Description:
For the G.Myst, Gaerne opted to use a synthetic fabric to make the entire upper part of the shoe. I’m guessing that 95 % of this product is petroleum based except for the cotton threading that is used for the stitching. This synthetic material on the upper is similar to what is used to make fine soccer balls. I think someone realized that it was more practical to use this material as it is durable and just as forgiving as leather. One good thing I found with this material is that it’s very easy to clean. One wipe with a wet sponge and dirt comes off extremely easily, “Voila!” the shoe is good as new!

Some may argue that leather uppers would have made the shoe suppler, but the way I see it, this shoe will appeal to the animal lovers in all of us, as no cows were slaughtered for the making of this product. And rest assured, even though this “plasticky” fabric would appear not to breathe as well, there are neat and symmetric perforations all over the shoe’s upper. So there is plenty of ventilation for your happy feet!

Overall the shoe has a very low profile and is not as “arched” as some other brands. For cyclists who like a more pronounced arch, a solution can be easily achieved by buying a contoured foot bed to replace the standard one.

The company also uses a nice carbon weaved sole on this model, instead of carbon injection. The weave is big and looks appealing (there is just something sexy about carbon weaves). Modern cycling footwear no longer uses laces, as you well know, these days a combination of Velcro and ratcheting straps is the norm. The G.Myst features 2 Velcro straps and a ratcheting buckle strap. One of the neat features is the Safety Lock System located underneath the 2 Velcro straps. This row of teeth prevents the straps from slipping under stress (it worsens as the Velcro gets older and no longer retains its function). If you pay close attention you may hear a faint audible clicks as you tighten the Velcro straps. The ingenuity of concealing underneath, whereas other manufactures would just install in on the velcro side is what differentiates Gaerne from its competitors.

The buckle closure system is simple and effective, and the ratcheting mechanism can be micro-adjusted. In addition one can also adjust the position of the top flap retainer in reference to the ratcheting strap by numbered indicators. In the interior, the insole is simple and standard for cycling footwear, although it does have a little padding to it. There is also a under structure built on the back of the heel which Gaerne labels as “HEEL GRIP” with a Red honeycomb fabric. This is to support the heel so it does not slip out of the shoe. To add a little touch, a replaceable puck anchors the bottom at the back of the shoe. This is always a welcomed feature for those of us who tend to walk a lot with their shoes. Lastly, this pair of kicks weighed in at 730 grams. It’s not a super light shoe per the weight weenies’ standard but this is one classy and well built shoe.

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