Sidi has a huge pedigree in high performance footwear, being worn by possibly the greatest male XC riders of all time, Nino Schurter and Julien Absalon, so it’s safe to say the Drakos won’t slow you down.
- Best XC race shoes: buyer's guide and recommendations
- Cross-country shoe showdown: Specialized S-Works XC vs Sidi Drako
Being made in Italy they’re not cheap, but the quality is fantastic, with robust stitching and a premium microfibre upper. Sidis have always been known to come up fairly narrow compared to other brands and the Drakos were no exception, although Sidi does offer its Mega range for people with wider feet.
The Techno-3 Dials were very secure with thicker wires and strong definitive clicks when cranking them tight. They are a little fiddly, with a small button needing to be pressed before adjustment, making changes on the fly difficult and nigh on impossible in a race situation.
The heel cup was also secure and comfortable, with the added bonus of two small screws, which can be tightened to ensure a super snug fit, although we never felt the need to use them.
The Drakos get a huge thumbs up due to the fact that nearly everything on the shoe is replaceable. This includes the sole tread and straps, so while expensive they should last you a long time.
This durability does come at a cost, as there’s no rubber protection on the sole. It might not seem like a big deal, but if you come unclipped on a descent or miss a pedal all that exposed carbon is like ice, making it difficult to stay in control. We solved this problem by sticking a small strip of bar tape along the sole, but it shouldn’t need to be done on such a high-end product.
