Sidi Slash Review
When I am off for a short motorcycle ride and I know I will be walking quite a bit at my destination, the Sidi Slash low-cut motorcycle boots often find their way onto my feet. No, they don’t have the protection of their Vortice boot, but often that is not what you need. Certainly, the Slash is much more protective than street shoes, and leaves you with no excuse for riding around in tennis shoes.
In many ways, the Slash is also a nice walking shoe, as the side zipper allows them to slip on and off as easily as loafers. The boot relies on plastic, rubber, Lorica and mesh, so they are highly flexible for walking, while still supplying some ankle support.
For riding motorcycles, the protection comes primarily from a hard heel box and a sturdy toe box. A soft rubber on the outside and a harder interior disc on the bike side covers your anklebone. The front of the sole is fairly flexible, but it stiffens up near your arch. A large rubber toe shift protector also adds to comfort when riding. The mesh passes quite a bit of air-perfect for the summer, but the Slash boots are chilly in winter (even with riding socks on).
The Sidi Slash is an excellent motorcycle boot for walking, and it works extremely well when riding. The obvious trade-off is that you do not get full foot protection in an accident. But, on the upside, they are much better than standard shoes. Pick the right times to use this motorcycle boot and you will find it to be a favorite.
Photography by Kelly Callan
