MO Tested: Sedici Corsa Vented Boots Review

It’s like the feet aren’t talking to the body at Sedici: We liked their $600 Corsa one-piece race leathers, but Sedici’s Garda adventure boots were a complete fail a few weeks ago, and these Sedici Corsa vented boots we must also fling into the same reject bin.  

To look at and to fondle the goods, you’d think these are nice, protective, and stylish roadracing boots. To put them on is to wear yourself out before you even make it to the starting grid; the entry system for these boots is diabolical. That’s because Sedici chose to put the zipper and buckle on the outside of the boot, instead of on the instep or the back of the boot like everybody else. Well, like everybody else except Alpinestars, who these boots are trying to emulate.

Sedici Corsa at left, with outside zipper. Old favorite Sidi right, with zipper in instep, approximately 987% easier to get on and off your feet.

When you try the Sedicis on on the couch, it’s not too difficult to reach down and pull the diagonal zipper on the lateral surface of each boot up. But it’s not at all easy either – partly because there’s a big gusset of elasticky fabric inside the zipper closure that needs to be tucked in first, but mainly because you’re just pulling the zipper in an unnatural direction. On the Alpinestars boot, you pull the zipper up and back toward yourself – and on either side of the zipper there’s accordion paneling to let the boot expand. The Sedici zipper needs to be pulled up and forward, which takes away your natural leverage and is just more awkward – and there’s no stretch panel to help things along. After the boot is zipped, it’s relatively easy to insert the one plastic toothed buckle up top into its ratcheting receiver, which unfortunately ceases to ratchet when it meets the least resistance, and makes it impossible to cinch the boot up tight. The teeth will grip if you push the strap into the buckle, but you can’t get it at all snug that way.

Performing these same operations in a set of snug race leathers, for me, proved impossible: There’s just not enough size adjustment up top with a layer of padded leather tucked inside the boots unless your calves are toothpick thin, which made the zippers impossible to close on my normal-sized legs.

Sedici again at left: Which boot looks easiest to get your leather-clad leg into? Both are size 9 US.

When the zipper is on the inside, or on the back of the boot, you can sit down, cross your legs and use both hands to deal with a reluctant zipper you’re trying to pack too much meat into. But when the zipper is on the outside like these cruel Sedicis, you’ll need an assistant.

I spent about ten minutes trying to get the right Sedici on for my Sedici Corsa race suit photo shoot date with E. Brasfield the other day. Finally I gave up, hurled it across the garage, and slipped on my old go-to Dainese boots in about 30 seconds.

The Dainese boot on the right has its zipper running up the rear, with big Velcro adjustment panels on both sides of the zipper at the top.

If you’re a really lithe contortionist with skinny legs, the Sedicis might be okay, and I was able to get them on easily enough wearing jeans pulled down over the outsides of the boots. But hey, if you’re going to call them Corsa, that means racing and implies these should work with leathers.

Compare the armor on the outside of the Sidi with what’s on the Sedici.

The “advanced external dual hinged support for increased protection and support” on these isn’t quite as sturdy as the ones it’s copying from Sidi and Dainese, mostly because the entry zippers are occupying that valuable real estate on the outside of the boot that’s most prone to sustaining a really healthy whack. Other than that, though, the overall construction seems sturdy enough if a bit lightweight compared to its more expensive competitors, which is actually nice when it’s hot, as the Corsa’s perforations do flow a lot of air.

Even for street use with riding jeans, though, you’re still left with the ratchet up top that doesn’t ratch, which means you really can’t snug the boots up nice and tight for best control and safety. For me, that renders what could’ve been an acceptable boot for hot weather use into one that’s going to take up room on my shelf only until I bump into somebody who’s also size 9, and doesn’t have any riding boots at all: That’s what the Sedici Corsas are better than. On a positive note, it looks like they’re sold out everywhere anyway, except if you’re unlucky enough to be a size 13.

Shop for the Sedici Corsa here

FAQ

Are the Sedici Corsas CE-rated?

There is no mention of them being CE-rated anywhere in the marketing materials nor a label on the boots themselves (unlike all our other boots that are CE-rated). Whether that’s a big deal or not is up for debate: Wiki says, “On commercial products, the letters CE mean that the manufacturer or importer affirms the good’s conformity with European health, safety, and environmental protection standards. It is not a quality indicator or a certification mark.” 

Sedici is an American company; maybe they don’t plan to sell these in Europe.

Are these boots leather?

The Corsa uppers, like lots of boots lately, are a kind of synthetic leather called microfiber. It’s supposed to be stronger, longer-wearing, lighter, cheaper, and with all the other characteristics we like about the real thing – except it maybe doesn’t quite adopt the soft suppleness and patina of real leather as it ages.

Related reading:

MO Tested: Sedici Garda Waterproof Boots Review

MO Tested: Sedici Corsa Racing One-Piece Suit Review 

Best Vented Motorcycle Boots 

Best Motorcycle Track Boots

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