Fizik Terra Artica GTX Off-Road Winter SPD Cycling Shoe

The Fizik Terra Artica GTX shoes, arguably a boot, feature waterproof GORE-TEX outer layer and an insulating, breathable fleece lining throughout. The closure is a fast combination of a Velcro strap and BOA dial. Warmth and ease for the colder weather?

Things I liked:

• They’re the best looking shoes I’ve ever worn on (and off) a bike
• Easy to get on/off despite being a close fit when on
• Great ventilation throughout

Things I would change:

• The Velcro ankle strap could do with being a bit longer
• Fewer air perforations/better windproofing
• Umm… nope… struggling here…

I am wearing EUR 41, UK 7 ¼. For reference, I wear the following sizes:

• Adidas/FiveTen EUR 41 ⅓, UK 7.5
• Ride Concept EUR 40, UK 7
• Specialized EUR 41, UK7
• Bontrager EUR 41.5, UK 7.5
• Salomon EUR 41 ⅓, UK 7.5
• Merrell EUR 41.5, UK 7.5

The Fizik Terra Artica are a close fit. I have narrow feet, so generally I find shoes to be quite spacious, particularly around my high arch, however these fit like a sock. They’re supportive, comfortable yet don’t rub unless I choose the wrong socks. For me to be able to wear a thicker merino, or a waterproof sock, I’d have to size up on the shoe. They do half sizes though, so you should be able to find a pair to fit.

Getting them on and off isn’t the struggle I’d expect from such a close fitting shoe. The BOA system allows me to open the ankle up wide enough to get my feet in/out with ease, and there’s a finger loop at the back to help too. The BOA dial works brilliantly – it’s smooth, quick and reliable. The Velcro top strap however is a slight oversight – it is far too short. My partner has a pair of these and agrees that at least an extra inch is needed on the strap.

The fleece lining throughout the shoe is so cosy, these are a treat for your feet. Genuinely a really comfortable shoe both on and off the bike. There’s a lot of air perforations on the top and sides of the shoes, arguably too many. They’re designed to be warm and weatherproof, yet there’s so much ventilation I feel that it lets them down in minus temperatures.

The GORE-TEX hasn’t let me down yet for waterproofing, and as with most shoes they only end up wet from water entering through the top. I have been riding in temperatures from -5°C to +12°C in comfort. The warmer temperatures have been manageable thanks to all that ventilation, and the minus temperatures have been OK for up to about two hours. Beyond that, the toes start to feel the chill. A couple of notable rides worth mentioning:

1. 8 hours on the road, high of 5°C, 30mph wind, a hail storm, rain and ending in minus temperatures. I spent the final two hours of this ride very aware of how sore my toes were, but they hadn’t quite made it to fully numb.
2. 3 hours mountain biking, deep snow, around 0°C with the sun out. My feet remained bone dry, warm and I didn’t struggle pushing my bike up slippery trails that I couldn’t manage to pedal up.

I have become quite in tune with my cleat position in recent months, and the big selling point of these Fizik Terra Artica shoes is how much adjustment they have. The cleats can be set close to the middle of the sole, and there’s a decent amount of side-to-side adjustment for the varying stance widths of gravel and mountain bikes.

Key Features:

• GORE-TEX Insulated Koala membrane
• Soft fleece lining
• High-density PU upper + Ripstop fabric
• L6 BOA® dial D Fit System
• X5 nylon outsole with rubber treads, stiffness index 5
• Sizes: 36-48 (37 to 47 also in half sizes)

Overall

The Fizik Terra Artica GTX Off-Road shoe are incredibly durable and high performing. Though not immune to severely cold temperatures, they offer comfort in such a wide variety of weathers that I think they’re a great piece of kit that you would get a lot of use out of. The worst situation I have been in has been cold toes on a day where I probably shouldn’t have even been outside. A great shoe for road riders that use SPDs, gravel riders and mountain bikers.

Review Info

Amanda Wishart

Art Director

Amanda is our resident pedaller, who loves the climbs as much as the descents. No genre of biking is turned down, though she is happiest when at the top of a mountain with a wild descent ahead of her. If you ever want a chat about concussion recovery, dealing with a Womb of Doom or how best to fuel an endurance XC race, she's the one to email.

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