SIDI JARIN
£340 Premium Italian road shoemaker gets dirty
Sidi’s Jarin is one of its latest crosscountry mountain bike shoes but for 2020 Sidi has brought out this olive green version aimed at the gravel market and it has a lot to offer. The SRS carbon fibre sole is superbly stiff and light, being over 100g lighter than the brand’s previous premium off-road carbon soled shoe (Dragon SRS). It’s good to see that the prominent toe bumper/grip, heel bumper and the twin grip bars on either side of the cleat plate are all bolt-on items and fully replaceable, in typical Sidi fashion. These chunky grips also do a great job of protecting the carbon sole when walking.
Weight is impressively light for an off-road shoe (760g a pair for size 45), especially one that delivers this much protection and comfort. The Techpro microfibre upper has proved tough and resilient and the rubberised toe piece provides solid protection for your feet. While the upper is pretty substantial and has decent weather protection, the shoes don’t get overly warm, thanks to good ventilation – the inside upper is laser-cut with pinhole vents.
The retention system comprises of Sidi’s longstanding ‘soft instep closure system’, an ergonomically shaped adjustable strap that fits over your instep, and is also replaceable if it wears out. It can be adjusted on both sides to find the most comfortable position and has a bonded-in EVA pad to distribute pressure evenly. The strap is tensioned using Sidi’s ‘Tecno 3 push system’. The Tecno 3 is the original dial adjuster, predating Boa, and features a flip-up dial adjuster and spring-loaded release. It may lack the simple, two-way microadjust of the latest Boa, but it offers easy adjustment, holds firm and doesn’t slacken even over long rides. A second Tecno 3 dial is mounted directly onto the tongue sitting on top of a large pad. This dial sits centrally between a cord running through four points that draw in the forefoot and toe box to tune the fit precisely to your foot.
The volume is generous, but the solid heel cup helps with stability and the Jarins are just as comfortable as Sidi’s road shoes have always been. You pay a premium for Sidis over similar rivals, but they are superbly made and will last the test of time.