The ‘Adventure 2’ Gore boot is new for 2017 and, far from merely replacing its long running and highly acclaimed predecessor, Sidi have managed to comprehensively refine and redesign an already excellent product so that it becomes more waterproof and comfortable while streamlining many of its rugged components.
My own interest in these boots comes from personal experience of what can happen when riding off-road in boots that aren’t up to the job. As with other boots marketed for adventure riding, some see it as a touring boot that lacks the necessary ruggedness of an off-road boot, others as a true off-road boot but designed with greater emphasis on comfort and flexibility than a competition rider requires.
As travellers, we need our kit to be versatile and reliable. It was Sidi’s obvious attention to providing genuine ankle protection in a boot that is meant to be worn on and of the bike, combined with Gore-Tex®’s Performance Comfort breathable waterproof membrane (guaranteed not to deteriorate over time if looked after correctly), that brought the original ‘Adventure’ boot such a wide following.
Of course, Sidi has decades of successful competition experience to draw on when it comes to the challenge of designing a boot that can be relied on for all kinds of roads, all year round and still prove comfortable to wear on and off the bike.
As with the earlier design, the ‘Adventure 2’ boasts a comfortable footbed with removable arch support, a high-grip treaded sole with a heel and Sidi’s own micro adjustable cam lock buckle system with sturdy metal pins. Combined with a large, Velcro secured, upper flap and elastic expansion panels at the top of the boot makes them comfortable for a wide range of riders.
A simple but effective pivoting protector allows the ankle to move up and down for gear changes and braking, but not rotate in a crash. An ankle box wraps all the around the heel and combines with moulded panels running up the rear of calf to protect the Achilles tendon. All of the moulded parts are replaceable if damaged or worn out.
Sidi say these moulded parts have been redesigned and refined in the ‘Adventure 2’ to allow more flex where needed for brake and gear controls, drastically reducing the amount of time needed to break-in new boots; but does less stiffness mean less protection if foot gets snagged?
The tongue-in-groove Achilles protection has been designed to give more protection against hyper-flexion and hyper-extension while also achieving better streamlining. This new ‘Single Flex System’ has also done away with the familiar Sidi squeak when you walk.
Streamlining the mouldings has resulted in a large surface area of Sidi’s new Full Grain Microfiber leather and split grain anti-wear and heat-resistant panels to help the boots grip the bike even better than before, while a beefy pull tab at the top makes getting the ‘Adventure 2’s on and off your feet a doddle.
Even with a substantial PU shin-plate to protect against contact with foot pegs, roots, debris, etc., this does not look like a clumsy boot.
Other changes in choice of materials, and their positioning, offers further real improvements on an already excellent design. The Gore-Tex® liner is fully bonded and now goes all the way to the top of the boot, where the leather rolls over to prevent wicking of spray into the comfortable Cambrelle® boot lining.
Sizing is pretty accurate and without the need for thick/waterproof socks there’s probably no need to go up a size unlike some other off-road boots. However, if you have wide feet, like me, then you should find that the next size up will have enough adjustment in the buckles to maintain a comfortable and secure fit.
Available in men’s sizes UK 6 – 14, EU 39 – 50.
RRP £314.99
Watch out for future updates as we put these boots to their intended use…
Review by Nich Brown.
