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FALL 2018 ISSUE 02 / VOL . 03
graded on a curve
PRODUCT REVIEWS
PHOTO BY KEVIN WING
Sidi Gavia Gore-Tex Boots
I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO POUR RAIN — and I mean pour — days before I headed to Spain for a press launch . It seemed like a great opportunity to test some waterproof boots … but I ’ ll admit it , I still stacked the deck in my favor . Riding on twisty , unfamiliar roads in high winds and sheets of rain would require my full attention , and I didn ’ t want a wardrobe malfunction — i . e ., waterproof boots that turn out not to be — to distract me . So I grabbed my Sidi Lady Gavia Gore-Tex boots .
The Gavia is a mid-height touring boot that ’ s the entry point to Sidi ’ s Gore-Tex range . The upper is constructed of Full-Grain Microfiber , a leather-like material that requires none of the upkeep of the real thing . Besides a full Gore- Tex membrane , which reaches all the way to the top of the entry zipper ( about 1.5 to 2 inches below the boot top ), the upper is also lined with a Teflon mesh that doesn ’ t completely absorb water and sweat , allowing the boot to dry quickly and preventing mold .
The Gavia also incorporates the features one expects from a good touring boot : a hook-and-loop closure over the top of the zipper that ’ s actually large enough to be useful , external hard ankle protection , internal heel , ankle and toe protection , removable insoles lined with Cambrelle , which helps the foot slide in and out easily , a non-slip rubber sole , toe shifter pads , reflective panels on the rear and double stitching throughout . Fit and finish are top-notch . One interesting feature we noticed is the inclusion of a small elastic panel right next to the zipper . It ’ s designed to allow the boot to flex over one ’ s anklebone when zipping up , but neither I nor Senior Editor Drevenstedt ( who has the men ’ s