Fizik Ferox 2 gravel shoe review: a comfortable gravel race shoe

Like many Italian shoe brands, Fizik shoes have traditionally been long and narrow, but with the Ferox 2 and Vega for the road, it has updated the last to deliver a more ergonomic fit, designed to be for suitable for a wider range of users, and not just professionals.

The shoes use a full carbon outsole for high-pace gravel racing, with a mix of dials and Velcro straps to provide secure foot retention. They now sit at the top of the tree in Fizik’s off-road shoe range.

But just how do these gravel bike shoes perform when put through their paces? To find out, I went gravel KOM hunting across local forest trails, adventuring through bridleways and plenty in between to see how they fare against the competition.

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Design details

The Ferox 2 starts with what the brand calls its Anatomical Last. It features less of a heel-to-toe drop than the previous last, plus a wider forefoot better shaped to accommodate the toes. This is also featured on the Vega road shoes and came from Fizik studying the pressure distribution of riders’ feet. It found that reducing the heel-to-toe drop dramatically reduced forefoot pressure, while the wider front eliminated lateral hotspots around the toes.

Based on this new last, the Ferox 2 uses a full carbon fiber sole to deliver high stiffness and power transfer. A good amount of the outsole is protected with TPU tread so as to avoid scuffs and scrapes from stones and such. The sole gets a stiffness index rating of 10, the highest available for Fizik shoes, on a scale with no industry standard.

The upper is a one-piece design featuring a bootie fit rather than traditional sides and tongue. This is made from Airprene with perforations towards the upper section, and a scratch-resistant PU-laminated covering across the front and sides.

Retention comes from a Boa Li2 dial on the forefoot and a Powerstrap Velcro strap at the top. The latter is designed to be crash-proof (a dial can be at risk during a fall), while also spreading pressure across a wider area. It also has the benefit of being more adjustable than laces.

The claimed weight is 295g per shoe, while a size 45 came in at 342g on my scales with the insole fitted.

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Performance

Getting these shoes on can be a bit of an ordeal, as the bootie-like upper doesn’t have the same flexibility as a traditional tongue design. It is similar to the Specialized Ares shoe, which similarly felt like it required a shoehorn, and the Q36.5 Unique Pro shoes, which do come with a shoehorn. Once on, however, the Ferox 2 are very comfortable, with the lack of material helping to keep the weight down

Adjusting the retention to the right level did take a little time. Shoes equipped with Boa dials top and bottom can be adjust easily. This remains the here case for the forefoot, but the Velcro strap around the ankle takes a little more refinement to get right. On some rides I found I had tightened it too much as my foot expanded in the heat. Other times my foot moved around a little as I hadn’t tightened it enough. The Powerstrap system is far easier to adjust than laces, of course, but a little more involved than a retention dial.

However, once you’ve got things dialled in, excuse the pun, the system stiffness of this shoe is fantastic. The sole provides a great platform for efficient power transfer to the pedals, while the strap-and-dial combination delivers a secure foot feel. The boot-like upper design means that even with the retention clamped down, no areas of the shoe pinch.

The tread is effective in multiple ways. The outer tread to the cleat bolts is the right height, so you don't need cleat shims to fit platformed gravel pedals such as the WolfTooth DEL or Look X-One-G. I also found that on the occasions when I did need to trek on foot, the shoes stayed secure on loose, dusty ground.

Speaking of dust, the lower section is very easy to wipe clean, thanks to the laminate upper. Meanwhile, the sock-like element towards the opening is a bit of a dirt magnet. This was okay for these black shoes, but in the lighter colour options I can imagine it would be very difficult to keep those clean. White knitted fabric and mud or dust do not tend to mix well.

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Value

At £319.99 / $369.99, the Fizik Ferox 2 are not cheap, but compared with similar-spec gravel race shoes, they fare well.

The Specialized S-Works Recon Evo, for example, is £399.99 / $550, while the Sidi Aeron is prices at £349 / $569.99.

The Sidi Aeron, however, is significantly heavier at 407g per shoe in the same size, and although it features two dials, I think I prefer the retention of the Ferox 2 shoes overall.

The S-Works Recon Evo are a bit wider, but the Ferox 2 were not lacking in width. Arguably, the Recon Evo is a stiffer platform, but weight-wise they come out at a similar level, and there isn't enough difference between the two shoes to warrant the price hike for the Recon Evo.

There are, of course, cheaper options out there, but when it comes to the balance of stiffness, low weight, and value, the Fizik Ferox 2 is an impressive offering.

Tech specs

• Price: £319.99 / $369.99 / €329
• Sole: Carbon
• Sizes: 36-48 (half sizes 37.5-46.5)
• Weight: 342g per shoe (size 45)
• Retention: Boa dial and Velcro strap
• Colours: Black-dark forest, Lilac-black, Blue-black, Light grey-mint green, White-light grey