Sidi Adventures are less 'Italian' (read narrow) than some of their other boots. My Adventures are a 44 whereas my Sidi Black Rains and Vertigos are both 45s. The Adventures are super comfortable even in blistering heat. I love 'em. However, I would say that given the cost of the things it would be wise to try first. The pain of ill fitting boots will linger long after your wallet has come out of intensive care....
Depending upon the shoe I usually wear a size 12. I ordered a size 12.5 in the ADV vortex and the fit is perfect. I factored into the size a boot sock which is a bit thicker. I have a narrow foot and my foot feels right in this boot. The ADV is all leather vs the Adv rain which is not. Rule of thumb; Leather will stretch a little with wear over time, but does not shrink. So if the boot fits loose or is too wide, it will remain that way and your stuck. I like an initial snug but not uncomfortable fit. If you have a SIDI boot dealer close by, go try a pair on before ordering. If not at a minimum, go by a shoe store and have your foot measured. I suggest factoring the boot sock. Lastly, I purchased my boots from motorcyclesuperstore.com and received the boots in two days. They have a 60 day return policy which is why I ordered from this site in the event I needed to return them due to sizing. As mentioned in a previous post, overseas ordering may work for some. I just did not want the hassle of the return if the fit was not spot on. My last touring boot purchase was a first gear model I bought in 1999, so I was ready for new pair. Hopefully these SIDI's will last me a long time. Right out of the box these boots were very comfortable. Probably info overload in my post, but when spending big dollars the devil is in the details. Update- I would not trade these boots for any other boots. Love em. 20 April 2012.
My Alpinestars racing boots are a 45 and a tight fit. My Sidi Adventure (Goretex) are 46 and a little too loose. I wear a US 12 sneaker most of the time. I have a narrow heel and a wide ball. The 46 Sidi fits the wide part well, but is too wide in the heel and a little too roomy in the toes. I think I would have been happier with a 45 that was tight for a while but stretched to a perfect fit vs the 46 I have. I would say that the 46 Sidi fits just like a normal US 12 shoe on me- narrow and wide in the same places. But, I prefer to have my riding boots snugger than my walking around shoes because I get better feel and presume I'd get somewhat better protection. FWIW, my first pair of riding boots was a US 10.5 first gear boot that was painful for the first 1500 miles, snug for the next 2500, then absolutely perfect for the next 25000 miles before the zippers wore out and broke. (I do a lot of 5 mile commutes, so 25,000 miles is a LOT of up and down zipper motions) Man those boots were comfy and I still miss them.
Be warned; heat guns and waterproof membranes like Gore-Tex don't mix. This is why you shouldn't put your Gore-Tex jacket in the dryer.
You might want to check the wash instructions-most say to put Gore-Tex jackets in the dryer; some even suggest that you use an iron.
I've had a pair of Sidi goretex boots very similar to the Adventure for about 5 years. They only have one clasp & no shin guard but otherwise are very similar. They are still in very good condition even though it's getting close to new soles time. I have warn them all day off the bike at race meetings, trail ridden in knee deep mud in them & done 600km's in the rain. I have not a single complaint.
While that's true most of the time - bear in mind that is 1/2 size too big can almost always be cured with a foot bed insert (Dr Scholls variety) - A size too small can not.
Yep. I posted the above in a Sidi Crossfire's thread. My bad to also post here. Didn't pay attention that thread was for Sidi Adv's
Since we were talking about using a heat gun, I was referring to using a dryer on high. Yes, you can put your Gore-Tex stuff in the dryer, but ONLY on tumble dry - warm. I air dry mine to be on the safe side. And, though I never seen it stated as a suggestion, yes, you CAN use an iron, but ONLY on warm and ONLY with a towel between the iron and your garment. Personally, I don't iron to my Gore-Tex stuff. HEAT, as in heat gun heat, and Gore-Tex ARE a bad combination. That was and is my point.
I ordered mine and also the SIDI Kompression socks which go quite a way up the leg. Supposed to pull moisture away from the foot and let, i will let you know. A bit pricey even with a discount.
I have the Adventure Rain no Goretex. I can't get my Rallye 3 pant inside the boot and buckle it and be comfortable .I have a few thousand miles with the cuff over the boot .
Mink oil does the trick. Apply, let sit, wipe them down and enjoy the quiet. Make sure to pull the plastic away from the leather in the back...not hard to do.
Looking at pulling the trigger on a pair of these but my main concern is the fit at the calf. I have quite large calves and actually just had to sell a set of Sidi Discovery's because I had a tough time fastening them at the top. I wonder if someone would mind taking an approximate measurement of the inside of your boots when closed at their widest. I also am having trouble finding a definitive height on these from the floor....14 inches sound right? Any other thick legged inmates wearing these babies? Thanks all!
For a size 45(11US) boot, if you stand barefoot on the floor and measure 13" up your leg the widest the boot can be closed is an 18" diameter. These boots are not really made for BIG ankle/calf legs I'm afraid. But then, I have long legs and my calves don't come into play much. Cheers,
best bet would be to go to a dealer who has them in stock and try a pair on. they do velcro at the top and the lowers are adjustable. then if you want to order from somewhere u get a good price you know what size you need and if they fit.
That's helpful, thanks much. My calf is 17 1/4 at 13" off the ground barefoot. Absolutely would be the ideal situation but there is no dealer nearby......grumble.
I'm loving mine so far. I purchased them from a dealer in Germany for $370 shipped and got them in a week. I really thought I'd have to break them in, but they are pretty much broken in already. I see Motorcycle-Superstore has them for $500 now, but I see no reason why anyone would spend more when you can buy them overseas from a reputable dealer for less than the Adventure Rains. I do foresee these things being very hot in summer, though. I guess protection comes with a sacrifice.
i'm looking at getting a set of adventure rains (gortex do not come in size 50 yet ) and have two concerns...the first being the rains are only "water resistant" and the second, how hot are these boots in warm weather? i'm not talking florida/texas warm but north east 80-90 degree days. thanks for your feedback