FIZIK TERRA X5
Do the road shoes masters tick the trail boxes?
WEIGHT 383g COLOURS Black;
Red; Dark Blue; Grey; Military Green WOMEN’SMODEL No SOLE Carbon/TPU CLOSURES Boa/Velcro
Fizik describes its Terra X5 as a mountain-bike shoe. The X5’s carbon outsole features deep TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane)-injected studs, while the synthetic Microtex upper has laser perforations for ventilation. The fastening consists of an asymmetric Boa and toe strap pairing and the shoe’s profile is broad. A detail that we really appreciated is the heel loop, which not only helps you get the shoes on easily, but they’re also handy for drying the shoes between rides.
My standard size 46 (EU) shoe fitted well, although it wears slimmer than the shape would suggest – and I say that as a rider whose feet are on the narrow side. The tongue extends towards the outside of your foot, creating a wraparound effect that offers a balanced and secure fit. This all-enveloping comfort is further enhanced by the tongue’s padding, which thanks to a guide through which the Boa wire runs, doesn’t move when riding.
The X5 is a stiff shoe. It has a heel grip feature that keeps it in place when you’re walking but it does feel like you’re hike-abiking in a beefed-up road shoe. The deep treads are widely spaced, which means they shed mud well, but the grip isn’t as firm when it gets stickier and these are less stable underfoot than, for example, Lake’s MX176 shoes. On the other hand, the additional power transfer when you’re climbing is noticeable and depending on the terrain of your usual rides, that might be the clincher.
Even though Fizik cites a mountain bike heritage for the X5, it still feels like a road shoe that has come to the rugged side. It’s not that it’s difficult to walk in the X5s, it’s just that their strengths lie in power transfer rather than long-lasting comfort. If your hilly gravel routes remain rideable all year and you have little call for extended walking, then it’s a trade-off that could work for you, as the X5’s fit and the construction of their uppers provide great round-the-foot comfort with enough ruggedness for off-road adventures.