Gaerne G.ICE Storm Road 1.0 GTX review: impressively warm and comfortable, but there's another winter shoe I'd pick

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The G.ICE Storm is a well-thought-out winter boot that comes with a solid specification. The upper is constructed using Gaerne’s own G.active airflow microfibre.

It’s enhanced with the use of abrasion-resistant reinforcement across the toe box and along its flanks.

The boot's fit is adjusted using a single Boa Li2 dial, combined with a neoprene ankle cuff with a wrap-over Velcro closure.

Gaerne G.ICE Storm Road 1.0 GTX specifications

Inside, the whole shoe is protected by a Gore-Tex Duratherm membrane. This is designed to work two-fold, providing both water resistance and thermal protection.

The footbed is well-shaped and a layer of thermo-reflective aluminium is used underneath it to seal in warmth.

The cuff has a broad Velcro closure and is made from a tough softshell-like material with a rip-stop surface.

Here, Gaerne has used a Gore-Tex Rattler membrane. Rattler is a highly elastic waterproof membrane that's ideal for closures such as this.

The outsole is Gaerne’s nylon-infused EPS Carbon Power sole 8.0, which can be found on the brand's summer road shoes. It's rated 8 for stiffness on Gaerne’s 10-step scale.

Rather than using a new winter-only sole, Gaerne has instead chosen to block out the five vents – three in the toe and two in the midfoot.

I haven’t experienced any water ingress here throughout testing, although I still prefer a solid sole such as those found on the Sidi Nix and Lake CX146. The sole is protected by PU bumpers on the toe and the heel.

Gaerne G.ICE Storm Road 1.0 GTX performance

On the road, the G.ICE Storm is the most impressive low-cuff winter cycling shoe I’ve tried. The thermal insulating properties of the shoe's body and the thick, yet flexible enough cuff kept my feet comfortable even in freezing conditions

In this respect, the Gaerne boots are beaten only by Lake’s CX146 shoes, which have a higher cuff and more bulk.

The sizing on the Gaerne shoes is also generous, and I didn’t need to size up from my standard size 45 to wear them with thicker winter socks.

The carbon outsole is stiff enough without being overtly so. It makes for a shoe that feels efficient when pedalling and doesn't sap your energy with either excess padding, softness or too much flex.

The water protection is good too – on a damp day with light mist and lots of spray, my feet stayed dry and warm.

Even in a prolonged shower, the boots did admirably well and, because I’d tightened up the cuff securely, there was little in the way of water ingress.

Although the inside of the cuff started to take on water after prolonged exposure in a downpour, little made it through to the inside of the shoe – only the cuff became cold, damp and somewhat uncomfortable.

Gaerne G.ICE Storm Road 1.0 GTX bottom line

Of all the low-cuff winter boots I’ve tested, the Gaerne I.CE Storm performs best in damp conditions. On the coldest dry days, Gaerne's boots are a match for Sidi and EKOI’s efforts, while being significantly cheaper than both.

If you want a warm winter boot for cold, crisp conditions and the occasional spell of light rain, the G.ICE Storm is a top-performing option.

If you want the ultimate protection, though, the Lake XC146 still has the edge.

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