Deep Dive: Sidi's winter boots 2025

These days we are spoilt for choice when it comes to cycling clothing and equipment. With a smorgasbord of colours, fits and recommended riding conditions, there is generally an outfit to suit any given cycling situation.

Where things get a little convoluted is when you meet overlapping features and truly adverse weather conditions. For instance, there’s the age-old argument regarding overshoes versus cycling boots. Do I just wrap my pearly white race slippers in a bit of waterproof fabric, or do I choose a bespoke, made-for-the-situation boot that can handle any conditions our sunny isles can drum up?

In this article, we’re going to take a deep dive into the warming embrace of Sidi’s winter cycling boots range to find out.

On vs. offroad shoes

For this range of ankle protecting boots, we first divide the models into two fairly distinct categories; two-bolt cleat mounting and three-bolt cleat mounting. For those just joining the cycling fraternity, an easy way of understanding what that means is that the two-bolt cleats are for SPD style pedals – often two-sided pedals with a compact design, great for shifting mud and likely used in off-road conditions (MTB, gravel, bikepacking, commuting etc.). Meanwhile, the three bolt cleats are almost exclusively for road-going pedals and are single sided for road racing, triathlon, time trials etc.

So, with those two categories, you see two divergent design tropes: off-road shoes are rugged, with grippy soles for trudging through mud, whilst the road shoes are more aerodynamically tuned and feather-like in weight.

Comfort without compromise

Thus, we come to the boots themselves, starting with the road racing, three-bolt Nix.

The Nix cycling boots are a glorious marriage of racing performance with weatherproofing comfort. They feature Sidi’s new Millennium Fit (with a wider and roomier toe box than previous iterations of shoe fits from Sidi) and an R2CC Carbon Composite sole, for power transfer that doesn’t sacrifice comfort.

It includes the venerable Tecno 3 tensioning dials, with nigh-on-indestructible Dyneema cables, and most importantly for any winter boot, a PFAS-free Gore-Tex ePE upper membrane, sandwiched in a waterproof TPU outer material and lined with a generous helping of PrimaLoft insulation. This is fluffy slippers in front of a log fire warmth, mixed with a high collar to stop those pesky puddles from ruining that weekend blast down country lanes.

In the lead-up to winter, as the leaves turn and the roads become slick with grime, the Nix is the perfect choice to grab for your café ride. Stylish looks keep your winter outfit looking sharp and the practicalities of the boot mean no need to go through the rigmarole of struggling to fit overshoes over summer kicks.

A foul weather phenomenon

Continuing the theme of road boots, the road-going Nubes boots offer the same R2CC carbon sole as the Nix boots, giving consistent comfort and pedalling performance. The upper body of this stealthy number is designed for fully encasing your feet, totally weatherproofing them against the elements.

Forgoing the PrimaLoft insulation in lieu of a higher collar, a YKK waterproof zip and bright reflective design elements, this full winter boot is designed for when the weather really hits. When you cannot miss a training ride, the Nubes Road boots are primed for keeping your legs turning in morale-draining conditions. Combine with a Merino sock, like the Castelli Venti Soft Merino Sock, for deep winter temperature protection, and you have a bad weather combo to rival an arctic explorer’s getup!

Made for a mud-fest

As a handy segue, the Nubes boots also come in a two-bolt cleat version, the Nubes MTB, shifting us into the muddier side of riding through autumnal, leaf strewn trails and frozen winter wonderlands.

Now envisage the Nubes road boot but replace the carbon composite sole with a nylon carbon composite X2NC sole with extra grippy tread. Stomping through deep mud has never been so satisfying on a ride!

This nylon carbon sole is more flexible than its road-focused sibling, stacking up as a five out of 12 on Sidi’s stiffness index, whereas the Nubes Road is a seven. What does this mean? Well, minus two literally, but figuratively, off the bike, these boots are far more comfortable for those hike-a-bike sections, where you’re slinging bikes over stiles and easily soaking up the normal rigors of cycling offroad.

The upper body of the boot remains the same as in the Nubes Road, featuring matching aesthetics for a clean (and easily cleaned) finish and those reflective details make the boots pop in dim and darkening conditions – perfect for extra visibility on your commute or when joining road sections on your epic weekend jaunt through deep, murky woods.

Riding through the depths of winter

Much like the Nix, the next MTB boot is packed with tech. PrimaLoft insulation insulates from the deepest of winters, the waterproof TPU outer material, joined with a waterproof YKK zip, keeps freezing water from tarnishing your ride and the X2NC nylon carbon sole (the same as in the Nubes MTB) gives you drive performance without compromising on armchair-like comfort.

This is the Algor. The name is derived from the Latin word algōris, meaning cold, coldness or a chilliness. This is apt for a boot that pulls your feet into its soft, warm embrace, eschewing the frigid world outside.

The ultimate in warm winter trail wear, the Algor combats cold conditions effortlessly, and its exceptional closure mechanisms (the YKK waterproof zip, the new Quicklace system and the Velcro ankle strap) contain your feet snugly, securely fastening around your treasured lower digits.

Add a mid-weight sock, like the Sportful Supergiara Socks, and you have cushioned, race-level performance wrapped in a warm and wonderous cocoon that’s perfect for deep winter excursions and commuting to work all year round.

Competing come rain or snow

Upping the ante, and swapping PrimaLoft insulation for a water-resistant Gore-Tex ePE membrane and luxuriously soft inner Gore-Tex fleece, the Glacies MTB boots are an XC racers’ deep winter best friend.

Sharing the same X2NC sole and Dyneema-laced Quicklace system as the Algor, the Glacies MTB boot sits lower on your leg than the Algor, allowing for a little more flexibility above the ankle, especially important if you find yourself in a racing situation this winter!

The sole tread will aid you in slippery conditions, biting deep into mud and snow alike, perfect for charging up those pesky humps mid-race when traction is lost on the bike and hike-a-bike is the only option for hitting the top spot.

High tech winter racer

Charging into the upper echelon of XC winter racing boots and the last in our platter of podiatric pedalling performers is the Elite XC level Hiemx.

With its X2NC sole cranked up to seven, offering you unparallelled grip and stability, these high-tech racers are the ideal choice for pushing hard in on your winter XC jaunts.

Featuring tech returning staples, the Gore-Tex ePE membrane in the upper construction, the silky soft and thermally regulating Gore-Tex fleece inner layer, this boot also features resistant Ripstop overlay in strategic locations. It protects the boot from errant thorn tears and the Firmor lateral support ensures greater foot stability during gnarly winter rides.

The closure mechanism has an upgrade over the Glacies too, featuring Sidi’s venerable Tecno dial to make finding the perfect fit a breeze. Add some lightly cushioned socks, like the Castelli Espresso 18 Socks, and have yourself a very merry cycle.

Giving winter the boot

There you have it, six stunning soggy-weather shoes, primed for everything this autumn, winter and spring can possibly throw at you. When the frost starts nipping at your toes, choose a pair of Sidi cycling boots, rather than tired overshoes.