Nike Poobahs are again! Effectively, not likely, however the pastel colors and distinguished ankle strap of the Sidi Nix jogged my memory of my first, barely garish MTB SPD footwear. The Nix are a part of Sidi’s complete vary of winter highway, gravel and MTB footwear and are billed as “A efficiency highway shoe primed for chilly climate”, though they’re clearly extra of a boot.
The choice whether or not or to not make the leap and purchase a pair of devoted winter biking footwear is one which a whole lot of dedicated riders face in some unspecified time in the future – additional heat, safety and luxury paired with much less faff than overshoes makes them a sexy proposition if you happen to spend a whole lot of time using in chilly and moist circumstances. Moreover, you received’t be getting your shiny summer season footwear dirty and you’ll measurement up the winter boots to permit for good thick socks. Though there generally is a vital value concerned, that is offset by the lowered put on in your summer season footwear.
Snow? No drawback for the Sidi Nix
(Picture credit score: Tim Russon)
Sometimes, winter biking footwear can have a higher-cut ankle, waterproof membrane and a few type of insulation, together with a roomier match and barely much less stiff sole than a summer season race shoe. It’s exhausting work preserving ft heat on chilly days; they’re caught out on the furthest extremity from the physique and are largely motionless whereas using. Heat winter tights and lengthy socks assist to maintain the nice and cozy blood at the next temperature on its lengthy journey to your ft, however the extra insulated your footwear, the higher. The trade-off is weight, bulk and journey ‘really feel’ – massive, padded boots can really feel clumsy and sloppy on the bike.
Development
A passing resemblance to iconic 90s footwear apart, the Nix has a couple of different fascinating issues happening. The Gore-Tex membrane is a part of the brand new wave of waterproof materials necessitated by the ban on PFAS and it options Sidi’s new ‘Millennium’ final, which appears to be about one full European measurement bigger than earlier Sidis.
The three-bolt sole unit is constructed from nylon and glass fibre, with plenty of markings to assist get your cleats properly aligned. The grips are fairly shallow although (the entrance one notably) and usually are not replaceable, which is a giant disgrace on a shoe at this value. Sidi offers it a stiffness score of 9 (out of 12), so a couple of notches down from their full-on race footwear however nonetheless loads stiff sufficient for winter miles.
Stiffness score 9, however non-replaceable heel and toe protectors
(Picture credit score: Tim Russon)
Pretty, cosy fleece from Primaloft strains the boot, and even the insole has a heat, brushed really feel to it. On the surface, potential put on areas get more durable TPU reinforcement, whereas the rest of the higher is constructed from barely lighter, perforated microfibre. Whether or not these perforations are for breathability or aesthetics on a shoe like that is debatable.
The BOA-style dial laces end roughly the place a standard shoe’s laces would finish with the softer ankle cuff secured by a wraparound Velcro strap. This strap runs virtually 360° across the cuff and is just secured by the ‘S’ of Sidi to offer higher heel retention.
Along with this blue possibility, the Nix can also be accessible in an elegant, if ridiculously unpractical, white color and a quite extra wise black with full sizes from 36 to 50.
Dial lace system and Velcro ankle strap safe the Nix nicely
(Picture credit score: Tim Russon)
The journey
First off, as talked about above, these are very totally different size-wise to Sidis of outdated. The dimensions 44 fitted me high quality and is similar as I’d put on in Quoc, Specialised and Giro summer season footwear or Northwave winter boots. Beforehand I’d have wanted a forty five in Sidi, though these are nonetheless on the slim aspect with no extensive match possibility accessible. The thick pile fleece lining makes them really feel cosy too, notably when new, however I do know that this packs down just a little after a couple of rides to depart a bit extra wriggle room. The fleece has the added benefit of being fairly grippy, so it helps to carry your foot securely within the boot which might be a difficulty with roomier, extra comfort-orientated winter footwear.
When sporting summer season footwear with thick overshoes, the additional bulk can typically trigger rubbing on the crank arms and chainstays, rubbing off any anodising or paint and sporting via the overshoes. That is much less of a difficulty with particular winter boots and even much less of an issue with the slim and neat Sidis – there was a good hole between my boot and any metalwork or carbon.
Higher than coaching inside if you happen to gown proper
(Picture credit score: Tim Russon)
The extent of sole stiffness was not discernable when pedalling, or at the very least not with the type of regular winter miles I did in them, however they have been positively much less picket off the bike with the part in entrance of the cleat exhibiting seen flex when underneath strain (resembling when kneeling down). In a winter boot, it is a good factor because the small motion helps preserve your toes hotter.
Sidi’s dial lace system is similar to the ever-present BOA design, with a rotating knob spooling in a skinny Dyneema twine. Releasing it entails pinching the edges of the dial to launch rigidity absolutely, so there isn’t a micro-adjust accessible, however once more, on a comparatively cumbersome winter boot this doesn’t actually matter.
The cuff isn’t notably excessive, and while the ankle strap does an affordable job of securing the heel, it doesn’t solely cosy the opening of the boot as much as the entrance of the ankle. Thus, in very chilly or moist climate I used to be conscious of a little bit of a draughty hole at this level (however I do have fairly skinny ankles). This was notably noticeable when worn with the Castelli Sorpasso RoS Wind tights which may have carried out with a pair extra inches on the backside for my part.
The cuff is not as excessive as some boots, leaving a possible chilly spot
(Picture credit score: Bob)
The mixture of slim match, grippy fleece inside and respectable retention system translated to a really safe really feel when pedalling, whether or not in or out of the saddle. Heel carry was non-existent as was any foot motion, making the Nix really feel a lot racier than they’ve any proper to be. Given this, I can see them being of use in fairly a variety of circumstances quite than simply being reluctantly worn when the mercury dictates. Carrying them doesn’t really feel just like the efficiency compromise that some sloppier winter boots can.
It’s exhausting to remark in any significant method a couple of boot’s heat as there are such a lot of components concerned; match, temperature, different clothes, effort ranges, tiredness and metabolism, however I fortunately wore these for rides of three or 4 hours in low single digit temperatures and I might think about that they’d work for a few hours on beneath zero rides too – anybody wise has stopped for a espresso by then anyway I’m certain!
Worth and conclusion
There may be loads to love concerning the Sidi Nix; the brand new final is extra in step with different manufacturers, the Gore-Tex membrane guarantees dependable safety and the match could be very neat and safe. The heat of the cosy fleece inside is barely compromised by the low cuff although, so guarantee that your bib tights are lengthy sufficient to make up the shortfall. It’s a disgrace that the only real lugs aren’t replaceable.
£300 is up there for a pair of biking footwear, however you might be getting branded Gore-Tex and Primaloft materials together with Sidi efficiency, and if the outlay encourages extra winter miles then it feels like an affordable deal to me.