Gaerne Carbon G.Stilo shoes

Coming in at £280 Gaerne's Carbon G.Stilo road shoes are certainly at the pricey end of the scale, but I would argue that their performance and quality justifies their cost.

The most important aspect of these shoes is their weight compared to stiffness and fit. At 566g for the pair, they are comparable to others in this price range, but could perhaps be lighter if you compare to some.

This is however not telling the entire story of the shoes, which offer far more than just weight advantage. For shoes that are this light, they have a phenomenal level of stiffness in the soles. This comes from the impressive carbon makeup that manages to maintain strength without making them too thick, so there is good feedback through the pedals, but without allowing you to feel too much road buzz.

The twin Boa dial closure is another impressive aspect of the design, supplemented by a single velcro strap at the toe. The twin Boa system is one of the best I have used, because it is so simple to operate and allows for big variation in tension without affecting the fit. I could tighten them so much that they cut of the circulation or leave them relatively loose, without ever feeling that they had excessive movement.

The Boa system provides really find tension adjustability though its dials, which pull nylon-coated steel cables. To tighten or loosen the cables, you simply turn the dials clockwise or counterclockwise. In order to take the shoes off, you pull the dials upwards to release the tension completely. The simplicity of adjustment without losing all tension meant that I even managed to change the tension of the shoes while freewheeling, which I haven't been able to do with any other shoes before.

Also saving weight and maintaining stiffness, is the full carbon heel cup. I put some huge loads through the shoes on steep climbs and sprints and I did not find significant flex at all, regardless of what I threw at them.

The uppers are supple and flexible, so the fit is comfortable around your feet. One of the few drawbacks of the shoes is that unlike many others in this price range, they do not have heat mouldable uppers that allow them to be truly moulded to your feet. The suppleness means that this is not a huge issue, but it would certainly have been nice to have it included.

Within the uppers is an impressive ventilation system. There is a mesh area across the centre at the top of the toes that allows for a really good air flow. This is further increased through the double vents in the bottom of the shoe and the multiple perforations throughout the sides. I was very impressed with this and had no discomfort even after being in the saddle with them for hours, in fact you can really feel the air flowing through them when riding hard.

This breathability combined with the considerable amount of customisation of fit through the Boa system made these some of the most comfortable shoes I have worn. Adding to this is an unconventional tongue that contours to the shoe, so that it sits lower on the outside of the foot compared to the inner. I initially thought that this was a bit of a gimmick to give the shoes a sleeker look, but the reality is that they settle well on the foot and provide a good grounding for a comfortable fit, especially when you can put a considerable amount of tension through the Boa system if required.

At this price, I sometimes worry that the materials have been created to perform, but without taking longevity into account. This is certainly not the case with the Stilos; they are impressive durable and you can replace the heel risers they wear down.

The only thing I didn't like about these shoes was the colour of the samples. Orange and green is certainly not going to be to everybody's taste and could be described as garish. The overall shape of the shoe, is stunning, with sweeping lines and a very Italian style throughout, making the white or black versions genuinely dream shoes. Although I have grown more accustomed to this colour, I would still elect for the more understated options if given a choice.

Overall, I have been very impressed with the Stilos. They manage to bring together very impressive stiffness, sleek design, great ventilation and their strongest feature, the Boa closure. At £280 you would expect to have a dream shoe and although they're not absolutely perfect, a different colour and a heat moulding option would make these contenders for that title.

Verdict

Great lightweight shoes; comfortable, very stiff and with excellent twin-Boa closure