Sidi

Drako 2 SRS Cycling Shoe - Men's

Few shoes can rival the quality, fit, and durability of Sidi's Italian-made, high-end cycling shoes. Riders enjoy season after season of reliable service due to the quality construction and the ability to replace parts when they wear out. The Drako is one of Sidi's premier mountain bike shoes, and delivers outstanding performance on all fronts. It's been proven at the World Cup level by the likes of Absalon and Schurter, ensuring those of us aspiring to ride at that level have absolute confidence in our equipment. After building up a healthy reputation of XC domination over the years, Sidi went back to the drawing board to give the Drako some updates that improve comfort and performance while shedding a bit of weight in the process. With a sleeker upper strap, a repositioned lower dial, redesigned uppers, a new heel cup, and some striking new colorways, the Drako 2 SRS Mountain Bike Shoe continues Sidi's heritage of making some of the best riding shoes on the market.

The Drako 2 sits right near the top of Sidi's lineup, just below the race-specific Tiger shoe. Both shoes share the same uber-light and uber-stiff SRS Carbon sole, the difference is that the Tiger omits the Soft Instep Closure strap at the top of the foot in favor of dual Tecno-3 dials on the tongue. This design saves some weight and makes it a bit quicker to get the shoes on or off, but the Soft Instep Closure System found on the Drako 2 allows you to adjust the side to side position of the strap for optimal comfort, while providing a bit of extra security for the top of your foot. The new closure strap is a bit sleeker and lighter, and is easily replaceable if damaged or worn out.

Comparing the Drako 2 to its predecessor, the updated version sees the lower Tecno-3 Push Dial Adjuster moved from the side of the shoe to the top of the padded tongue. The idea behind this is to provide a more secure fit and equal tension across the whole foot. Sidi also gave the Drako 2 a new heel cup that keeps your foot in an optimal position without slippage while preventing deformation of the shoe from extreme performance or prolonged pressure. The heel cup is mated to new uppers as well. The new uppers are made of the same sturdy, lightweight, weather-resistant, and eco-friendly Techpro Microfiber as the previous model, but feature a unique textured finish and new matte colors that give the Drako 2 a one-of-a-kind look.

One thing that stays the same is the MTB SRS Carbon Sole. The sole comprises a medium-modulus carbon body supplemented with SRS tread blocks and a cleat wear plate, the latter two of which are replaceable. Using a medium-modulus carbon as the base provides a slight flex along the length of the foot with no compromise to the overall rigidity of the sole, a delicate but necessary balance for top-level off-road shoes.

Sidi's heel retention device also stays the same, using an adjustable, rigid composite band that closes the shoe more securely over your heel to anchor it in place around your Achilles. No matter how much power you're pouring into the pedals, your heel will stay in place inside the shoe, even if you leave a bit of slack in the Tecno-3 lines in order to alleviate pressure across your metatarsals.