Sidi T-5 Air triathlon bike shoe review: “classy and understated”
Premium looks, smart features and a few surprises, here’s how the Sidi T-5 Air really performs when put to the test.
220 Triathlon Verdict
Solid shoe with stealthy looks and a robust build. Breathable and the velcro strap is unobtrusive. Score: 80%
Pros
- For all triathlon distances
- Fits well and is secure
- Quick-drying upper
Cons
- Heel loop could be bigger
- Optimised for narrower feet
The T-5 Air is Sidi’s less premium triathlon bike shoe (Sidi doesn’t really do entry-level) with a highly perforated upper, two Velcro straps for closure, and a nylon/carbon composite blend sole.
They come in numerous colourways, including the all-black version I’m reviewing here, that I’m personally fond of. I want my Italian-made Sidi shoes to be classy and understated, and these certainly fit the bill, while promising plenty of modern technical tri-specific features too.
How we test bike shoes
Each bike shoe we review gets put through the same level of testing, including numerous rides of varying distances over the period of several weeks at a minimum. This includes long, endurance rides plus faster tempo efforts or interval sessions. We test against a range of criteria including power transfer, comfort, breathability, support, stability, ride feel and value. For more details, see how we rate and test products.
Features and fit
Sidi makes plenty of mentions of its ‘Ultimade Politex upper’ in the T-5 Air’s product description, that it says will absorb water without losing its shape.
The T-5 Air comes with Sidi’s signature reinforced heel cup, said to stabilise the back of your foot to reduce heel slip and increase power transfer, and there’s a chunky strap on the back. The anti-slip heel pad to make the shoes slightly easier to walk in is also replaceable.
Setting them up out of the box, I found it slightly irritating that there was no diagram on the sole to aid with setting up cleats, something I’ve seen on plenty of budget triathlon bike shoes – this won’t be a dealbreaker for most people, but it’s a handy touch that’s missing here.
Sidi shoes do have a reputation for being narrower than most cycling shoes, and indeed, the T-5 Air did feel narrower than several other tri shoes I’ve reviewed recently. Not ridiculously narrow, and they worked for me – but if you usually require wide fit cycling shoes, you probably won’t get on with these.
Sidi on test
I found the shoes comfortable enough during my test rides, without being completely blown away. The footbed is a nice shape and I’d be happy wearing them for longer rides, so I think they would work for all triathlon distances.
The double Velcro straps that close in opposite directions provide enough closure and tension, but not as much as shoes with BOA dials.
Still, the strap is compact enough that it won’t catch on your crank arms, and I didn’t feel like the shoe was loose or not secure in any places. The pressure was spread evenly across the top of my foot.
The bottom line
There’s only one port on the sole to drain water, where the cleats are, but combined with that quick-drying upper this should be enough to get rid of most moisture from your swim leg.
The heel loop, while very well affixed to the shoe, isn’t particularly easy to grab because it’s a smaller loop than you get on most other tri shoes. I still managed to get them on and off in a transition test, but ideally, I’d prefer it to be a little bigger.
If you like lots of breathability on the upper of your tri bike shoe and don’t have super wide feet, the T-5 Air would be a very good choice for any triathlon distance.
| Price | $299.99/£209 |
| Sizing | EU38-50 unisex |
| Sole | Carbon composite |
| Features | Velcro strap, heel loop, carbon/nytron sole, heel stabiliser, compatible with three-bolt SPD-SL and Look |
| Colours | Black, grey-white-yellow, grey-white-coral |
Jack Sexty
Editor at road.cc 
