The Tour of Guangxi will once again be the final World Tour event of the season, and will wrap up competition at the highest level in mid-November. The Chinese race has confirmed the presence of Tom Pidcock, Juan Ayuso and other big names. The race will take place from the 13th to 18th of October a...

Comfortable, fast and stylish, but it doesn't come cheap

On the 3rd of October 2026, the European Championships in Ljubljana, Slovenia, have the women's elite road race as the first major event. Elisa Longo Borghini, Marlen Reusser and more will battle for the iconic European jersey. Below, you will find the favourites for the race, the route and a previe...

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 Fiziks 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. The shoes combine velcro strapping with a more commonly found dialFuture - Andy TurnerThe front has a TPU laminated coverFuture - Andy TurnerThe dial is the Boa Li2Future - Andy TurnerPowerstrap velcro and bootie like entryFuture - Andy TurnerDesign detailsThe 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. The cleat mounting has very far back options, more inline with modern fit requirementsFuture - Andy TurnerThose treads are effective over loose and muddy terrainFuture - Andy TurnerPerformanceGetting these shoes on can be a bit of an ordeal, as the bootie-like upper doesnt 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 hadnt tightened it enough. The Powerstrap system is far easier to adjust than laces, of course, but a little more involved than a retention dial.The insoles don't have a high arch support (which I need) but it's decent and the central structure helps avoid excess pressure being applies through the toes (Image credit: Future - Andy Turner)However, once youve 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.Some good dust levels achieved Future - Andy TurnerA quick clean of one with a microfibre cloth leaves the shoe looking a lot cleanerFuture - Andy TurnerValueAt 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.The Powerstrap spreads pressure evenly across the upper of the foot but requires careful application to get the pressure right (Image credit: Future - Andy Turner)Tech specsPrice: 319.99 / $369.99 / 329Sole: CarbonSizes: 36-48 (half sizes 37.5-46.5)Weight: 342g per shoe (size 45)Retention: Boa dial and Velcro strapColours: Black-dark forest, Lilac-black, Blue-black, Light grey-mint green, White-light grey

A rusty Jack Sexty will be kicking off with an average, mid-table live blog today, before enlisting the help of actual news pro Callum Devereux to make it look like it's much better and richer than it is. If anyone questions this, I have "irrefutable evidence" that will prove my innocence

The 2026 European Championships will be taking place from the 2nd to 7th of October 2026. Below, you will find information on where to watch the races live and on TV, including in the USA and UK. Furthermore, you will find the dates and schedules of all events set to take place in Ljubljana, Sloveni...

The 2026 Giro dell'Emilia will take place on the 3rd of October 2026 - simultaneous to the European Championships. The classic, one of the main features of of the Italian autumn classics block, is a race with a great amount of history and also big winners over its history. On the Madona di San Luca,...

The 2026 Arizona Trail Race begins tomorrow morning, with riders setting off on either a 300- or 800-mile route across the Grand Canyon State. Find a collection of bike and gear details for over half of the folks lining up for the grand depart in our latest race rig roundup hereThe post Rigs of the 2026 Arizona Trail Race appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.