Fizik has launched the Vento Ferox Carbon, a new off-road cycling shoe for gravel riding and cross-country mountain biking.
Belonging to the brand’s Vento racing series, the brand says the Ferox is at home with “technical XC descents, speedy cyclocross races or all-day gravel events”.
The new shoe comes hot on the release of the Terra Atlas, which the brand also said blurred the lines between gravel and XC.
The Ferox shoe retails for £299 / €299 / $299. Australian availability and pricing is to be confirmed.
Blurring the lines between gravel and mountain biking
Fizik says the Ferox combines a performance-oriented carbon sole with a lightweight and breathable upper. The polyurethane laminated upper is supported with a tear-resistant woven mesh.
The Ferox utilises a single Boa Li2 dial, with a Velcro strap securing the top portion of the shoe.
The Velcro strap is reminiscent of the brand’s PowerStrap, which Fizik uses on some of its other shoes. However, Fizik points out that it is not the same, although the brand says it has taken inspiration from the PowerStrap technology to create this shoe.
It claims the Ferox performs best when “high performance, foot stability and long-lasting comfort are needed most”.
A carbon sole with maximum stiffness
The Ferox utilises Fizik’s X1 carbon outsole with a non-replaceable rubber tread.
BikeRadar asked Fizik if it had implemented any additional measures to ensure its durability. The brand replied that as the Ferox is designed as a race shoe, low weight and greater sole stiffness are bigger priorities. However, the brand says the tread had been designed "to last a long time”.
Fizik rates the Ferox at the maximum of 10 in its arbitrary stiffness index rating, in line with the brand’s Infinito road shoes (though exactly how much difference shoe stiffness makes to performance is debatable).
Options
The brand claims the Ferox shoes weigh 297g for a size 42. This is competitive when compared to other recent gravel and mountain bike shoe releases.
Shimano’s RX8 gravel shoes come in at a claimed 314g in a size 45 and the Specialized Recons weigh 304g in a size 44.
The shoes will be available from sizes 36 to 48 and the 37 to 47 will also be available in half-sizes.
Two colours option will be available – traditional black / black and a louder lilac / white colourway.
