Sidi Crossfire Boot Review
- Updated: December 30, 2008
By Ray Larez
It was time to buy some new boots and after a recent ankle injury, I was after the most comfortable boot I could find. I had noticed some big advancements in off-road riding boots. My new Sidi’s include a pivoting ankle and wrap around section design. This helps make the boots a lot more flexible and not so restrictive while shifting or braking. And let me tell you, this really makes the ride more enjoyable because you aren’t fighting to get your foot under the shifter.
As you know boots are expensive and most of us can’t afford new boots every season so they need to last. The Sidi Crossfire is a little pricey compared to others, but like the old saying goes — you get what you pay for. I have tried some inexpensive boots and the most expensive boots, trust me you certainly feel the difference. It may not be in the first five minutes, but ride all day in those babies and you will want the better ones for sure.
As soon as I opened the Sidi box and noticed extra parts I knew they meant business. When you’re hard on equipment or lose stuff easily like me, it’s nice to know you have back up parts in the box. Thumbs up Sidi for this.
As I put them on to see how flexible and comfortable Sidi’s new pivoting ankle would be, I couldn’t help but appreciate how easy their Cam-lock buckle system was. It also felt like a quality system that would be durable for several years. Once adjusted properly the buckles easily lock with no binding and pinching. That was my major complaint with my last pair of boots – the straps would always break because they would bind and get pinched. I had to replace buckles on several occasions. Now that they were buckled up I walked around the house and couldn’t believe how comfortable these babies were. In an effort to try to find some sort of comfort flaw I spent about three hours in the boots and I’m here to tell you they were as comfortable as wearing tennis shoes. I couldn’t wait to try my new Sidi’s out on a long day of riding.
My first ride with the boots was at the Yamaha Grizzly 550 Intro in the mountains. I got up early and decided I would wear the boots all day to really get a feel for them. Between taking photos and riding, I was on and off the quad a zillion times and that was only four hours into the day. So far so good, no binding or pain in my ankles or feet. I was really loving these bad boys. The Sidi’s didn’t feel all tight as my old boots and my feet weren’t killing me like most boots during the first break in day.
In total I put about 70 miles on the Yamaha. At first I never thought I would have been able to put that much riding time on my injured ankle. I admit I was tired, but couldn’t believe how well my ankle felt. It was sore and a bit swollen, but not like it would have been in my old boots. Not one time did I have any issue with anything, no loose parts, no buckles coming undone, and certainly no broken buckles like I would have in the past.
Since the original break in my new Sidi Crossfires have become even more comfortable and by far the best boots I’ve ever had. I guess you really can’t compare a pair of off road boots to a fine bottle of wine, but it is a good analogy in my opinion. The older these Sidi Crossfires get they get the better they are. I can’t believe the freedom you get with a pivot in the ankle. I have always been the first person in camp to take off my boots, now I find myself not even thinking about my feet.
The Sidi Crossfire is by far the best boot I have ever owned. The one thing they didn’t use was a bootie design and I can totally see why. Most of us that ride with the more conventional pants that tuck into your boot usually meets that bootie and bunches up creating a point of pressure. The smooth Sidi inter liner was very comfortable and there where no points of pressure or tight spots. Also getting my foot into the boot was a lot easier than boots of the past.
A few other features that are worth mentioning include a replaceable sole and replacement is made simple, by using standard flat head screws to mount the rubber sole to the boot. The sole itself is made to absorb some of the impact and load. Crossfire boots also features a removable arch support, fully adjustable calf area composite insole, a Cambrelle lining and a dual flex upper design. Most of these features you will notice are to provide a better fitting and more comfortable boot, and boy did they achieve that goal. They have a variety of color options and sizes to choice from. Available in Black, Orange, Red, Blue, and White in sizes 7.5/41-13/48