have worn Sidi for several years. I have the Street Burner short boot/shoe. It affords all the protection possible without being a full height boot. Open and close air vents, ratcheting and velcro closures. It is my favorite, most comfortable, go to boot for casual riding. I also have the Cobra Rain. It is very comfortable and water proof. I would not get a rain boot unless it is your second boot. They are just too hot for 9 months out of the year in Oklahoma. I wear them in the cooler and colder months not only for the wet, but they are warmer since they don't ventilate. My foot is a little on the narrow side. If you have a full D or wider foot, be sure to try on before you buy. Also one trick is to buy one that is just one half size too big and then get some SuperFeet (green) inserts to replace the stock Sidi footbed. I do that with all my boots. For track days and agressive summer riding I have a pair of Alpinstars SMX-5, air version (ventilated) that have served me well. They fit similar to the Sidi's.
I have the Strada Evo Rain and I wear them all the time. They are incredibly comfortable. 100 degree weather might be too hot for them as there is, of course, no ventilation. Sidi makes a good product. You won't be disappointed.
I have a full length Sidi boots and Streetburner Sidi riding shoes. Really happy with both of them.
Both of them are great use for tropical weather, not too hot in summer as they all equipped with ventilation - those could be switch open-close.
Regarding the velcro, I don't really mind that. I even prefer it at some of the non-essential place, either on shoes, boots, , jacket or pants.
Last year, I had a high side accident. After all, I found that there was a big scratch at the side of a boot. It meant that there was strong crash btw my foot and the road surface. However, the whole of my leg, foot has no pain at all. Love the boots and still use them.
Every foot has it's match in boots, like lids for heads... Sidi's fit me well, current pair 5+ years, sole still in good nick, velcro still functioning fine, can walk around for a couple of hours no probs in them without the usual aches and discomfort you would generally imagine...
I had the Sidi Strada and will have echo the "Try it on first if you have a wide/r foot". I wear a D width shoe and the Sidi's are fine when I first put them on, but after a couple hours they kill my feet. Just a tad too narrow. I wore Sidi bicycle shoes and had the same problem. Great boots but just don't quite fit wider feet.
Two measurements are critical. Width of foot and calf. I have had three sets of Sidis. They are narrow in the box, like Italian shoes, so they can be a problem if you have a wider foot. I use Sidis for the track but for sport touring use I have the TCX Airtech Goretech. TCX used to be Oxtar -- they use a different name now. They are also a European boot but I have found they are far more comfortable while offering good protection. Check out Revzilla. They have nice videos of many of the boots.
Alpinestars boots are nice but the narrow calf precludes me from using them on the track. My leathers and calves won't fit in the boot.
I bought some Sidi Fusion boots from NewEnough, AKA MotorcycleGear.com this spring. The boot was extremely narrow, and there was a boatload of play on top of the ankle. That allowed my foot to get shoved into the toe of the boot, making the narrow cut even more aggravating. They are synthetic leather which is very stiff, but I didn't keep them and don't know how long it would take to break them in.
My last boots were the Oxtar Matrix, which were extremely comfortable, so I sent the Sidi boots back and got some TCX S-Sportour boots, which are excellent. They fit great, and have a good compromise between protection and comfort. Unless you have a narrow foot, give TCX a try!
interesting to see comments on sidi being narrow - I have very broad feet and sidi's are one of the few boots that fit them... Also the adjustable upper boot means they are also one of the few boots that fit my calves, and they're not fully adjusted out...
My Vertebra Air's were very breezy which was perfect for Texas summers. I'd still be wearing them if I could get them resoled. With a wide foot and a fat calf they fit well albeit a bit stiff at first but that soon improved.
I ride year round so I eventually picked up an inexpensive pair of waterproof touring boots as a backup. You might consider Boot Covers if you don't ride in the rain very much.
If you can't find any locally to check out, Moto-Liberty in Dallass stocks Sidi as well as TCX but I'd call first to see what they have.
Sidi here also, I picked up their Vertigo (waterproof) boot a couple of years back. They utilize zippers and a velcro tab at the calf, makes them easy on/off. They also provide a vent toward the toe box that is waterproof when open...
I have the Sidi Vertigo Rain and like them for my sport riding boot. My only minor complaint is that the toe sliders do not entirely protect the sole and I have beveled the sole along with the toe slider. They are great for riding, but not so great for walking so if you plan to do much more walking than required for fuel/lunch stops you may want to consider something else.
I have a pair of Gore Tex Stradas. I wear them pretty much year round in deep South Texas and don't find them horribly hot. I'll admit that once the mercury hits triple digits, I leave the bikes in the garage most of the time. They are plenty water resistant for most rain riding, but will leak a little after several minutes if you go wading in shallow streams.
Being that I wear full length boots only when I go for sport or long distance rides I don't wear them daily. I have a pair of TCX Jupiter boots (cut just above the ankle) for daily/commuter riding and they are great for that. I bought a pair of SIDI Cobras originally for use as mentioned, but I don't wear them anymore now. I wore them about 4 times. They are great boots but I like the Jupiters so much I bought a pair of TCX S-Zero waterproof as they were on closeout for a great price and I thought I 'd give them a try. I was going to get the non waterproof version but figured why have two pairs of non waterproof boots. I like the fit better that the SIDIs so I started wearing the TCX consistently. I even wore them during the summer months without any discomfort or over heating. I've been wanting to wear them in the cooler/wetter weather to evaluate that side of them, but So. Cal hasn't provided us much of that.
The original plan was to wear the SIDI boots for warmer weather and the TCX for cooler/wetter weather. This didn't turn out to be, so plan B went into affect, I stopped wearing the SIDIs and bought a pair of TCX Race-Air for warmer weather. I have nothing against the SIDI really, I just like the fit/feel I get with the TCX better. That being said, the SIDI's I have are size 42 (8.5 US) in Red and are essentially brand new (no scuffs, rips, tears, etc.) If these are your size, I would be willing to sell them to you at a great price. I'll eventually put them up in the classified section.
I wear Daytona Sport boots - several advantages - comfortable from the get go, great protection, zip close, and best of all you can replace the outer skin of the boot due to age or a crash. Good protection - on par with any top of the line boot, Also do not find them hot and they have no air flow.
Have worn Sidi, Alpinestar and Joe Rockets before and Daytona beats them all
Don't buy a boot without trying it on first. Walk around in the store for a while with them on to get a good idea if they are comfortable. I love my Garne boots I bought used to replace a pair that didn't fit right. Hint. The cheaper the boot the less likelihood they are built for lasting comfort.
I looked into getting my first pair of Streetburners resoled, but the cost was too close to just getting a new pair.
Good point. If the boots are priced well enough, it isn't worth spending $80 to have them resoled. Some of Sidi's boots run $400 though, so $80 to make them last another few years is probably worth the price.
Thanks! I hadn't looked online for boot repair although I did try to order replacement soles from a US Sidi distributor and they stayed on backorder for 4 months before finally cancelling the order. The places close to me either wouldn't touch them or wanted to put some military off-road tread on them. Consequently, they've been sitting ever since.
I like Sidis - I'm on my 3rd or 4th pair now. But in my experience they are generally a little narrow - so try them on if possible (or order them from some place that will allow you to return/exchange with no penalty).
There are exceptions: They offer a 'Vertigo Mega' and a 'Way Rain Mega' which accommmodate wider feet. I have no experience with those two models, but they exist.
When the soles of my first pair of waterproof Sidis wore out, I went with a m/c boot resoler. (Those boots fit "like a glove" from the factory, so I wanted more life out of them.) I got the recommendation from ... somewhere, I dunno. Anyway, the quality of their work was good, and they added a m/c-specific sole. But ...
But, in order to glue on the new sole, the resoler needed to tuck in a little of the existing material. End result? Those sidis look like new, and show good quality, and still "fit like a glove" - but they now unfortunately are a glove that is a fraction too small. Ouch.
So, good luck with whatever you try out! And I'm sure that resoling boots will work for some people. But I'm just replacing my boots the next time they wear out.
I have a pair of SIDI Adventure Rain boots and a pair of the street touring Vertigo Rain boots - they are awesome. They felt like they were my boots from the minute I put them on. Both required no break-in and are super comfortable. They are also the first boots that actually stay dry in wet weather.
I have a pair of Sidi Way Rain boots. They were a little tight in width when I got them, but have broken in nicely. My feet get a little cold below 50 degrees. Haven't had to wear them above 90 degrees, so can't comment to that. They are great quality, not as comfortable as my old Cruiser Works, but much better level of protection.
interesting to see comments on sidi being narrow - I have very broad feet and sidi's are one of the few boots that fit them... Also the adjustable upper boot means they are also one of the few boots that fit my calves, and they're not fully adjusted out...
From my experience, SIDI gets wider as you go up in price. The really hardcore boots fit the widest, while the entry level are more narrow. I've found this to be true of both Street and Dual-Sport lineups.
I notice a few people in this thread discussing resoling of Sidi boots. I took my Sidi Vertigo (Lei Vernice) to a shoemaker and there was no problem having them resoled. I just had a workboot sole put on the boots - provides decent grip when I put down my foot. At the same time I had a higher heel put on the boot enabling me to flat foot the VFR (makes a HUGE difference!). The heel provides height and stability when I am at a stop, but doesn't get in the way when I am riding. Much easier than lowering the bike and messing with the geometry.
[image: High Heeled Sidi]
High Heeled Sidi
The trick is finding a shoemaker who is a "craftsman" rather than a walk-in mall chain that doesn't train their staff.
Comfort In terms of comfort - these boots are fantastic for riding. They are not a touring boot, but have been very comfortable on my long rides. The key is to ensure you have alternate footwear if you plan to walk around - the Vertigo does not allow a lot of ankle movement and are awkward to walk in. They are purpose built.
The air vent allows for a bit of foot cooling when riding. Temperature isn't a big deal in them - I have ridden in California and Florida with them, as well as Canada in the spring and fall - so range of 30F to 110F. You probably want thicker socks on the lower end of that scale.
Safety I dropped my bike a few years ago and put the peg at the side of the kickstand through the armoured toe of the boot pinning my foot to the ground with the weight of the bike on top of the foot. It indented but didn't puncture. Over time that indent has pulled back so that there is only a small bump on the inside of the boot. Had I been wearing any other footwear I would have done a lot more damage to my foot - as it was my foot was techicolour, and I broke the toe in a couple of places. I was satisfied with the way the Sidi's protected my foot. As a result of that drop the left boot developed a leak, but it's not a big deal.
Longevity This is my first pair of Sidis, and they've been everywhere - very well worn. I picked them up in 2009 in my second year of riding, and have put about 80,000 km on them. I completely wore out the sole on the left foot with normal riding. I have put significant wear on the replacement sole as well. If I find another pair on a decent sale I will pick them up as a backup without any hesitation, but I don't have any problem with resoling this pair as they are still in decent condition.
Fit Sidi actually makes these boots based on a woman's foot mold, rather than resizing a man's boot - although the woman's offer the exact same features as the men's version. One of the few decent boots on offer for women. I really like the calf adjustment which allows the boots to slide under touring pants or to be worn on top of race leathers. In terms of fit remember that Sidi are italian which means a narrower fit (for both men and women) than standard american sizing.
I've been riding streetbikes since 1983 and was never an ATGATT guy until I got my VFR last year. I would normally wear cowboy boots or combat boots. When I got the VFR it came with a really nice Teknic armored jacket, so I got matching pants for it and a set of Sidi Fusion boots.
I agree that they are sized too narrow. I was hoping that they would 'break in', but they didn't get any wider. I have over 10,000 miles on them (daily commute), and quite a bit of walking. They are tolerable, but not comfortable for more than an hour or two. Otherwise I love them, so I put up with it.
I didn't have any problems this summer with them feeling too hot, but now my toes get cold on my hour ride to work in the mornings. There is no room in the boot for thick socks or heated insoles, so I may have to go back to my combat boots for the cold weather unless Santa brings me some toasty warm motorcycle boots and drops them under my tree.
The heel provides height and stability when I am at a stop, but doesn't get in the way when I am riding. Much easier than lowering the bike and messing with the geometry.
Olive, thank you for this suggestion. I'm going to get my wife's boots modified this way to help her a bit with her bike.
Olive, thank you for this suggestion. I'm going to get my wife's boots modified this way to help her a bit with her bike.
I didn't put that much of a lift on the boots but it makes a huge difference. I can handle the VFR without the taller heels, but find I am significantly more stable when I can flat foot the bike. It's an inexpensive modification that brings more bikes into "reach". The only trick is finding a decent shoemaker - small independent stores in strip malls are your best bet!
Thanks to all for the feedback. This forum has some of the most knowledgeable and helpful members I have ever seen. The close call with the drunk driver a couple of weeks ago has made me really re-think my current gear. As the years slowly start to add up I have found that I don't bounce like I used to. I am a firm ATGATT believer and never leave home without it but it is time to upgrade from what I have. I am leaning towards the SIDI Vertigo as I have heard nothing but good about them. The amount of protection offered by these boots are what I am looking for. I hope they are not too narrow as I am sure that the A-stars are good too, I just prefer the SIDI. A pair of Held Steves are on the list with these boots. Eventually the tourmaster suit will be moved to the summer only list as an Aerostich Transit is on my want list also. After reading way too many posts and threads about gear I think this set up would make for the safest list of gear any rider could wear.
I have had one pair of Sidi's in the last 30 years of riding.
I crashed in them last November. A low side at 70mph completely wore through the right side.
It ground through the toe slider, through leather, through the foam and I could see my sock.
My ankle was wrenched around in the boot pretty badly and ripped up a bunch of stuff internally. It still hurts badly when I walk.
The boots were always too narrow. They were OK for riding, but I could not walk in them for any distance.
I can only imagine how bad it would have been if I only had shoes or generic boots on.
I will not be wearing Sidi's again. And hope not to crash like that again.
I have had one pair of Sidi's in the last 30 years of riding. I crashed in them last November. A low side at 70mph completely wore through the right side. It ground through the toe slider, through leather, through the foam and I could see my sock. My ankle was wrenched around in the boot pretty badly and ripped up a bunch of stuff internally. It still hurts badly when I walk. The boots were always too narrow. They were OK for riding, but I could not walk in them for any distance. I can only imagine how bad it would have been if I only had shoes or generic boots on.
I will not be wearing Sidi's again. And hope not to crash like that again.
I am back to Alpinestars.
Which Sid boot model? If not a full-on race boot, I can't imagine what boot would stand up to such a high speed crash? Sorry you seem to have not healed completely...I am 51 and know that if/when I go down in the future it will leave some lasting discomfort for sure.
I've been using Sidi On Road touring boots for about 2 years now. 100% waterproof and super comfortable once I broke them in, which didn't take very long at all. Good for walking around in while off the bike as well.
They get a little warm getting into the higher temps but not uncomfortably so and still warm enough down to, and slightly below, 0C here in Canada.
I've had Sidi Vertibra's for a few years, like all race boots they are comfortable but stiff & you have to learn how to put them on. Most have an internal side zip & you can't just put your foot in them, you have to twisting the boot toe out about 45 degrees then slide your toes in & then the rest of the boot slips over your foot as it twists into place. Takes a little learning & is mugs harder with new stiff boots!
The only issues I had have been one zip puller broke off after about 18months & the design of the sole at the toe is poor in that the sole ends & does not form a cup at the toes, so there is a piece of leather than wears as you roll away from a standstill. The newer objects may be better, but the next pair I buy will have a cupped toe ! You live & learn.
The guy that said don't use anything with Velcro is obviously passing comment on CHEAP Velcro or low grip kind used in the wrong places. The Sidi Velcro s practically a pain in the butt it's so grippy!
Race boots are NOT made for walking or standing, they are more like shi boots now. So just wear a pair & check that your toes don't go to sleep etc. Walking in them for any length of time is not recommended & the sole are not designed for foot mileage !
Happy shopping.
End of thread · 33 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 14 Oct 2013