Our test rider, Craig Chamberlain, got down and dirty at Apex Motopark, testing the Sidi range of Off-Road boots on their ride day.
Here is how it went and his thoughts on the boots…
So I got the call to go and test the Sidi boots at Apex, and I thought, well, I only know the Sidi Crossfire, and I already know how good a boot that is! To my surprise, Sidi has now come out with two new boots: the X-Air, the Cross Air-X, and the one we all know, the Crossfire.
Test and Words by Craig Chamberlain
So, as I’ve worn Crossfire numerous times before, I decided to start at what they call the entry-level boot, the X-Air. Now, at first glance, I wasn’t so keen on the 3-strap system, but once I got sized up and got them on, they actually felt really comfy straight off. To say the track was challenging is an understatement, as the weather was awful the day before and very wet in places, but I’m pleased to say the boots kept my old feet dry, which I feel is a must in any boot. I did notice that this boot was comfy straight away, whereas normally, I feel you need to break boots in, but not with these. I put a decent session in, and the boots weren’t a problem anywhere.
On the protection side, I can’t see a problem with these boots, but I would say with the amount of comfort, they would be a great trail riding boot and a great novice boot if you are starting out and want that instant comfort feel.
Next up for me (after the pizza lunch) was the Cross Air-x. Now, all the other riders were shouting from the rooftops about this boot, so I couldn’t wait to get it on. This is where I realised how important it is to go and actually try boots on because I put my normal size on first, and they felt relatively loose, but still went out to give them a go, and I was right; they were too loose, so I dropped back to the van, and they sorted me a size down. Now, this boot felt great, definitely the lightest boot I had ever worn, but it still gave me that high-end fit and feel of protection, so I was over the moon. Amazing grip on the soles even in the wet conditions and, again, a nice dry foot. If I’m honest, I would have kept this boot on all day as it had such a nice feel.
Next up was the Crossfire 3, now I’ve worn Crossfires plenty of times before, so I wasn’t surprised that I went a size up to what I normally have as they are the most snug fitting boot I’ve ever worn, and you always feel completely safe in them. For 2025, they have some pretty cool colourways, too, which is nice to see. Out on track, the boot is as solid as ever and fits amazingly, and I can see why, if you are all about safety, this boot has got to be for you, and with the replacement soles, they are a boot worth investing in.
My overall conclusion on the day is that I would choose the all-new Cross Air-X as my boot of choice due to the lightweight feel it gives. If I were wearing my boots all day on a trail, it would be the X-Air, and if I was still trying to be a top-level guy and pounding out the practice track motos and racing every week, I would probably go for the Crossfire! So, all in all, Sidi has hit the nail on the head and now has a boot suitable for all.
