We always try to find problems with every product,
so it is a pleasant surprise to review high quality boots like the Gaerne.
I have no connection with Gaerne.
And I paid full retail price for my boots.
I will discuss a small number of potential problems with the SG12 boot later.
Two years ago, we collected hundreds of comments from riders about their boots.
The results?
Gaerne had a massive 94% approval rating.
Why?
There are a few reasons.
The Italians are widely acknowledged as making the best boots.
And Gaerne still make their entire range of boots in Italy.
Other Italian brands like Sidi, Dainese, Acerbis,
TCX and Forma now manufacture most or all of their boots in cheaper countries.
And it shows in the cheaper quality.
At last!
A boot for short riders.
Overlooked by tall riders?
Sick of crashing at a standstill?
The Gaerne SG12 Stiletto.
The protection is excellent.
Cheaper boots can provide good protection when they are stiff,
but they loosen up and the protection decreases badly.
Try this 'stress test' on old boots.
Here are my brand new boots compared to five-year-old SG12 boots.
The toe protection is unchanged.
The lateral ankle protection has barely changed.
And the front-to-rear protective 'stops' are almost identical.
Lets see the same stress test on a cheaper boot.
Remember to try this stress test on brand new boots too.
Gaerne will out-perform most brands in this respect.
Longevity. These boots are made to last.
Occasionally I hear from riders who are still using their Gaerne boots for more than a decade...
sometimes with the original soles.
Everyone in my riding group has been using SG12 boots for years.
No one has worn out their soles.
The boots are still in great condition.
This is the usual experience for the vast majority of riders.
Cheaper boots are simply false economy if you want your boots to last a long time.
Our new gumby enduro boots!
Don't just ram that lever.
Feel that lever.
Become one with the lever.
On a cosmic level, you are the lever.
And it is you.
Warning!
This will cause broken toes, snapped tendons, crushed feet, and death through arterial bleeding.
Comfort?
Most riders report the SG12 boots are very comfortable and don't need to be worn in.
That was my experience, and also the same for all my riding buddies.
Any known problems?
These have occurred in the past.
Around 2006 some riders reported that the velcro strap at the top
of the boot would tear despite very little use.
In 2016 and 2017 a batch of orange and grey
Gaerne boots had defective plastic and were cracking after only a few rides.
Gaerne arranged replacement boots.
However, there was one case where the plastic cracked at 100 hours
on a different coloured boot and Gaerne would not replace the boot.
Although problems seem to be very rare with Gaerne boots, we did see quite
a few cases of riders being very unhappy with the lack of support from Gaerne USA.
Is this justified?
We don't know.
But it is worth noting.
The SG12 does not fit everyone perfectly.
It does suit a wider foot more than other brands, but some riders still said it wasn't wide enough.
The SG12 internals hug the ankle firmly for extra support.
A small number of riders find there is too much pressure on their ankles.
The usual solution is a bottle of water pushed down into the boot for several days
to reshape that part of the boot.
I recommend always buying your boots from your local motorbike shop.
You can wear the boots and walk around for 30 minutes to ensure a good fit.
I suspect that most problems occur when riders buy
cheaper Gaerne boots online then find out the fit isn't correct.
What about the Gaerne SG10 boot?
It is usually about 15% cheaper.
There is slightly less protection but it is still better than the majority of other brands.
There is slightly less padding than the SG12....
but some riders do find the SG10 is a better fit.
Go to your local store and try both boots.
Gaerne also make a cheaper model called the Fastback
boot but we have no experience with this boot.
A final point.
Gaerne is probably the only manufacturer who puts the date of manufacture on their boots.
If you see discounted Gaerne boots, it is usually because the boots were made two to four years ago.
This should not affect the longevity
of the boots as the leather and plastics are usually excellent quality...
but keep this mind!
Have you used Gaerne boots before?
What are your thoughts?
We are keen to hear the good and bad experiences!