Gaerne G.Iron triathlon bike shoe review: entry-level price at a premium feel

The G.Iron is Gaerne’s entry-level triathlon shoe, coming with a carbon-reinforced nylon sole instead of the full carbon composite sole that appears on the Carbon G.Iron, which is £80 more expensive.

It’s described as a “lightweight and ultra-breathable triathlon cycling shoe”, designed for fast transitions and “powerful pedal strokes” (depending on who’s using them).

The price is on the lower end for tri bike shoes nowadays, but there aren’t too many signs of cost-cutting here. The G-Iron is made in Italy, and it retains the same upper and closure system as the premium version.

Features and fit

On the bottom of the shoe, there’s a clear alignment scale for setting up cleats, and there are plenty of ports to drain water though post-swim leg.

The nylon/carbon sole has a stiffness rating of 8/12 on Gaerne’s scale, which will suit faster triathletes and those who like a stiffer platform from their shoes without the huge price tag.

Putting the shoe on for the first time, it was noticeably quite long and narrow through the midfoot, which I could just about work with, but I don’t think the G.Iron will suit those with wide feet. It’s very much an Italian fit, so I’d recommend that most triathletes try before they buy if possible.

Comfort and performance

The upper is comfortable inside with plenty of perforations on top to provide airflow through the shoe. I found Gaerne’s EPS Lightweight Transpirant insole a particularly comfy footbed, great for riding sockless, and the material at the heel is nice and soft inside.

Gaerne has minimised seams on the microfibre material to improve comfort, so I think this would make a good long-distance shoe potentially.

In the T1 and T2 department, the G.Iron has a huge, sturdy heel loop, which makes slipping your foot in rather easy. Where I encountered problems was the strap system, which does distribute pressure evenly across the foot, but doesn’t provide a huge amount of tension.

Because of this, my heels slipped a little during harder efforts out of the saddle, meaning my feet didn’t feel perfectly secure.

I found the other problem with the bigger of the two straps that closes the shoe is that the end of it that attaches to the upper is pretty small, making it rather difficult to grab at speed. I didn’t find it the easiest to undo during my transition test, so it’s fair to say Gaerne’s transversal strap isn’t my favourite tri shoe closure design.

The bottom line

Overall, I think the G.Iron has some very good features for the price. The narrow fit does limit its appeal, the straps will take some getting used to in transition, and I did experience some heel slip – but it has a nice stiff sole, and there’s plenty of perforation and ports to keep your feet cool and dry.

Gaerne G.Iron specs

Price	$179.95/£139.90
Sizing	EU37-48 unisex
Sole	Nylon/carbon sole
Features	Velcro straps, transversal strap, heel loop, carbon/nylon sole, 9mm expanded cleat position options, rigidity rating 8
Colours	White and black