Gaerne Carbon G.Stilo+ SPD-SL Road Shoes 2017

The Gaerne Carbon G .Stilo Spd-SL Road Shoes 2017 are a fantastic pair of high-performance road shoes. They keep the best elements of the previous model and add to them, with more on-the-fly adjustment and improved ventilation.

There must be something in the water in Maser in the north of Italy that breeds high-end shoe makers. Both Sidi and Gaerne are based in the small town, with their factories being within 1km of each other. Both also outfit some of the world's top professionals, with Sidi providing shoes for Sky's multiple Tour de France champion Chris Froome and these Gaerne Carbon G.Stilo kicks on the feet of Lotto-Soudal sprinter Andre Greipel.

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The G.Stilo's uppers are made from a thin micro fibre material which has a lattice design for vents throughout the front of the shoe, including on the tongue. This, combined with smaller vents on the bottom of the shoe and a larger vent in front of the heel cup means that there is impressive air flow through the shoes, which helps to keep the heat down when riding.

Closure is taken care of with two Boa IP1 dial systems, which tighten the kevlar reinforced wires on the shoes. Unlike the previous model, these do not have a velcro strap towards the front of the shoe, which means there is more adjustability on the fly through the multi-directional Boa dials.

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The system is designed to create equal pressure on both sides of the shoe to make it more comfortable. It seems to work well and these are very comfortable shoes. This is helped partly by a simple piece of velcro on one side of the tongue which keeps the tongue in the same place throughout. That seems like such a basic touch, but one that honestly makes a big difference to comfort.

The shoes have a nice supple quality at the back of the heel which stops unwanted rubbing on the achilles and there is a strong carbon heel cap which creates not only support but also helps with power transfer.

The shoes use a similar (may even be the same) sole as the previous model. It has a really low stack height and supreme stiffness, which made a difference to the power I could put through the pedals. I found that I beat a few of my PRs on some of my most frequently used climbs because they really do allow a considerable amount of power to go through the pedals.

The sole also has a front buffer and heel protector. The front buffer is not replaceable, but the heel protectors are. Given that wear on the rear is guaranteed to be more than the front, this seems like a relatively good idea. The shoes are also available with a sole that has four threaded holes for Speedplay cleats to mount without an adapter.

Gaerne have used their Efficient Pedaling System (EPS) on these shoes, which is designed to keep your feet in the most efficient pedalling position. I am not totally sure what that position is, so can't judge whether that's the case. However, I can say that they certainly keep your feet secure and they have an excellent fit. This is due to both a dual-thickness insole and layup on the full carbon sole.

The shoes weigh 590g for a pair of size 43s, a decent weight when you consider the tech that's gone into them. They are around 30g more than the similarly priced Fizik R1Bs, 15g heavier than a pair of Sidi Shots, and 14g more than a pair of Giro Techlaces. You can certainly get shoes that are lighter, but few will offer the same all-round performance.

With an RRP of £319.99 the G.Stilo's are not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. However, these are top of the range shoes and if you want the best you need to pay for it. Although they are expensive, if you have the money and are looking for top-of-the-range shoes, they should certainly be under consideration.

Overall the Gaerne Carbon G .Stilo Spd-SL Road Shoes are top of the line shoes with top of the line performance but a top of the line price.

Verdict

Top level shoes with fantastic fit and rigidity, but a top level price tag