MO Tested: Sidi Adventure 2 Boot Review
What is an adventure boot?
For a long time, I didn’t get the adventure boot thing. They’re not off-road boots, nor are they purely street/touring boots. Adventure boots are a combination of the two, though they tend to resemble their off-road counterparts. After putting more than 1,500 miles in the Sidi Adventure 2 adventure boots, I get it. They’re not trying to be motocross boots, and they can be more versatile in certain situations than street-biased footwear.
Sidi Adventure 2
| Aesthetics | 9.0/10 |
| Protection | 9.0/10 |
| Value | 8.5/10 |
| Comfort/Fit | 9.75/10 |
| Quality/Design | 9.5/10 |
| Weight | 9.0/10 |
| Options/Selection | 8.75/10 |
| Innovation | 8.75/10 |
| Weather Suitability | 9.75/10 |
| Desirable/Cool Factor | 9.0/10 |
| Overall Score | 91/100 |
As with any piece of gear or motorcycle, it can be hard to find one tool for every job. Adventure boots are crafted to offer the same versatility found in adventure motorcycles, on– and off-road capability, and comfortable touring while still being practical enough for daily use.
Comfort/Fit
The Sidi Adventure 2 boot is exceedingly comfortable straight out of the box. In the past, Italian brands, including Sidi, had been known to fit narrow. That is not the case with any of the three Sidi boots I have recently tested. I have a regular width foot and the Adventure 2 fits perfectly with enough wiggle room for my foot to move slightly or for a thicker sock.
Walking in these boots is also a comfortable task. After using these boots during a 1000-mile ride – which included walking through towns to grab food, hopping back on the bike, stopping for photos and walking on trails – I have absolutely no complaints in the comfort department. The lugged sole provides ample grip on or off of the bike and the insole is comfortable from the beginning. The only gripe I could have is that they are warm in the summer due to the Gore-Tex liner not allowing any airflow, but that’s a function of waterproofing.
On the outside, the hinge point on the inner and outer ankle help to allow your foot to move only in the way it should while providing resistance to over extension. The soft full-grain microfiber that the boot is made up of also breaks in nicely without showing much aging or wear. Along the inner side of both boots, you will find leather paneling to help better grip the bike while standing.
The large gusseted opening coupled with the stretch fabric at the back of the calf make getting in and out of these boots easy, and the two straps with cam lock style buckles keep the boot snugged up around your foot and ankle.
Protection
The outside of the Adventure 2 is mostly comprised of microfiber and hard plastic TPU components. Microfiber has similar characteristics to genuine leather, though it’s not affected by aging in the same ways. It is lighter than leather, and, most importantly, it offers higher abrasion resistance, tensile strength, and tear resistance compared to leather. Microfiber is also breathable, which allows the Gore-Tex membrane to work the way it should.
The plastic TPU parts found at the heel to midfoot and on the shin provide protection in the areas most likely to be impacted during a crash. The ankle flex system provides support behind the ankle while being connected to the hinge. Raised plastic bits are also found near the lower buckle to help protect the closure in the event of a lowside.
Weatherproof
Gore-Tex is the waterproofing of choice on the Sidi Adventure 2 and we are glad to have it. The Gore-Tex liner can be seen as the silver material inside the boot, which comes up just three inches shy of the top of the boot giving you 11 inches from the ground of waterproof, breathable protection from the elements.
I have no doubt that if using a thicker winter boot sock, these boots could keep you comfortable well into fall and winter temperatures.
From the moment I slipped the Sidi Adventure 2 boots on, the whole adventure boot thing started making sense. Now that I have spent thousands of miles wearing them, it makes even more sense. Are they the boot I would grab if most of my adventure riding was going to be done off-road? Nope. I would opt for a stiffer off-road boot like the Crossfire 3. Are they the boot I would choose for just about anything else? Absolutely.
Sidi Adventure 2 $495.00
Learn more here.
Ryan’s time in the motorcycle industry has revolved around sales and marketing prior to landing a gig at Motorcycle.com. An avid motorcyclist, interested in all shapes, sizes, and colors of motorized two-wheeled vehicles, Ryan brings a young, passionate enthusiasm to the digital pages of MO.
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So Ryan, you have a section dedicated to "Protection," but you neglect to mention whether these boots are CE certified. Why is that? Are they or are they not?
I've had these boots for 15 months. In that time, I've put almost 10,000 miles of riding on them, including 2 long road trips of 2,300mi and 1,100mi. I ride year-'round in Minneapolis winters (when the roads are clear enough for it), down to 10deg F.
I can say without a doubt, these boots will handle any street-/touring-biased riding you throw at them.
I wear thick wool socks all year (wool helps wick sweat away in the summer and provides good insulation in the winter), and the boot fits my somewhat narrow foot with the thick socks just fine. I have plenty of room to wiggle my piggies on long 600-mile days. I wouldn't want to go on a hike in them, but they are plenty comfortable all-day riding with stops for food, gas, mild sightseeing, etc.
I've ridden in downpours and mild snow storms with not a drop getting into the boot. Paired with good rain gear, these contribute to the lovely cocoon of warmth and comfort on a bike in the rain while everyone else is miserable in their cars.