For a boot with “High” in its name, the Sidi ARX HIgh WP isn’t particularly lofty, reaching just above the ankle, and only an inch or so higher than the standard ARX casual boots.
They come in two colour options: black with a tan sole and laces, or a rather fetching reddish brown that Sidi calls Cinnamon with an off-white sole and laces. Both colourways are very “grown-up” and understated, with an easygoing casual style that pairs well with jeans or chinos and won’t look out of place in the office or around town.
Behind the subdued exterior the ARX High boots cram in a few techie features: discreet reflective details on the heel and laces provide extra visibility when on the bike and don’t detract from the overall street-smart aesthetic, reinforced gearchange areas protect feet and keep the boots looking good, and the impact protectors fitted in the toes and heels are nice flexible items from British armour specialists D3O, which should help in an incident (thankfully, I didn’t get the chance to put this aspect of performance to the test).
When off the bike, a grippy Vibram sole manages to be longitudinally flexible to make comfortable walking a breeze whilst also being laterally stiff (thanks to Sidi’s proprietory Foretex technology) to reduce the twisting motion injury that can often happen when riders take a tumble. Inside, the boots have a perforated breathable mesh liner which keeps feet from getting clammy or sweaty whatever the situation.
The ARX boots have two main roles: to provide protection from injury while being used as a biking boot, and to be comfortable and street-friendly when being used off the bike. They fulfil the brief more than capably – I’ve been using them every day to complete the 30 minute commute to BDN Towers and then for all-day wear in the office, and find the synthetic leather to be soft and supple enough to provide plenty of ‘feel’ of the controls while riding, and they don’t cause any rubbing or soreness even on longer rides. I had to perform a static test of waterproofness, as it has been one of the driest spring periods in decades with no rain to speak of for weeks, but during a 10 minute dunking in a paddling pool they kept my socks dry, so seem well up to the job. During the day, the ARX are completely forgettable, which is a good thing. Whether tucked under the desk, wearing them for a walk to the shops, or grabbing a post-work pint, they just feel like regular high-top smart casual boots.
Obviously the ARX High WP don’t offer ultimate levels of protection, but Sidi has a range of sports boots to provide that. Nor do they have the level of weather protection required for long distance touring, but, Sidi also has boots for those occasions. Instead, I found that the ARX High WPs make an ideal everyday boot for the urban leisure or commuting rider, with enough performance, protection and good looks to fit into most environments. SRP is £199.99.
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