Johnwesley
Well-Known Member
I just got the sidi x3 in today as a more off road boot than the adv2 I currently have. There are some parts that are used on both boots making them more simular than I thought. Make no mistake they are in different class for sure but I wanted to share the information for those who are looking for more protection than the adv2 boot offers.
Fit:
First up I wore the boots around the house for a good while just getting a feel for the boots and then I put one adv2 boot on for comparison. Right off the bat the adv2 feels like house slippers compared to the x3. The adv 2 has always been a comfortable boot for me right out of the box with no tight spots or anything that limited my walking around. The x3 is tight in the heel and ankle area and loosens up after the arch of your foot allowing room for your toes to spread out. For reference my foot measures a 11 b/d by the foot measuring device found in some shoe stores. Age and weight may have pushed that to a solid 11d by now. The toe box area feels very simular in both boots though the x3 TA should feel wider according to what I have read but in size 45 I could tell no difference. I believe as the foam breaks in on the x3 the tightness/ comfort of the boot will improve. One thing that appears to lead to the tight feeling is how the boots are shipped and the ankle area is smashed in some and as I wear them this will begin to form to the foot.
Build:
There are a lot of parts that are the same on the boots that are not apparent just looking at the boots on line. I have some pictures to show the details of that. Fist thing I notice is the hinge on the outside is identical. The plastic is the same mold as are the heel counters. As you can see in the picture the buckles are also the same but I figure most already know that.
As you can see in the above pic even the back of the hinge is the same including the young that goes up into the plastic on the x3 and the micro leather on the adv2. The major difference comes on the inside of the hinge and where you will notice a big advantage in protection for the x3 and my only comfort complaint on the adv2.
You can see here that the inside of the adv2 is not plastic down to the sole but is a leather look piece that flexes, and at times can push into the ankle as you walk, less so if you don’t get the Velcro top tight. On the x3 the plastic of the lower hinge point goes all the way down the foot and over the toe are giving solid protection. This also adds rigidity to the boot making it less comfortable than the x3. It one place you compromise for comfort. Below you can see how the plastic wraps around the toe box adding protection to the fore foot. The x3 TA looks wider around the toe box but that is because of the construction differences in the boots. They both measure about 4 3/8” wide in that area confirming what I felt while wearing the boots.
While we are on the toes something you will notice when wear the x3 is it seems to roll natural when walking and that can be found in the design of the sole. It curves up a bit allowing you to naturally roll the foot forward as you walk. The adv2 does not need this as the sole is so flexible that it walk like a typical casual boot. One interesting thing is my Arait pull on work boot has a stiffer sole and many more miles on them. So from a forefoot flex injury the adv2 is sorely lacking. My daily wear work boots offer more protection there and they are not steel toed. Which is ultimately what lead me to look for more protection.
You can see the curve above and also not the the toe box is taller on the adv2 yet it is easier to shift with because of the flexibility. On boots like the x3 I have always used the welt sole to shift with making that easy.
As you would expect the x3 is a taller boot with more shin protection which also makes it harder to get pants leg over the shin plastic. The x3 has a elastic top and two buckles where the adv2 does not.
Here are a few shot where I tried to show the difference in the shin pads on the boots you can see where the adv2 is just plastic sewed right to the micro leather top and the x3 has a pad that sticks out a bit and will absorb impacts better. Another place where you have protection over convenience.
One area that pics really don’t show well is the thread on the x3 is a large diameter then what is used on the adv2. You can really see that on the sewed on plastic panels. One final thing that I did touch on earlier the x3 is a much stiffer boot over all and will protect the legs much better. Unless you have skinny calves, mine are 17”, don’t expect to get blue jeans over the top of the x3. Unless maybe you wear bel bottoms and boot cut. I have dickens relaxed fit jean and i could not stretch them ove the top of the boot. I love the adv2 for touring and maintained road paved or not, they are super comfy and i can walk all day in them. I have no plans to get rid of them but if I am on unimproved roads or worse then I want the x3 on my foot.
Just as a side note the last off road boots I had were the flex force boots that I ended up selling to an inmate here. These x3 are much lighter than my old flex force and I expect to be more comfortable. The below pic was taken cause my feet were hot and the Montana stream was nice and cool. Thanks for the great service at Atomic-moto i was able to make a good decision. @Brtp4
Let me know if I can help answer any questions
Fit:
First up I wore the boots around the house for a good while just getting a feel for the boots and then I put one adv2 boot on for comparison. Right off the bat the adv2 feels like house slippers compared to the x3. The adv 2 has always been a comfortable boot for me right out of the box with no tight spots or anything that limited my walking around. The x3 is tight in the heel and ankle area and loosens up after the arch of your foot allowing room for your toes to spread out. For reference my foot measures a 11 b/d by the foot measuring device found in some shoe stores. Age and weight may have pushed that to a solid 11d by now. The toe box area feels very simular in both boots though the x3 TA should feel wider according to what I have read but in size 45 I could tell no difference. I believe as the foam breaks in on the x3 the tightness/ comfort of the boot will improve. One thing that appears to lead to the tight feeling is how the boots are shipped and the ankle area is smashed in some and as I wear them this will begin to form to the foot.
Build:
There are a lot of parts that are the same on the boots that are not apparent just looking at the boots on line. I have some pictures to show the details of that. Fist thing I notice is the hinge on the outside is identical. The plastic is the same mold as are the heel counters. As you can see in the picture the buckles are also the same but I figure most already know that.
As you can see in the above pic even the back of the hinge is the same including the young that goes up into the plastic on the x3 and the micro leather on the adv2. The major difference comes on the inside of the hinge and where you will notice a big advantage in protection for the x3 and my only comfort complaint on the adv2.
You can see here that the inside of the adv2 is not plastic down to the sole but is a leather look piece that flexes, and at times can push into the ankle as you walk, less so if you don’t get the Velcro top tight. On the x3 the plastic of the lower hinge point goes all the way down the foot and over the toe are giving solid protection. This also adds rigidity to the boot making it less comfortable than the x3. It one place you compromise for comfort. Below you can see how the plastic wraps around the toe box adding protection to the fore foot. The x3 TA looks wider around the toe box but that is because of the construction differences in the boots. They both measure about 4 3/8” wide in that area confirming what I felt while wearing the boots.
While we are on the toes something you will notice when wear the x3 is it seems to roll natural when walking and that can be found in the design of the sole. It curves up a bit allowing you to naturally roll the foot forward as you walk. The adv2 does not need this as the sole is so flexible that it walk like a typical casual boot. One interesting thing is my Arait pull on work boot has a stiffer sole and many more miles on them. So from a forefoot flex injury the adv2 is sorely lacking. My daily wear work boots offer more protection there and they are not steel toed. Which is ultimately what lead me to look for more protection.
You can see the curve above and also not the the toe box is taller on the adv2 yet it is easier to shift with because of the flexibility. On boots like the x3 I have always used the welt sole to shift with making that easy.
As you would expect the x3 is a taller boot with more shin protection which also makes it harder to get pants leg over the shin plastic. The x3 has a elastic top and two buckles where the adv2 does not.
Here are a few shot where I tried to show the difference in the shin pads on the boots you can see where the adv2 is just plastic sewed right to the micro leather top and the x3 has a pad that sticks out a bit and will absorb impacts better. Another place where you have protection over convenience.
One area that pics really don’t show well is the thread on the x3 is a large diameter then what is used on the adv2. You can really see that on the sewed on plastic panels. One final thing that I did touch on earlier the x3 is a much stiffer boot over all and will protect the legs much better. Unless you have skinny calves, mine are 17”, don’t expect to get blue jeans over the top of the x3. Unless maybe you wear bel bottoms and boot cut. I have dickens relaxed fit jean and i could not stretch them ove the top of the boot. I love the adv2 for touring and maintained road paved or not, they are super comfy and i can walk all day in them. I have no plans to get rid of them but if I am on unimproved roads or worse then I want the x3 on my foot.
Just as a side note the last off road boots I had were the flex force boots that I ended up selling to an inmate here. These x3 are much lighter than my old flex force and I expect to be more comfortable. The below pic was taken cause my feet were hot and the Montana stream was nice and cool. Thanks for the great service at Atomic-moto i was able to make a good decision. @Brtp4
Let me know if I can help answer any questions
So far I am very pleased
