Sidi Deep Rain boots
Reviewer: Mikko Nieminen // RRP: £249.99 // Colour: Black // Sizes: EUR 41-48 // Info: www.sidiselect.co.uk
The Deep Rain boots are designed for adventure, and come equipped with a waterproof membrane, good levels of protection, a practical fastening system and of course the chunky looks of true adventure boots. You don’t, however, have to go on a round-the-world trip to benefit from the boots. A regular rainy day back in the good old Blighty will be quite sufficient to demonstrate that these are very comfortable, practical and robust motorcycle boots.
As the name suggests, waterproofing is at the top of the agenda with these boots. The waterproofing system is not by GoreTex (as is the case with the slightly pricier Sidi Adventure boots), but even with Sidi’s own waterproofing solution, the boots have kept my feet dry even when riding in heavy rain for over an hour. Interestingly, these are not leather boots. Instead, the main material is Technomicro. Never heard of it? Me neither. Turns out it’s a composite microfibre material, in essence similar to leather but apparently stronger, softer and lighter. Technomicro is also waterrepellent, quick-drying, breathable and permeable to water vapour.
And it’s abrasion-resistant too. That all sounds rather good, and they certainly do feel light for such big boots. As to the other qualities of Technomicro; so far they have performed pretty much exactly as I would have expected regular leather boots to perform.
The boots are a little stiff at first, but soon wear in, and feel very comfortable both on and off the bike. The inner lining is nice and soft, and the shape is spot on for my feet. My only criticism is that the soles are a little slippery on certain surfaces.
One of my favourite things about these boots is the Velcro and buckles combination for fastening. It’s perfect for getting the boots on and off quickly, with minimum fuss.
There are protectors on the shin and ankle, as well as reinforced areas in the heel and the toes. The boots don’t come with any mention of CE-approval, but even so, they feel sturdy and substantial, so I’m quite happy to trust them to protect my feet in case I need them to.
There’s a gear shift pad on both boots, funky Sidi logos and a reflective panel around the back of the ankle.
Overall, these are good quality boots that keep your feet dry, warm and safe.