Gaerne G.Stilo+ cycling shoes review

Gaerne’s new top of the range G.Stilo+ cycling shoes are used by the Lotto-Soudal pro team of André Greipel as well as many riders in other World Tour teams.

Founded in 1962, Gaerne is still a family owned and run business, making almost 80,000 pairs of cycling shoes each year. It says that there are 109 components which have to be assembled to make a G.Stilo+ shoe.

At the shoe’s core is Gaerne’s TSS tarsal support system, which Gaerne says helps ensure the foot is well positioned inside the shoe for efficient pedalling. The G.Stilo+ also uses two of Boa’s top IP1 dial closures, each of which tightens a double-crossed steel-kevlar wire. Gaerne and Boa provide a lifetime guarantee on the closure.

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The shoe’s upper is designed to close equally from both sides. This means that there’s a really good, close fit and I found the shoes’ uppers comfortable on long rides, with no pinch points, even when dialled in quite tightly.

The shoe’s tongue is separate from the upper, but held in place on one side by a Velcro strip, so it doesn’t slip around when riding. It’s not as padded as the tongues on some shoes, but the quality closure means that it’s still comfortable.

The upper’s forefoot and tongue are made of laser-perforated synthetic microfibre, with a lattice pattern. This, coupled to the thin material, gives plenty of airflow. If you want an even more vented shoe, Gearne makes the silver G.Stilo+ Summer, with a mesh insert replacing the drilled venting.

At the rear of the shoe, there’s a stiff carbon fibre heel cup with a grippy inner surface, giving very good heel support. There’s also a reflective tab on the back.

The shoe’s sole is full carbon, thin and feels very stiff, for good pedalling efficiency. There are vents at the toe and in the midsole, a toe bumper and a replaceable heel protector.

Gaerne’s two piece insole is thick and padded enough to provide some cushioning and its back cups around your heel well for additional support. The forefoot is perforated for extra under-foot airflow.

Width is good for UK feet and I never felt scrunched up, although I did go up half a size to ensure that I had enough length. Gaerne sells the G.Stilo+ in 13 sizes and half sizes between 39 and 46 and four colours: black, white, red and yellow. There’s also a Speedplay option.