GAERNE SG22 motocross boot review Copy

Gaerne was founded way back in 1962, in the beautiful Coste di Maser in Italy. Founder of the brand GAzzola ERNEsto, was a shoemaker by trade and always had a passion for sports. That is not a grammatical error above, that is where the name Gaerne comes from.

62 years is a long time to be making footwear so it's not a surprise that they’ve gotten pretty good at it. The 70s saw Gaerne expand into motorcycling boots and that is when the SG22's predecessors were born. Fast forward 61 years and the SG22 is brought to market.

The Gaerne SG12 had long been their premier boot and was arguably the best boot on the market. Winning championships on both sides of the pond. However, not wanting to settle or get left behind they released the SG22, the new flagship boot for Gaerne.

Now, I received these boots at the end of 2023, but of what use is it to anyone if I release a review after using them 1 maybe 2 times? Anyone who has worn the SG12 knows they have a break-in period of 3 or 4 rides before they are truly broken in. With this in mind, I decided to sit on this for a year and delve into the durability ofthe boot as well as comfort, because motocross boots are not cheap and you want to make sure you’re going to get your money’s worth.

I have to admit, this was not a boot that I fell in love with instantly. The first few rides were uncomfortable, I unboxed them at the track and rode straight out for a 20- minute moto. Maybe if I had done a few laps of the house in them, the first ride wouldn’t have been so painful.

However, we move on. My first impressions were that the boots were stiff but stable. This definitely made my foot feel safe and secure. I am a size 9 and it was very true to size. The 4 adjustable buckles make it effortless to get your foot in and out of the boot.

The SG-22 has several significant upgrades from the SG-12, one of which is the Gaerne Dual Stage Pivot System 1.0. The new system supports the ankle with two limit switches, thus restricting hyper-extension and hyper-flexion.

Another improvement to the SG-22 is the Air Vents. An increased number of air vents over the boot keeps your foot feeling cool and comfortable. This is something that I did notice in the summer months. I found other boots were making my feet hot and sweaty where as the SG-22 kept them at a much more comfortable temperature.

The aluminium buckles are similar to that used on the SG-12 except you have more adjustability on the SG-22. As well as 4 straps being adjustable the shin guard buckle has a dual-position clasp. So if you are finding that you’re on the limit of thestrap on the shin guard, you can re-position the clasp to give you an extra 5-10mm of play.

The thing I like the most about the SG-22 is that the sole uses memory foam, so as the boot breaks in, it molds itself to your foot, giving a very tailored feel when riding. This also gives you a better feel on the pegs when you’re moving between gears and braking.

I have been wearing the SG-22 for almost a year now and the sole is still inincredible condition. The new multi-density sole has increased, traction, durability, and cushioning. This is apparent when you look at how well the soles are lasting.

Some people say that the metal toe cap is outdated and no longer necessary, but I quite like it. More for the purpose of gate preparation than anything else. There is nothing worse than trying to prep a gate on rock-hard dirt and you have tried everything to break it up to get some traction. With the metal toe cap, it is much
easier. You can really drive your boot into the dirt to break it up.

Overall the Gaerne SG-22 is a solid boot and well deserving of being Gaernes signature MX boot. The price point is high when you compare it to other top-tier boots, coming in at £649.99. However, if you value safety above all else this is the boot for you. You will be able to rest easy knowing that you have the safest boot
money can buy.

Tested and written by Brad Wheeler