MO Tested: Sidi Adventure 2 Gore-Tex Mid Boot Review

When the time was drawing near for our big middleweight adventure shootout in March, I had the feeling it would be a good time for me to up my foot protection. I didn’t wanna wear big clonky motocross boots because they’re big and clonky. But I was afraid the Sidi Canyons that have been my go-to Adventure boots for longer than I’d like to admit might not be up to modern adventuring. More accurately, maybe my ankles, which are three times older than the Canyons, might not be up to it. How about a little more protection eh? Just in case.

I stumbled upon this sawed-off version of the Sidi Adventure 2 boot Ryan Adams reviewed a couple of years ago, and knew I must have them. The Mids obviously don’t protect as much of your tib/fibs as the higher version, but they do have a bit of padding in the uppers behind the protection the rubber/plastic buckles themselves provide. In exchange for the lack of a tall shin plate, you get easier in- and egress, greater flexibility and the ability to pull a regular pair of pants legs over the tops when formal occasions call for it.Like Ryan pointed out, the Adventure boot doesn’t have as much armor – or as much stiffness – as a true offroad boot, and neither do the Adventure Mids. Motonation (official US importer) has both boots listed in its “Touring/ADV” boot section. But as soon as I slipped them on, I immediately felt much more rigidity and more protection than my old Canyons. Toe and heelboxes are definitely thicker and more substantial. 

The two adjustable cam-lock buckles per boot lock your ankle firmly in place while almost completely doing away with my biggest complaint about my old Canyons: Instead of an acre of Velcro closing up the boot, now there’s only about a 2-square-inch triangle at the top of each flap. Once you’re in there, the ankle protection at both sides feels much more substantial, too.

Buckles are replaceable, too, if you should somehow manage to damage one.

Did you know that Gore-Tex contains over 9 billion pores per square inch that are 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet, but 700 times larger than a water vapor molecule? I wonder who counted them? Gore-Tex and Sidi agree that water from the outside will never penetrate, but perspiration can escape easily. I haven’t gotten rained on in these, but I have been dumped on in my old Gore-Tex Canyons, and it seems the claims are all true. On warmish days out here in the arid west, my feet never overheat in the Adventure Mids.

Also inside there, you’ve got a “Cambrelle anti-abrasion liner”, which makes these comfy and easier to slide on and off, and Teflon mesh prevents absorption of water and sweat. Those materials let the boot dry quickly, keeps them from getting stinky, and it works. There are removable arch support pads, and it seems like since these are a bit wider than most Italian boots, there’d be room in there for more substantial ones. Overall comfort, for my feet, is outstanding.

Outside, Sidi uses its full grain microfiber material, which is synthetic leather that’s tougher and lighter than the real thing. That lightness is a big part of what makes these Adventures, and the Canyons, so comfortable for walking around. Microfiber seems like it might outlast the real thing too, and it shines right up like leather if you believe in shoe polish.

$350 isn’t cheap, but if these last as long as my last Sidis (which are still going strong), it seems like a reasonable price to pay. Your non-slip big At the end of the day, Sidi claims these combine high-end offroad-level protection with a boot that’s comfortable on or off the bike, and that’s close to my personal impression. My feet feel more secure and safer in these, but it’s still easy to manipulate shifter and brake pedals. In fact I wear them on street rides all the time, too.

They’re completely clonk and squeak-free, and walking around in them doesn’t feel materially different than a really solid pair of new basketball hightops. Then there’s the whole fashion aspect; the Italians do footwear right. These project a nice ruggedness without veering too far into Mad Max territory.

The lug-type non-slip soles are bonded on, but we’re told they’re easily replaceable. In fact, Sidi sells soles for all its boots through Motonation, its US importer’s website, along with replacement buckles and other parts.

Shop for the Sidi Adventure 2 Gore-Tex Mid here

FAQ

What’s better, microfiber or leather?

Depends on who you ask. Sidi claims its microfiber synthetic leather is lighter, more flexible, stronger, longer lasting – and it requires no animal sacrifice to obtain. In our experience with other Sidi microfiber boots, all those claims seem to be legitimate. As far as looks, if you didn’t know it was synthetic leather, you’d be hard pressed to know it was synthetic leather. For a fashion boot, real leather will obtain a more authentic patina over time, but for a motorcycling boot that’s more concerned with toughness and longevity, microfiber looks like a winner.

How long will Sidi Adventure 2 Mid boots last?

That depends on how hard you ride and how often. For the average rider, probably many years with a little bit of care. The moisture-wicking interior will keep the internal funk to a minimum, and the microfiber, plastic and rubber exterior should last a long time too with very little maintenance beyond hosing them off now and then. Also, Sidi offers new soles, buckles, and other parts on its website.

What is the fit of Sidi Adventure 2 Mid boots?

Some Italian gear is on the snug side for American riders. A big reason we’re fans of Sidi boots at MO is that they are not; all their boots we’ve sampled have footbeds spacious enough for full-size feet and maybe even slightly wider ones, with room enough for the removable arch supports they come with and even a thicker one as needed. For wide feet, order a half-size bigger.

Related Reading

MO Tested: Sidi Adventure 2 Boot Review

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