Sidi Wire Vent Carbon Review

Wire 2 Carbon Air vs. Wire Vent Carbon

Sidi's latest version of the Wire Carbon shoe is the Wire 2 Carbon Air. This shoe features more perforations for venting but is in many ways similar to the version we tested, previously the Wire Vent Carbon. Compare the shoes below; the latest Wire 2 Carbon Air is shown first.

We're linking to the new shoe as it is available from more online retailers than the now-discontinued Wire Vent Carbon, but be aware that the review from here on refers to the older model.

Hands-On Review of the Wire Vent Carbon

After a few hundred miles at different intensities and all sorts of weather, we knew these would be one of the top shoes in our lineup, and it's no surprise they were in a dead-even heat with this year's Editors' Choice Award winner, the Fi'zi:k Infinito R1. The pros ride them for a reason, and that's because they're intense shoes for intense people. They crushed the rest of the field in most measures, with the notable exception of weight, where they were down near the bottom of our field. Though the weight weenies might not be too impressed with them, you would be hard-pressed to find a serious reason not to dig these. Take a look below to see how we break these down and how they do next to their competitors.

The Sidis consistently score at or near the top of almost every category, just barely beating out the Top Lightweight Racing Pick Shimano S-Phyre. They just barely lost out to the Scott Road RC SLs, which won out on simplicity.

Comfort

This is a pretty hit-or-miss measure for most road shoes. It is challenging to bring together attributes like rigidity, incremental adjustment, durability, and comfort while maintaining a sleek, low-profile design. Sidi did just that, putting in a thick padded heel collar (so far as cycling shoe padding goes) and a smooth, form-fitting TECHPRO MICROFIBER upper that hugs the foot and prevents slippage.

These pro racing shoes offer enough cushion for leisurely touring, which places it alongside the nice touring-friendly Giro New Republics, with their plush padding and smooth felt-like liner. But there are a couple of pairs that do notably better in this measure, all of them award winners. The Best Bang for the Buck winning Louis Garneau Course Air Lite II used generous padding and a flexible, snug upper to deliver a super comfortable fit. The S-Phyre also features a good deal of padding and a smooth sockliner, but their secret is the flexible, form-fitting burrito fold-over that creates a nicer close over the top of the foot and reduces rubbing and hot spots.

We think most riders will find what they need in these, but if top comfort in a premium shoe is your aim, we suggest taking a look at the more affordable Louis Garneaus or the competing Shimanos.

Weight

These kicks aren't super feathery like some of the others. They use a full carbon outsole, tough Microfiber Techpro for the upper, and a good deal of padding and other reinforcement to ensure longevity. That puts these near the bottom of the weight game at 22.1 ounces in men's 44.

Nearly all of the lighter models also picked up an award. The Scotts came in at a crazy 18.4 ounces, largely owing to the use of super light materials like Carbitex and HMX carbon to reduce the amount of material going into the shoe without compromising strength. The Louis Garneau Course Air Lite IIs used a super light carbon sole and just enough microfiber in the upper to keep the shoe strong, but maintains just 18.7 ounces.

It's worth noting that lighter isn't always better. The 18.8 ounce Giro Empire ACC is notably stripped down compared to the premium shoes. Their lining is a bit less welcoming, their lacing doesn't offer anything near the others' adjustability, and their flexible upper doesn't offer the support or power transfer.

Next down the line are the Shimano RC9s at 19 ounces in a men's 45. These offer comparable performance to the premium Italian mainstays but don't have quite the level of power transfer, adjustability, or durability. We think that weight alone shouldn't determine whether or not to go with the Sidis, but if you're dead-set on being a weight weenie, definitely go with the Scotts. If you're after something more comfortable, look at the Shimanos. If you want a premium shoe, but are looking to save a few bucks, look at the LG Course Air Lite IIs.

Power Transfer

This measure is where the Italian shoes shine. They have unmatched sturdiness and rigidity, buoyed by their great adjustability, which allows riders to dial in and tweak different aspects of the shoe to get a fit that's more customized to your foot and riding form. The tough Techpro Microfiber upper material and external heel cup minimize wasted movement and direct force directly into your pedal. And of course, their thick carbon fiber outsole transfers downward energy directly into the cleat platform.

They dominated this measure. There are very few alternatives that can even approach their power transfer. The one that does is the Scott Road RC SL, which uses an excellent HMX carbon sole with a stiff Carbitex upper that helps direct all output into the pedal. If you're looking for a simpler shoe with a super stiff upper, consider the Scotts.

If you are looking for a little more comfort, a little less weight, and maybe just a more straightforward, less expensive shoe that will still perform well, we suggest looking at the Shimano S-Phyre RC9s, which came in just behind. They also feature an excellent carbon sole and a snug fit that reduces energy waste, helping you transfer more of your hard work into brag-worthy propulsion.

Adjustability

With five points of adjustment, these bad boys dominate the adjustment game. To bring uniform closure to the top of the foot and reduce heel lift, they use their Soft Instep 3 strap anchored by a Tecno 3 buckle. The buckles have a lever that opens to twist and tighten and closes to keep a low profile when riding. They use a quick release to loosen or two side levers to loosen incrementally. There is a second Tecno 3 buckle and cable closure along the top of the foot with optional cable anchors across the toes. To top it off, they use a heel retention device that can be tightened or loosened to suit your form.

The usual suspects come in near the top of the measure here. The Sidis take the top, and just behind are the Scotts and Shimano S-Phyres alongside one another. What makes these unique is how responsive their uppers are to adjustment, combined with the ease of adjusting them out on the road. Both use bi-directional IP1 Boa dials, which make it super easy to micro-adjust and quickly release. The Scotts and Shimanos use a second Boa dial that's anchored to the toe the same way that the Sidis anchor their toe to the midfoot Tecno 3 buckle. This means that there's a little less customization of the toe box alone in the two premium shoes compared to the entry shoe. The premium Italian shoes are the top shelf here. If you're after sheer simplicity, the Scotts might be an easier shoe. The Sidis tend to have a child-proof feel to their gadgets.

Durability

One of the great aspects to this model is the replaceability of parts, including the Tecno 3 buckles, Soft Instep 3 strap, and heel and toe pads, greatly increasing longevity, especially of the upper and outsole. The outsole itself is a tough synthetic microfiber, Techpro, bolstered by a reinforced toe and a hard external heel cup. The thick full carbon outsole adds more weight than other models, but it pays off in added durability.

They come out on top of this measure alongside the Scotts. The Scotts earn their spot by removing most seams, covering vulnerable spots, and using strong carbon-based fabric in the upper and a premium carbon sole.

Their nearest competitors shed light on why they're such premium shoes. The Mavic Cosmic has a tough carbon-framed upper and carbon sole but includes large vents that leave the sole vulnerable to punctures by sharp stones and gravel. They also sacrificed both comfort and adjustability by using so much robust, rigid carbon fiber in their upper.

The Lakes came in alongside the Cosmic, using a thick full carbon sole and full-grain leather upper, widely considered to be the most durable type of leather. However, it uses mesh vents along the toes of the upper, exposing it to the risk of tears before the fully-enclosed Sidis. Furthermore, neither of the two lesser competitors use replaceable toe pads on their outsole, while the Italian shoes do. Surprisingly, the Shimanos barely even have a toe pad, much less a replaceable one. It's a real toss-up between the Sidis and Scotts. Riders looking for a simpler, lighter, or stiffer shoe might be more interested in the Scotts. Riders looking for a more comfortable or adjustable shoe might be interested in the Sidis.

Best Applications

These are best suited for traditional road racing or anything high intensity like a crit or an A+, drop everyone group ride with intense sprints and those weird segments where you get pushed up to the front of a paceline doing 35+ on a flat for no real reason.

Value

You would be hard-pressed to find a better pro-level shoe. They go for a pro price, but you are getting a top-shelf shoe that will crush for 5 or 10 years. If you're a runner, you'll easily run through that cash in a few seasons and have a fraction of the performance and consistency across seasons.

Conclusion

The toughest part of wearing these racers was the idea of parting with them, but better to have loved and lost than…you know the rest. It's true that they are not the cheapest shoes out there and that automatically puts them out of reach for a lot of riders and rational people, but as we mentioned in the value section, these will last a really long time if you take care of them and they will serve you as well in year 10 as they did in year 1. Other competitors might offer more comfort, like the Fi'zi:ks, or less weight, like the Scotts, which can be solved with a nicer sock and one less taco or beer a week, respectively. But nothing else can touch these on power transfer and longevity, not to mention a solid showing in the rest of the categories. If your budget and skill level allow it, we recommend you give these a spin.