• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Become a Premium Member
  • About

Road Bike Rider Cycling Site

Expert road cycling advice, since 2001

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Bikes & Gear
  • Training & Health
  • Reviews
  • Cycling Ebooks
    • Ebooks Training
    • Ebooks Skills
    • E-Articles Training
    • E-Articles Nutrition
  • Member Area
  • Newsletter

Garneau Milan Boa (men’s) and Sienna Boa (women’s) Road Shoe Review

By Sheri Rosenbaum

Hot

  • Single Boa L6 closure for micro adjustability
  • Ample ventilation top and bottom to keep feet cool
  • Seamless upper construction eliminates hot spots
  • Very comfortable from the very first ride
  • Top of tongue has V-cut to eliminate pressure at front of ankle
  • Good price point for high-quality entry-level road shoe
  • Stiff sole for good power transfer
  • Two and three bolt cleat system

Not

  • Runs small, sized up a full size
  • No toe guard to protect front of shoe
  • Heal and toe bumpers not replaceable
  • Only available in one color

Price: $129.99 MSRP

Color: Black/White (men’s); White w/teal ankle trim (women’s)

Sizes:  41 – 50 (men’s); 37-42 (women’s)

Closure: Single Boa L6

Upper material: Synthetic leather

Sole material: Ergo Air® injected nylon/fiberglass

Weight:  254g (size 42)

How obtained: Company sample

Where sold: Online or retail

RBR Advertiser: No

High-quality Entry-level Road Shoe

At a price point of $129.99 MSRP, Garneau’s Milan Boa or Sienna Boa road shoes are a great entry-level choice. They offer many features found on a higher priced shoe like a Boa closure, stiff sole and ventilation — all for a fraction of the price.

The Milan Boa (men’s) and Sienna Boa (women’s) road shoes have identical features except for color. Since I wear a larger size shoe, I tested the men’s Milan Boa for this review.

From the first ride, the shoes were very comfortable. The seamless construction of the upper added to the comfort by eliminating any hot spots. The tongue has a V-cut to reduce pressure against the front of the ankle allowing for increased flexibility. Perforations in the synthetic leather upper along with 7 vents on the sole provide ample ventilation to keep your feet cool on hot summer rides. The toe vents take in the air, then it passes through the shoe and out the mid-sole, helping to cool your feet.

V-cut tongue reduces pressure against ankle

The nylon soles are stiff and provide good power transfer to the pedals. To keep your foot snug, Garneau’s HRS-80 retention system secures your heel in place during each pedal stroke.

Ample ventilation and two or three bolt cleat system compatible

As you can see in the photo above, this shoe is compatible with two or three bolt cleat systems. However, if you use two bolt SPDs cleats, be careful walking around, as the shoes can be slick.

To keep the price and weight (254g for size 42) down, Garneau uses a single Boa L6 closure. Even with one Boa the shoe felt snug and comfortable. The Boa L6 design allows you to tighten the shoe in micro adjustments (1mm) for the perfect amount of tension. Note, this style Boa does not allow you to loosen by turning the dial backwards. Instead you must pull the wheel up which releases the wires completely.

A few additional points regarding these shoes, which are not deal breakers. I’m sure Garneau intentionally made these choices to keep the price entry-level. First, I found they ran a little small. I requested my normal size, a 45, which is the size I wore testing the Garneau’s Course Lite II. But then had to size up to a 46, as they don’t offer half sizes in the Milan. Second, it would be nice to have a toe guard to protect the shoe from scrapes and wear. I clip in/out on my right side and the right shoe is starting to show scratches and wear from dragging my toe on the pedal when clipping in. Finally, I am a big fan of color. Both the Milan and Sienna only come in one color, black with white accents for the men’s and white with teal accent for the women’s version.

All in all, I really liked the Milan Boa shoes and would recommend them for someone looking for an entry level road shoe.

Bottom Line

Garneau’s Milan Boa for men and Sienna Boa for women are perfect options for a high-quality entry-level road shoe. A single Boa closure secures your foot and the stiff nylon sole enables good power transfer. With a $129.99 USD price point this is a stylish, comfortable and great performing road shoe.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Eric Irwin says

    September 12, 2019 at 9:19 am

    That is actually a Boa L6 reel, not an L4.

    Reply
    • Sheri Rosenbaum says

      September 12, 2019 at 11:50 am

      Hi Eric,
      The Garneau web site says L4. The shoes/Boas do not have any model number on them. I have a request into Garneau to clarify and will update as soon as I hear back.

      Reply
      • Sheri Rosenbaum says

        September 12, 2019 at 12:11 pm

        Just heard back from Garneau’s marketing dept. The web site is wrong and they will correct it. Good catch, it is an L6.

  2. Eric Irwin says

    September 12, 2019 at 12:15 pm

    Most people would never know but I have an inside track.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search

Recent Articles

  • Newsletter Issue No. 1054
  • ‘Connect’ to Diet-Reverses-Diabetes Study: Even If You Don’t Have the Disease
  • My New Bike: Trek Checkpoint SL 5
  • Weak Muscles Predict Accelerated Aging, Disability and Death

Recent Newsletters

Newsletter Issue No. 1054

Newsletter Issue No. 1053

Newsletter Issue No. 1052

Newsletter Issue No. 1051

Newsletter Issue No. 1050

Footer

Affiliate Disclosure

Our cycling expert editors and writers choose every product we review. We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy from one of our product links, at no extra cost to you. This income supports our site.

Follow Us

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook

Privacy Policy

Still Haven’t Found What You’re Looking For?

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...