In the world of cycling shoes, mountain bike shoes are typically boxier, stronger shoes built to withstand mud, rocks and roots. Because mountain bikers need to be able to hike over obstacles, in the event of a crash or a tough bit of trail, the best shoes combine a rigid sole with tread that grips well. Both Diadora and Sidi are well-known companies with similar visions that produce high quality products. Their top mountain biking shoes have some congruencies and differences, from fit to price range.
Diadora
Diadora is perhaps more well-known for their soccer shoes, but they have also been outfitting cyclists, quickly utilizing their technological research to produce top-quality cycling shoes. As the first athlete to wear Diadora cycling shoes, Giovanni Battaglin won the Vuelta and the Tour of Italy in 1981. Providing both road and mountain biking shoes, Diadora has a full range of options, from high-performance racing to everyday riding.
X-Trail Evo
One of Diadora's latest offerings in their X-Trail Evo line for men and women, which even features a shoe with a rigid carbon spine. The Carbon Evo is a technological advancement, providing an incredibly stiff, strong shoe to further your pedal stroke. It has a larger toe box for a roomier fit, stretch resistant medial and lateral support cage, three velcro closures with a rachet strap for better adjustment and an EVA removable insole. The bottom of the shoe is actually rubber, which makes this brand stand-out when compared to the plastic bottomed shoes of competitors. Rubber is better for gripping slippery rocks and roots while you are out on the trail. The X-Trail Evo shares all the qualities of its carbon sibling, with a fiberglass rather than a carbon spine; this difference makes it a slightly cheaper option.
Sidi
The Sidi company was founded in 1960 by Dino Signori, a competitive cyclist. While the company specialized in mountaineering footwear in the beginning, Signori's love for cycling filtered into his work, soon producing innovative cycling shoes. The company is headquartered in a small Italian village called Master, near the historic Bassano de Grappa climb in the Italian Alps.
Dragon 2
Sidi's top mountain bike shoe is the Dragon 2, which features a slick array of technological advancements. It has a carbon sole for rigid performance with a grippy, replaceable tread bottom. You get a toe guard to protect your digits, a heel adjustment system to prevent your heels from slipping and decreasing your performance, a patented buckle system with ratchet straps and a Lorica microfiber upper for breathability. If you lack the cash for the Dragon 2, the Spider is another high-quality option, although more for the cross country or cyclocross competitor. It lacks the carbon sole, does not feature grippy tread and only has the front closure adjustment system, but maintains Sidi's high standards.
X-Trail Evo Review
Bikeradar.com pros reviewed the Diadora X-Trail Evo shoes, stating that their biggest plus was the ultra-grippy bottom. Compared to other shoes with plastic bottoms, the pros found the Evo's bottom to be almost soft, allowing for better tread when you are scrambling over rocks and roots. They found the footbed to be instantly comfortable, while the soft upper held the foot securely. They did find the high cut of the shoe to cut into the ankle slightly when walking, and the Velcro closures to be slightly long. Overall, though, they found this to be a high-quality shoe.
Dragon 2 Review
Bikeradar.com pros also reviewed the Dragon 2 shoes from Sidi, stating they "are possibly the best" they ever used. They loved the fit, thanks to the comfortable upper, Velcro enclosures, ratchet strap and heel adjustment system; they state that the fit is impeccable. The sole was incredibly stiff, increasing performance, yet the bottom was grippy enough to traverse banks on the trail. The replaceable tread bottom was also a plus for the pros, although they did have some trouble with it staying in place. Perhaps the only real con to this shoe is its price; at almost twice the cost of the X-Trail Evo, it may not be a viable option for you. However, as this review states, if you have the money, you will not be disappointed.
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