Having worn the original incarnation of Sidi’s Adventure Gore-Tex boots for 12,000 miles including a 2016 trip to Alaska, Canada and the United States it was an easy decision to test the replacement model on a tour through Europe in 2017.
The originals performed faultlessly and the Sidi Adventure Gore-Tex 2 boots gave confidence from day one that they would perform just as well.
My trip to Eastern Europe was going to take me away from home for a few weeks and I needed boots that were waterproof, comfortable and would give some level of protection for my lower leg when riding on unpaved sections of road.
I knew they wouldn’t give the same stiffness as my motocross boots, however the ankle support and waterproofing qualities of the Adventure 2 Gore-Tex boots were crucial for a trip that would cover so many miles.
I was thankful I chose waterproof boots as I experienced several days of torrential rain through Europe. It was particularly wet on the day I rode through Austria, where it rained extremely hard for most of the day.
I am pleased to say the Adventure 2 Gore-Tex boots made sure my feet remained warm and dry throughout.
Conditions weren’t quite on a par with the worst I experienced in the original Adventure 1 Gore-Tex boots, which repelled very severe weather on a 240-mile journey from Deadhorse to Coldfoot in Alaska, with no place of shelter between the two places.
However, I have no reason to doubt that the newer model of boot would pass that same test with the same flying colours as their predecessors.
While wearing them in Greece and Bulgaria in the summer of 2017 the temperature rose into the high 30s celsius and I’m pleased to say my feet and lower legs remained comfortable despite the very hot conditions.
The sole on the boots are non-slip and stay firmly on the pegs during wet weather, at the same time they are stiff enough to give support and remain comfortable when standing on the pegs for unpaved sections of roads and tracks.
From the first time I put them on the boots have remained comfortable and supportive over the many miles I have ridden in them.
The Velcro closure and two buckle fasteners give the adjustment needed to keep the boots firmly fitted to my legs and feet, even if a second pair of thick socks is needed on cold days.
One note of caution on fit, however – I needed a size larger than I would normally take, which is something I don’t find to be unusual for Italian-made footwear.
I clean the boots with a black waterproofing wax, which covers up any scuffs and scrapes picked up along the way.
Once cleaned these boots look as good as new and I confident they will last for many years and miles into the future.
Fit & comfort
I take a size seven in most footwear, I was not surprised that the right fit for me was one size up, at an eight. The boots were very comfortable from the moment I first put them on and have remained so ever since.
Waterproofing
The boots were severely tested in some torrential rain in Europe. I am confident they will remain completely waterproof in the worst the British weather can offer.
Breathability
Even in temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius while riding in Greece and Bulgaria the Gore-Tex membrane meant my feet stayed comfortable at all times. Remember to use Gore-Tex-approved cleaning products as others may hinder breathability.
Build quality
The build quality is excellent. Even after 5000 miles a good clean with a Gore-Tex approved product leaves them looking like new.
Features
Other than a lack of a way of pulling air through to the inside, which some top-end waterproof boots allow, the spec level is exactly what we would expect from a boot like this.
Update (July 2025)
After eight years with the Sidi Adventure 2 Gore-Tex boots, and more than 50,000 miles of adventures, it feels like a good it time to give an update on them, and show you how well they've stood up to the test of time and miles.
The image gallery below shows the condition of the boots, which I'm still happy to use after all this time on the road.
No clips or fasteners have broken or needed replacing and none of the screws have ever come loose. Considering the mileage covered, in some very rough and challenging conditions, this is a remarkable achievement.
Even more remarkable is the condition of the liner fabric, I have never cleaned the inside of the boots, yet they don’t even look stained in any way, let alone worn.
The fabric gusset, which fits behind the side fastenings, shows no signs of wear. On other boots I've owned, this has been the first section to break - and long before they reached 50K miles.
The sole and the heel show some wear, the left boot more than the right. I've not walked far in these boots, although there will have been several miles of walking involved over the years.
The most remarkable of all to me is that the boots are still 100% waterproof and as you can see from the pictures a coating of Nikwax makes them shiny and fresh again.
On my last big trip, in 2024, I rode from the east coast of Canada to its west coast, via Alaska. This was an adventure of 12,400 miles, arriving in Vancouver 10 weeks after starting in Halifax.
Before I left home, I'd checked the boots over and felt they would do the trip, though I didn’t discount that I may have to replace or repair them while on the journey.
The boots made it all the way and as you can see from the pictures after washing in clean water and applying Nikwax and they are good enough for a Saturday night dance - not that I dance a lot, or would wear motorcycle boots if I did.
Two days on this trip stand out. On one the heavens opened when I was 100 miles from my destination, and the torrential rain continued all the way to the hotel. While my fellow guests were soaked to the skin while walking a few metres from their car to the hotel reception, my feet were perfectly dry and warm.
The second stand-out day was on the Trans Labrador Highway, where I experienced heavy rain that continued for 340 miles, without stopping to rest or refuel because of wild fires that closed the fuel stations. It was a very good test for the boots, which passed with flying colours.
These are fantastic boots that have served me well, and give me confidence they will keep going even further. I have tried and reviewed other very good boots over the years and the Sidi Adventure 2 Gore-Tex are in my opinion the gold standard to which every other manufacturer should aspire.
Photography: Jose Mas