From the dirt side of things, Sidi has had the adventure rider covered. For the hard-core single-track adventurist, the Sidi Crossfire 2 boots offer as much protection as you can get.
Riders who want a bit more flexibility, while still retaining full off-road capabilities, can get Sidi’s Adventure or Discovery boots. Street-oriented adventure enthusiasts have two new options — the all-new Sidi Armada Gore Tex.
We are familiar with convertible jackets, helmets and pants—a great thing for riding in changing weather conditions. Sidi has expanded that flexibility into the boot market with the Armada, which functions as an off-roadable boot that can be quickly converted into a touring boot with a few turns of a screwdriver.
One thing I have come to count on from Sidi is that their boots are comfortable right out of the box. In the case of the Armada, without so much as a minute in the boots, I slipped them on and hopped on a Ducati Multistrada for a 1500-mile adventure ride.
Wearing them in their standard configuration, the Armada boots are instantly comfortable for touring. Getting your foot inside is easy, as a long side zipper opens them up widely. After zipping them up, you wrap around the padded shin guard, which gives you a personalized fit and a satisfying sense of security. In addition to the shin guard, protection is offered by hard plastic at the heel and outer metatarsal.
For more comfort, the wrap can be easily removed. Just pry off the two covers, remove two Phillips screws (replace them straightaway with flatheads to make it a one-tool job), take off the wrap, and install a couple of small ankle protectors (included). Instantly, you have full-featured touring boots that are lighter on your feet, which is nice when walking around.
As either touring or adventure boots, the Sidi Armada Gore Tex is a winner. When you add the convenience of convertibility, the result is a pair of boots that are more than outstanding footwear, they’re also groundbreaking.
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