Northwave has got some really nice shoes for its 2012 range with lower weights and some interesting new developments. To find out what’s causing a stir in the shoe world we headed south to UK distributor I-Ride’s HQ in East Sussex to get a first look. Here’s our highlights.

At the very top and featuring the Italian company’s latest tech is the Extreme Tech SBS shoes (pictured above). It use a new SpeedLight 3D Carbon sole mated to a one-piece Ultralight Microfibre upper, with both a rotary and ratchet closure system.

The rotary closure mechanism is similar in appearance to the popular Boa system but differs quite a bit. The dial is smaller and arguably more ergonomic, and tightens a cord claimed to be the strongest in the business.

As you can see from the photo, the usual areas of the shoe in line for rock strikes feature thermo-welded protection material to ensure they don’t disintegrate.

They’re top-end with a price to match, £224.99 a pair.

Northwave has got the mid-level covered too, with the Rebel 3V which costs £99.99. This is one hotly contested price point (we saw Shimano releasing three new models into this market recently) and we’re very impressed with the offering here.

The Rebel 3V uses a carbon reinforced sole, so while it won’t be as stiff as the Extreme Tech’s sole, it’s probably plenty enough for the rider this shoe is pitched at. The microfiber upper is detailed with Airmesh inserts and uses three Velcro straps to keep the shoe firmly in place. An Ultra Y reinforced heel reduces heel lift during hard pedalling.

These are just our highlights from the 2012 range. Take a look at all the shoes in the company’s range here.