http://www.crosstrainingenduro.com The best enduro boot? It's hard to go past the SG12. 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 SG12. And I paid full retail price for what I think is the best enduro boot. I will discuss a small number of potential problems in this Gaerne SG12 boot review. Two years ago, we collected hundreds of comments from riders about their boots but no including the newer Gaerne Fastback boot. The results? Gaerne had a massive 94% approval rating as the best motocross boot. Why? There are a few reasons in this Gaerne review. 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. We'll look at the Gaerne SG10 later. And it shows in the cheaper quality if chasing the best enduro boot. At last! A boot for short riders. Overlooked by tall riders? Sick of crashing at a standstill? The Gaerne SG12 Stiletto... the best motocross boot. 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 Gaerne 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 Gaerne 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 put 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!
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