Gaerne Vega shoes review

The Vega is noticeably slender in appearance, and the fit is fairly narrow too, although there’s a reasonable amount of room in the toe box. 

The upper is the usual mix of synthetic leather and mesh, although the broad tongue means a lot of the mesh is effectively a double layer, so they’re not too draughty. There’s no shortage of protection from rocks, with armoured sections around the toe and heel, which incorporate reflective detailing. 

A low-cut upper and generally slimline profile ensure lots of freedom of movement, although if you’re a habitual ankle-basher a shoe with a bit more meat might be a better choice. 

The shoe features a Vibram sole and a fair amount of forefoot flex. It’s one of the comfier shoes for extended walking, but we experienced a bit of heel lift when off the bike. Most of that flexibility lies ahead of the cleat mounts, and with the bolt-in covers removed and cleats fitted the Vega pedals well. 

The oval cleat pocket becomes quite narrow at the back, which limits sideways cleat adjustment. 

This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.