Gaerne GP1 Evo boots review - Dan says 'I’d absolutely recommend them to anyone'

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The Gaerne GP1 Evo is the Italian brand’s top spec sporting boot, designed for motorcycle racing and trackdays, with the added bonus of working on the road. High profile racers wearing the boot include World Superbike race winner and British Superbike champion, Scott Redding as well as BSB front runner Jason O’Halloran.

Although they’ve both got more riding talent in their smallest toes than I’ll ever have on a racetrack, I have also used the Gaernes over the past three summer riding seasons, wearing them for endurance races, trackdays, club racing, road tests, and thousands of sporty road miles.

Put simply, they are the best racy riding boots I have ever worn and if you want a robust, comfortable, and secure-fitting set of shoes for your upcoming track antics, then I would whole-heartedly recommend these to you.

Nothing’s ever fallen off, there’s still plenty of tread on the bottom, and – if the green and white is a bit too jazzy for you – you’ll be pleased to know there are other, more sedate colour schemes also available.

Bikes I have ridden wearing these boots include a Ducati Panigale V4 SP2, a GYTR-kitted Yamaha R1, R6, and R7, Yamaha TZR250 and Suzuki Bandit 600 race bikes, plus larger super nakeds including the KTM 1290 Super Duke R Evo – which I took for a scorching blast around Snetterton in 2023.

How comfortable are the Gaerne GP1 Evo race boots?

These are the most comfortable motorcycle boots I’ve ever used – sports focussed or otherwise. They’re excellent. There’s no awkward inner boot faffery here, simply slip your foot inside and tighten using the outer BOA lacing mechanism, Velcro, and outer zip. The inner sole comes out and is machine washable, too.

The wide, cavernous opening makes slipping in any leather trousers easy. I often wear these with a my Furygan Full Ride one piece suit, which is particularly comfortable as a partnership. The most difficulty I have had is with the bottom half of a Dainese Avro 4 two-piece suit, which incorporates bulky shin armour, however I managed to make it work in the end.

The best bit about wearing them is they fit me so well that I barely notice I’ve got them on my feet, which is especially important for track riding. The last thing you want to think about when riding at high speed is the kit you’ve got on, you just need to focus on the track in front of you, to stay as safe as you possibly can.

Off the bike, they’re comfy too, however I wouldn’t want to wear them without very tall socks, or base layers underneath as I’m sure the top of the shin armour would rub if not worn over leathers. In fact, the only real thing that stops me wearing them more is the irritating squeaking with every step.

This, of course, doesn’t make them any less comfortable, but it can make me feel a little self-conscious – especially if I wear them into MCN HQ – as I’ll often get people from other parts of the business staring as I walk past omitting a strange noise.

How do the Gaerne GP1 Evo race boots look?

Looks are obviously subjective, but again I think the Gaernes score highly in this department – especially when worn in the right context. By this, I mean they look brilliant when used with leathers, but they can look a bit daft with riding jeans – especially if you can’t tuck the bulky shin protectors beneath the denim.

In this white and lime green colour scheme, they can also clash against many colours of leather suit and motorcycle livery, which is fine if you’re not colour conscious (it doesn’t really bother me), but it could be an issue for some. As I said before though, other designs are available, sometimes for less money.

I also wore these boots on a bike that decided to have a slight oil leak from a left-side case, which left tiny black splats up the white exterior. As you might expect, I haven’t been able to remove all of these stains, with the white showing up bug splats and road muck particularly easily.

Are the Gaerne GP1 Evo race boots good quality?

I’ve done around 20 trackdays in these boots on a variety of circuits. Although they’ve all been in the dry, they’ve been on everything from cutting edge superbikes, to tricky two-strokes.

I’ve also used them for three 24-hour endurance races on technical kart circuits aboard 125cc machines – constantly climbing from one side of the bike to the other and taking a tumble on more than one occasion.

They’ve also been subjected to an oil leak, plus thousands of leisure and commuting miles through the warmer summer months. Through all of this, there’s still decent tread on the grippy soles, and lots of life in the replaceable magnesium toe sliders (maybe I need to try harder).

They still look great, and largely remain white where they should do. Inside the boot, the soles remain in place too, despite being subjected to endless sweat during my racetrack antics.

I’ll continue to wear them until they fall apart, which looks as though it’ll be an awful long time yet!

Protection and ratings on the Gaerne GP1 Evo race boots

The Gaerne GP1 Evos meet EN 13634:2017 CE standards and score a maximum level two score for impact cut (effectiveness against sharp objects), and transverse rigidity (how well it would stop your feet being crushed with the weight of a bike on top of you). They get a lower level one score for abrasion resistance.

Wearing them on your feet, they feel like a very protective garment – fitting the shape of my feet and lower legs well and hugging all of the necessary joints with bulky armour.

This external protection sits in place without catching on your heel plates. They’ve also never marked the rear of the side fairing panels on my Honda CBR600RR long-term test bike, which is another plus.

The all-day comfort also goes a long way in delivering passive safety on a racetrack especially, as you’re not thinking about what you’re wearing when riding at speed. All I need now is some talent to go with it.

I have taken a few low-speed tumbles in these boots on a kart circuit, and my feet have always been protected (other spills at higher speeds may offer different results, of course…).

Are the Gaerne GP1 Evo race boots good value for money?

A penny shy of four hundred quid is not cheap, and I’d be silly to suggest it is, however if you’re serious about track riding then they’re well worth a look. My activities prove they can stand the test of time without rigorous maintenance, and they’re more comfortable than anything I’ve tried before.

I first reviewed these boots for the MCN newspaper around two years ago and I’m constantly being told off by our Products Editor, Justin Hayzelden for not wearing anything newer. Trouble is, I can’t bring myself to move on from these because they’re just so damn comfy and secure. I feel safe wearing them, and it’ll take more than a few comments in the office for us to part ways!

Back to the price, and many online retailers are now listing the GP1 Evos for far less money than the RRP. Kit giants Sportsbikeshop for example currently have them listed at £363.41 – with the all black alternative even cheaper at £306.28.

Gaerne GP1 Evo race boots – the bottom line

I think it’s pretty clear to see that I really like these boots. They’re comfortable on and off the bike and accommodate my leathers with ease. They offer a range of colours, and they’ve stood up to the test of time – plus a few gentle tumbles on smaller bikes.

Once the sun comes out, and I can guarantee there’s not going to be any rain, they are my absolute go-to in order to keep my feet safe. Not just for their armour, but for the passive safety too.

Yes, they squeak, and yes, they aren’t waterproof, but they aren’t the kind of boots you’d wear for every day riding anyway, so the chances of being exposed to many showers, or big crowds of people (who aren’t also bikers) is very slim.

I’d absolutely recommend them to anyone, with a cheaper plain black option a good shout if you prefer the understated look and want to save a few quid.

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