Fizik Vento Ferox Carbon: Gravel shoe on test - the bird of paradise
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On gravel races and dirt tracks, the Fizik Vento Ferox Carbon is a welcome guest. The Italian manufacturer's shoes not only enjoy an excellent reputation in the scene, they are also a visual eye-catcher. Fizik has just launched the Ferox in a special lime-purple edition for Team Amani - a group of the best gravel bikers from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia who take part in gravel events around the world.
Even if access to material and support is very limited in Africa: with the Vento Ferox Carbon, Team Amani should at least have a strong shoe partner on their feet, as the Fizik comes with a stiff carbon sole that is extensively covered with rubber tread. The upper is made of robust yet airy ripstop mesh, which is reinforced with a TPU layer on the toe and heel.
A wide Velcro strap and a high-quality Boa Li2 twist fastener are designed to secure the foot firmly in the shoe. To prevent the heel from slipping out of the shoe during hard kicks, the inside has been printed with silicone prints. The insole has a clearly pronounced pad, which supports the arch of the foot somewhat, but has proven to take some getting used to in practice.
More gravel shoes in the test
- Mavic Cosmic Boa SPD >> e.g. available here
- Northwave Razer >> e.g. available here
- Quoc Gran Tourer XC >> e.g. available here
- Scott Gravel Pro >> e.g. available here
- Shimano RX801 >> e.g. available here
- Specialised Recon 1.0 >> e.g. available here
- Specialised S-Works Recon >> e.g. available here
- Suplest XC/Gravel Performance
- All gravel shoes from the test at a glance
Fizik Vento Ferox Carbon - a thoroughbred gravel racer
Narrow feet with a flat instep should feel comfortable in the Fizik straight away - only the toe area is slightly more voluminous. The combination of wide Velcro strap and Boa fastener is a success. The Vento Ferox Carbon can be strapped tightly to the feet without having to worry about pressure points. In combination with the stiff carbon sole - we measured the highest stiffness in this comparison in the laboratory at 416.7 N/mm - every watt from the calves is transferred directly to the gravel or trail - it couldn't be better. The grip on the heel is also good thanks to the light rubber coating, as long as you're standing on the pedals.
When it comes to pushing, the heel quickly slips noticeably out of the shoe. The problem: the stiff carbon sole hardly rolls at all and the Velcro fastener should sit a little further back in order to optimally secure the heel. The rather narrow profile is also not much fun off the trail.
With its lightweight, perforated rip-stop material, the Fizik is one of the slightly better ventilated models. The insole clearly supports the arch of the foot, which takes some getting used to, at least at the beginning.
Info & price of the Fizik Vento Ferox Carbon
- Price299 Euro >> available here at a reduced price
- Weight (size 46): 752 grams
- Sizes: 36-48; 37,5-46,5 half sizes
- Sole / StiffnessCarbon / 416.7 N/mm
- Made inChina
- Equipmentwide velcro, Boa Li2 twist lock; TPU reinforced toe area; rubberised heel; ripstop mesh
- Fitflat and rather narrow, otherwise true to size
Test grade & conclusion
An extremely stiff carbon sole, tensile materials and a very successful closure make the Fizik Vento Ferox a picture-book racing shoe. The fact that the running characteristics are somewhat neglected should not be too much of a problem for the intended use: The Fizik wants to be pedalled hard on fast gravel laps. In keeping with the racy profile, the fit is also designed for slim athlete's feet.
