In Gear: Sidi Rex Air Boots Review
Maximum airflow for maximum performance
Whether you’re carving canyons in July or commuting under a blazing sun, high-performance sport boots are often a trade-off: superior protection vs. unbearable heat. This doesn’t have to be the case. The Sidi Rex Air aims to erase that compromise the easy way: by taking Sidi’s Rex boot and punching a ton of holes in it for airflow. The result is a top-shelf race boot with enough airflow to keep hot rides tolerable without sacrificing safety.
Of course, by “poking holes” I mean Sidi has taken the Rex chassis and perforated it all over, from top to bottom. What’s more, there are dedicated ventilation ports at the tip of the toe and on the side of the boot specifically for scooping up incoming air and spreading it throughout your foot. Using Sidi's signature fiberglass-reinforced nylon exoskeleton protection to keep the foot and ankle from bending or twisting in ways they’re not supposed to, the Rex Air will feel familiar to anyone who has worn Sidi boots before. TPU protectors in the heel, shins, and toes help protect against impacts and also promotes sliding if you were to fall.
In Gear: Sidi Rex Air Boots Review
I haven’t always had the best relationship with Sidi boots in the past, as I found the toe box to be too narrow for my feet, and the dial system to cinch the boot would end up being tight in some areas and loose in others, no matter how many turns I gave it. I’m happy to report that the Rex Air’s three dials — across the mid-foot, just above the ankle, and at the top of the boot — give the boot the best fit of any Sidi I’ve tried so far. Getting a proper fit isn’t as big an issue when wearing leathers, but I’m happy to report that I’m also able to close the top dial tight enough to fit my riding jeans over the boot when riding on the street. This is big for me, as I appreciate the added protection of race boots, but I prefer to keep it more subtle by wearing my riding pants or jeans over the boot.
The Rex Air achieves the slimmer profile because, unlike other race boots like the Alpinestars Supertech R, the Rex Air does not have an inner boot. For ultimate comfort and safety, I still prefer the Supertech’s, but for convenience — and yes, airflow — the Rex Air is solid. The toe box is still a touch narrow for my liking, but it’s better than previous Sidi boots and I don’t mind it anymore. Lastly, depending on the bike and the peg position, I sometimes find the exoskeleton (when not worn underneath riding pants) can get caught on pegs or heel guards, requiring you to wiggle your foot off the pegs to free it.
There’s lots more to say about the Sidi Rex Air, and if you’ve read this far, go ahead and click on the video to see more of my thoughts. For a $500 race boot ($499.99 to be exact), it undercuts the Alpinestars Supertech R by about $150, offers a high level of protection, and could be more convenient for some. As a critic of Sidi boots in the past, the Rex Air has found a home in my riding gear rotation, especially when it’s hot outside.
- Price: $499.99
- Sizes: Euro 39-48
- Colors: Black/Red, White/Black, Black/Bronze, White/Red
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Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.
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