I need to get some new shoes. I'll either get the winter boots (Diablo) to see out the rest of the bad weather, or replace my 5 year old Specialized BG Sports, which have been great but my toes are squeezed with thin socks and sealskinz on.
But, if I get the boots do I have to 2 sizes up? In Spesh shoes I'm a 43. In Sidi Genius (road) I'm a 44. But to get wool socks inside the boots do I have to go a size up in the way I would with 'proper' shoes, so that'd be a 45? Or are they warm enough I'd only need a normal sock?
Thanks
Ive got the road versions of the sidi diablo, think they are called SIDI hydro.
I am a 42 in specialized, and no problems of squashed toes. Ive got the 42 sidis and they do squash my toes a bit, wish I had gone up a size.
I do love the road versions, but for the MTB I am actually looking at the shimano MW80 instead. The spesh BG defroster doesn't get good reviews on here either
stopped getting sidi cos the soles would allways fall off.
very happy with my mavic ones.
2nd the soles fall off. £250 dead after about 14 months.
Crap.
GB
>stopped getting sidi cos the soles would allways fall off.
Gawd knows what you're doing to 'em !
After a pair of the orginal Shimanos (8months mebbe ?), bought my first pair of Sidis early 90s - about 6 years of use, then a pair of Spesh (lasted mebbe 18 months), then another pair of Sidis about 2002. I haven't been ndoing as much commuting/rding as I used to but they're still fine, main wear is on the lh heal from commuting (unclipping and stopping).
All the shoe faliures have been the same thing - cracked baseplate around the cleat on the rearmost 'bunnyhop' foot (I'm crap at them, hence the '')
FWIW - in all the 'what shoe' threads I've seen on various forums, I've never seen anyone complain about soles falling off..mebbe the design/adhesive's changed in recent years ?
If you go the route of just replacing the normal shoes you want to get the 'mega' width fitting. These are a bit wider and are available in the Dominator model. keep your Speccy insoles though as they finish off the Sidi shoes a treat.
Thanks people. All interesting stuff again...2nd jond - I've never read this thing about Sidi soles failing and I've been looking at this a lot to try and decide!
I take size 48 and use size 48 and wear with sealskins and merino inner sock in winter and fit although a bit tight is fine, shoe i have has srs and although sole is coming awa in parts it is stilol stuck on and if i wasnt so tight i would have replaced it sooner, this is after 3 years use btw, i have onlt used high end race shoe by spec and sidi for mtb and sidi are better by far imo
early sidis would last for years jond but the last few years i have seen more than a few with bust soles.hence the stopping buying em thing.
Curious.
Just as well I've got a(n unworn) backup pair I bought about 4 years ago off this very boutique..err..forum !
Mine lasted a season (of riding and racing pretty much every week) plus a bit of the next season.
I have a 6-year old pair of Shimano M300s and a 3-year old pair of Spesh S-Works shoes that, after the same amount of use (and now even more use!!!), are still perfectly useable.
I've now got a pair of the heat-moldable Shimanos - they're superb. Plus, being Shimano, they will last forever.
GB
>Plus, being Shimano, they will last forever.
..though it wasn't always the case (see above)..
So what is the final word on Sidi Diablos vs Shimano MW80's vs Specialized BG defrosters?
Can't speak for the other shoes, but I had a pair of Defrosters, I didn't think much of them and sold them.
They felt cold no matter what socks I wore - maybe it was me, but I didn't like them.
Thanks Denis, I keep hearing that, how did they fair waterproofwise? I think I have ruled them out now though.
Why don't you go to LBS and try them on first, it saves you alot of worrying and bother and if you find a size thats good but slightly overpriced compared to the internet, ask them to price match and if they do its a win-win situation.
Defroster wasn't particularly water proof either - in reality little better than a "summer" riding shoe.
The Shimano MT90's were much better, but heavier, warmer and drier, but eventually the water would come over the top.
I liked the MT90's, but they were physically big, and you could notice the extra weight.
After a bit of a lay off, and still not actually riding yet (physio work needed), I'm going back to Sidi Dominators all year round, with thick socks for winter.
There is no perfect answer for riding in the winter really, just different options.
I'm going back to Sidi Dominators all year round, with thick socks for winter.
Works for me.
I've done 5000+ miles off and on road in my Dominators and they're still going strong. Will be getting a new pair when they do finally give up the ghost (though I suspect that might be a while)
goriri
Interested to know if you actually went for the Diablos?
I am now considering them as the shimano's are impossible to get hold of, and seem to have "sizing issues" I know the sidis fit me, but they are too damn expensive!!!
I have the defrosters and initially was pretty unhappy with them. However, I now wear them with thin merino wool socks rather than the sealskins/thick socks I used before. I think the trick (and I am sure this is true of other winter shoes) is to allow some air into the boot. This is what keeps your feet warm. When my toes were packed in tight they were freezing. Worked really well on the 1ft+ of snow on the North Downs recently.
If its pouring with rain, the water runs down your legs and stays in the boots. They are absolutely hopeless than - but I also suspect most shoes would be too.
Thanks James, I didnt really want to hear that as the deforsters were all but ruled out!!!
Now its an open field again between these 3.
Sidi Diablos
(Have the road version and love them, but could do with the ankle strap being tighter, considering modifying them myself to shorten it!! Also a bit peeved that for a £200 pair of boots the dont have replaceable soles like the other high end sidis)
Spesh Defrosters
(I have spesh BG summer shoes, really comfy. so I know they will fit, defrosters not had great reviews overall though)
Shimano MW80's (good reviews, but have sizing issues and would need to try on 1st)
Think I am going to wait until the summer until i can actually try some on. Will have to put up with wet feet for a while!!
Sorry 😉 About 10 people at WDMBC have the defroster (largely as a result of 25% club discount) and most, if not all, are happy with it as a winter boot. I've certainly heard no complaints.
The cheap 'make do' option would be to use an mtb overshoe.
there is a newer version of the defroster for this winter. reportedly they have taken on the critiscism from last years and made the mk2.
have heard much more positive things about them this winter.
i like my northwave boots.
there is a newer version of the defroster for this winter
Do you mean winter 09/10 or 10/11?
Northwave Celcius. Mine are now in their 3rd winter, and are spot on.
Sidis are overpriced for what they are, I had a pair about 6 years ago, very comfy off the bike, but horrendous on, flexy, gave me cramp, hot spots etc. Very mediocre shoes. Spesh S-Works all the way. Although I'd probably buy Pro Carbons if I was getting some now.
