Sidi Spider shoes review

Pricey footwear

Our rating

3.0

352.71
225.00

Published: February 22, 2010 at 10:00 am

Our review
A lot of cash for a plastic midsole race shoe, but fantastic fit and comfort

When we first got our hands on Sidi’s new shoes, it seemed a shame to mess them up by putting our feet in them! The typically Italian styling is beautiful, and the Vernice material makes it look like the sort of white patent leather shoe that John Travolta could cut a rug in. But we took the plunge, dirtied them up, and have been wantonly doing so ever since.

The sole gives crank bending power transfer, yet manages to be super-comfortable at the same time and, for such a solid feel under foot, offers excellent control for technical riding. Twin security Velcro straps across the toes lock your foot in place and distribute pressure evenly. The ratchet buckle has small enough increments to give the perfect blend of comfort and an outright solid hold of your foot, and can be centred to ensure a good fit for any foot shape.

The robust plastic toe cap – a major improvement on the previously exposed and fragile Sidi toe – has ample protection and the Spiders work superbly off the bike. Fit is snug but incredibly comfortable, quickly feeling like favourite slippers. The plastic midsole is stiff and effective, although in our experience does soften with time. Sidi’s SRS outsole is replaceable, to extend the shoes’ life and make inroads into warranting their huge expense.

The shiny synthetic leather Lorica upper, as found on the top-end Dragon model, is wipe-clean, keeping them looking like a pair of Beckham’s freshest, although understated black or pure poser red are also on the menu. All cyclists should experience Sidi shoes and the Spider, which blends styling and technical cues from a variety of other models, is a good place to start, but it gets marked down for the super-high price.

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