My first ride with my new Gaerne Eskimo cold weather MTB shoes was a good one. (See Makwa Snow Ride 10/10.)
Sizing... I wear a size 43 (US 9) Sidi, and the Gaerne's are also an Italian shoe with a "Sidi" fit.
Since I could not find a store that keeps them in stock, I had to take a guess and order them online. I ended up paying $179. (w/free shipping) And I ordered one size larger than normal, a 44 (US 9.5), to accommodate thicker, or layered socks if needed.
The fit is spot on. They are narrow, but seemed to "loosen up" a bit after a few hours in them. There is a slight bit of play/slop/movement, because of the added size, but, it was not too bad, and did not affect performance. I had room enough to wiggle my toes, and I was wearing a pair of Smartwool hiking socks, nothing too thick.
For lacing, they use a pull system, with a plastic sliding lock, that is easy to use, (even with gloves) and seemed to work well. Although stuffing the extra lacing inside the outer closure may be tricky with heavy gloves on. But, the laces need to be pulled tight after a bit of riding.
Warmth... OK, It was only 32°F, so it wasn't really a hardcore test, but my feet did not get cold or wet during the 4 hours I was on the bike. They have a Thinsulate liner and are claimed to be water resistant.
I did feel a sense of coolness, but nothing even close to cold. The coolness I felt may have been from air coming in the unused cleat holes in the sole, or in from the top. I will probably add a little silicone seal to the cleat area to make sure no water, or cold air can get in there in the future.
And they were not too warm, so my feet did not sweat.
The shoes are very well made, are quite comfy and have a very stiff sole. I might wear these even when I'm not Ice Biking. They remind me of a good Quality Cross Country Ski boot. The reflective piping and heel patch are nice touches.
And if you're more into cold weather road riding, they are also available in a road version.
I would recommend this shoe to anyone looking for a warm, winter cycling shoe. But, they are narrow, so if you have wide feet, I'd try them on first if possible.
Here is the info from the Gaerne Website...
The Eskimo is extremely water resistant with a zippered water repellent upper and gussetted inner liner. Breathable, water repellent Reflex and warming Thinsulate are used to keep feet warm and dry. Easy internal lace system. Aggressive co-molded nylon outsole. Made in Italy.
From another website...
Designed for extreme riding in cold and wet weather conditions. Features a water repellent neoprene outer cover with reflective piping and a plasmaterial treated inner liner that is breathable, wicks away moisture and dries quickly with a Thinsulate liner to keep the feet warm. Outer closure is a single zipper with internal closures to secure the foot. Gaerne MTB Sole Technology SPD compatible nylon sole designed for maximum abrasion and wear resistance. Features injection molded non-slip plastic heel cup, micro-perforated removable insole and reflective heel insert for maximum visiblitity.
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