After reviewing the Terra Atlas shoe and the Artica GTX boot i really wanted to test the Terra Ergolace GTX shoe because, well they look very different to anything else on the market today. The fact that they have a goretex membrane (the GTX bit) just made them all the more intriguing.
I chatted to the guys at Extra UK who distribute Fizik in the UK and they were happy to let me try a pair but, and they put this in writing via email, they said “please don’t say this is a winter shoe just because it’s got goretex in it” Obviously I said I wouldn’t. However, I got the shoes in November 2023 and have been wearing them throughout the winter!
The Terra Ergolace, has laces, I suspect you guessed that. personally I love lace up cycling shoes, Boa and velcro are good fastening types, less so ratchet systems but nothing comes close to the micro adjustability of laces. They are difficult to adjust on the fly when cycling I’ll admit but just how many of us are copying pro cyclists tightening their shoes before the last kilometre of a break away finish in a one day classic? Not many I bet and stopping to adjust laces to compensate for foot temperature changes etc isn’t really a drawback in my book. the laces will get covered in whatever fluid/effluent/mud the front wheel throws up though so there is that. Fizik have offset the laces to one side, which they claim is “ergonomic” and I’ve had no isues with the shoe tongue irritating the top of my foot that I’ve experienced with other shoes because of laces digging in, because the laces just aren’t there to cause trouble.
The upper lining is waterproof and breathable due to the aforementioned Goretex membrane. The outer fabric is made from Ripstop nylon and despite wearing them throughout the winter (perhaps the ice grey colour wasn’t the best idea during the muddier months) they have no cuts or pulls in the material. They have discoloured slightly. I’ve just been soaping them down with the same stuff I’ve used to clean the bike and they come up looking almost as good as new. The Vibram sole has bumpers fore and aft with a reinforced PU toe cover to deal with inevitable trail scrapes and knocks. The test shoes are the SPD version, there is a flat pedal specific version too. The cleat pocket underneath is large and the cleat can be positioned far enough backwards to be comfortable, something other shoe designers and manufacturers should take note of!.
The Ergolace shoe has a stiffness rating of 3 which means it has a little give for hike a bike but still supports the foot on the pedals when riding all day. It has an EVA midsole which makes the shoe very comfortable on and off the bike. the vibram sole is grippy enough if you fail to engage the cleat in the pedal and on rock/pavement. Really muddy trails and slimy roots will defeat them but they defeat just about anything. I went a size larger than normal as I knew i’d be wearing them with waterproof socks which are a lot thicker than normal socks. This was a good idea as they fit well and were very comfortable with plenty of room in the toe box for the extra sock material.
My experience of riding in the terra Ergolace Shoes has encompased one of the wettest winter seasons we’ve endured for many years. I think I can only remember 3 or four frosty days in the last 4 months. the shoes have been in near constant spray fom the front wheel and at times they looked like I’d ordered them in a deep brown colour. they got completely submerged in floods a couple of times and not even goretex can stop the shoe filling with water if it comes in via the foot hole!. Waterproof socks were invaluable in this instance. the shoes took around a day to dry on the radiator with the insoles removed which compared to other shoes I’ve soaked is a pretty good performance. With the addition of the waterproof socks and the goretex membrane the shoes have just shrugged off the spray. when the mud has got that bad that I’ve had to get off the bike and trudge through mud condition consistancies varying from cookie dough to farm yard slurry I’ve found them easy to walk in. Uphill pushes have resulted in no heel lift and cafe/pub stops are a delight (aren’t they always) as I’m not walking like bambi on ice or the Penguin from batman due to too stiff soles. I recommend you use a pedal with a platform though rather than a small race style pedal as the shoe flexibility that allows hike a bike performance will result in foot hot spots. a platform SPD pedal will support the foot and I have had zero hot spot issues while using this type of pedal.
Comfort wise I cannot fault the Terra ergolace, infact I’ll go as far as saying these are the most comfortable cycling shoe I’ve ever worn. Add this too the generous cleat adjustment and the shoe just feels spot on for riding. The goretex membrane is just the icing on the cake, this together with a waterproof sock for winter makes them the only shoe you’ll need. summer storm water and puddles wll just get shaken off. The fact that the shoes are so comfortable both on and off the bike make them the perfect bike packing shoe. You’ll only need one set of shoes for everything.
If you are in the market for an out and out super stiff race shoe then these are not for you. if you want a shoe that will do short rides, epic adventures across the globe, hike a bike up hellvellyn and still not look out of place in the pub (or at work….ask me how I know) then buy the Fizik Terra ergolace shoes. they are not cheap and I dont say this lightly, but they are worth every penny.
Throw away your other cycling shoes, get a pair of Fizik Terra Ergolace GTX shoes, they really are that good…….but obvously they are not a winter shoe, ok? 😉
you can find more information on these shoes from the Fizik website here
UK GRAVEL COLLECTIVE 