Tag: gravel biking

Fi’zi:k Ergolace 2 GTX Review

I reviewed the original Fizik Ergolace GTX shoe back in March 2024, two and a half years on they are still my go to shoe when the weather turns inclement. Perfect for all but deep winter riding, you can read the original review here Ergolace 1

If you don’t want to read all that (the pictures are pretty) then this is how I summed up the original shoe….. “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.”

fizik ergolace 2
fizik ergolace 2 chunky

As you can see I liked the shoe so it was with some excitement and not a little trepidation I got to try the successor, the version 2, it’s got to be better right? I hope so, but you know when your phone or your computer gets a software update and everything is a little different and not in the place you left it and it takes you ages to get your head around it? That’s what I hoped wouldn’t be the case as I like the original shoe so much.

fizik ergolace 2, yes that front wheel is bigger!

The differences between the two versions are many. Firstly the traditional lace system has gone, it’s replaced by a speed lace. this is an improvement as fumbling with laces with cold hands was a pain. The shoe is wider as standard as apparently this was a criticism of the original. I do not have wide feet so this was never an issue for me. The shoe nowhas less bulk and now has no “tongue” like a normal shoe. Its more like a sock that you slip on and has an elasticated cuff. Fizik call it an “airprene bootie” change from the original design to cut down on overlapping seams and relieve pressure on the forefoot. The outer is a ripstop fabric that even though this is not a practical colour for the UK cleans up very well and dries quickly. The tread on the sole has been completely redesigned in “vibram megagrip” is much more aggressive and chunky.

The similarities are that the shoe retains the Gore-Tex membrane, polyurethane protection panels and a nylon shank for pedalling efficiency but retaining the important flexability for walking

fizik ergolace 2 speedlace
fizik ergolace 2 sole

Things I like about the new shoe I like the extra roominess, even though I don’t have wide feet I have found that the extra room allows your foot to spread out and when wearing a thicker or waterproof sock that extra space is very welcome. I like that Fizik have retained the power transfer stiffness and the walking ability. I helped out for the day in my local bike shop and obviously cycled there but was able to leave the ergolace shoes on all day without discomfort (the cleat is recessed enough so you don’t sound like an audition for the Tap dance week of Strictly) the sole seems a little thicker than the old shoe so I had to raise my saddle a little to compensate. I like that despite the complete change to the upper the water resistance and breathability is as good as ever. I like the speed lace too although there isn’t as much adjustment as there was with tradtional laces.

fizik ergolace 2
fizik ergolace 2 cleat pocket

Things That are taking me time to adjust to The new bootee system can be a pain as the aperture for your foot reaches a certain width and then stops when the elastic reaches its limit, unlike the old tongue and two halves on the old shoe. You definately need a shoe horn to get your feet in them if you are wearing thicker socks. Once on and you’ve rucked your socks into position the new shoe is actually more comfortable than the old one, I presume because of the extra width. I’m hoping that with time the upper will stretch a little and become less of a fight to put on initially.

fizik ergolace 2 not just water but dust resistant too!

So is the Fizik Ergolace GTX 2 an improvement over the original? Just about yes. Sometimes change isn’t good, this is mostly because you get used to how things feel and work. this time all the good ingredients of the original are there, the pedalling efficiency, the walkability, the comfort, the water resistance and breathability. The addition of the speedlace is welcome as is the updated sole which is much grippier than the original. The jury is still out on the foot wrapping bootie and this jurer hopes that will bed in and the shoe will be perfect. Cross your fingers!

you can find more details on the new Fizik Ergolace GTX 2 here

Northwave Celsius XT Arctic GTX shoe review

When it comes to feet, mine run cold and I’m always searching for the perfect solution to keeping my toes comfortable when the temperatures drop to single or minus figures. So it was either very brave or very foolish for Northwave to take up the challenge with their Celsius Arctic GTX shoes. Warning: there’s a lot of acronyms and product names in this review, such is the current fashion in the bike industry. Still, “Celsius Arctic GTX” does on the face of it sound impressively warm doesn’t it? Luckily the period of riding in these coincided with the UK weather reverting to normal with a named storm, torrential rain, floods that then turned into a cold snap of windscreen scraping mornings and crunchy puddles, so all in all perfect test conditions!

Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX the clean unworn edition

Ok, lets get some of the jargon and acronyms out of the way first, the Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX boots are advertised as having a “Cirrus XT 4L membrane made by Gore-Tex” for waterproofness and breathability, 200g recycled “Primaloft Gold thermal padding” inside and a “4 layer Arctic insole”. More of a shoe with a neoprene cuff than a boot they close using a “X-Dial SLW3” (think Boa but with a quick release lever) and a zip up the inside of the cuff. The sole has an aggressive looking “Jaws Evo sole” tread, with a SPD cleat pocket and the provision of fitting football boot studs at the toe for added traction if you are fit/mad enough to run with your bike on a cyclocross race.

Enough of the jargon, what are they like to wear? Well i asked for a size larger than my normal summer shoe size as I intended to run thicker or waterproof socks with them and Northwave agreed that was a good idea. With a thicker sock on my feet I attempted to put them on for the first time. There’s definately a knack to it. Inside the shoe are two red straps to aid pulling them on and they are needed. It was a bit of a wrestle to be honest and i was instantly worried I needed an even bigger size. However once on and my socks straightened by wiggling my feet in the shoe they felt totally the right size and i had plenty of toe wiggle room. Infact they are sort of T.A.R.D.I.S like as they seem bigger when on than when putting on if that makes sense?

Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX pull on straps
Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX primaloft interior

Once on and the dial turned to snug the front of the shoe down and the zip done up they feel really comfortable, there’s loads of adjustment with the X-Dial and the neoprene like cuff fits well around the ankle and allows unhindered ankle joint articulation. So no resistance to pedalling.

Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX sole & cleat pocket
Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX generous cleat adjustment

the sole has a very generous amount of cleat adjustment, I’d go as far as saying the most I’ve experienced on any clip in shoe. I set it as far back as it could go thinking the shoes were like most others and soon realised I had to move the cleat back towards the toe which is unheard of in my experience! The sole is aggressive and there’s lots of grip even without the toe studs for hike a bike sections. The close spaced knobs will get clogged with clay and leaves (your soil conditions may be different) but a quick bang on the pedals soon clears them though. Taking of walking, the sole has just the right amount of flex for trotting up muddy trails and lets face it more importantly they won’t make you look like a penguin when walking up to the counter in your favourite coffee/cake/chip shop/pub. Despite this flex there is plenty of stiffness at the cleat for efficient pedalling.

Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX test conditions

Are they waterproof then? the shoe part of the “boot” definately is, i know this because I deliberately on your behalf pedalled my bike through all the floods, stood in X-dial deep puddles and tried to (unsuccessfully) leap across a ford. The neoprene cuff though isn’t, it’s weather proof but will eventually get damp from spray. Bear in mind though that there’s a big hole in the shoe where your foot goes in so a wet sock cuff is equally caused by water running down the leg of my waterproof trousers as much as the neoprene. The good thing about neoprene though and why it’s excellent as a wet suit is that despite being damp it still insulates the wearer by trapping body heat. On the wettest day when i removed the shoes the top of my sock was damp but from the ankle down was as dry as when I put them on.

Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX in the wild
Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX full frontal

Despite having to really tug to get the shoes on the straps have remained intact. the X-Dial looks fragile put I have accidentally smashed it into a concrete bollard (Northwave sell spares) and the release lever allows very easy adjustment, in a juxtposition to putting them on the shoes come off at the end of a ride very easily which messes with my mind somewhat.

Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX X-Dial adjuster
Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX side zip

Did the Northwave Celcius Arctic GTX shoes keep my feet warm? Northwave needn’t have worried (I expect they weren’t losing any sleep) as my feet stayed warmer in these shoes a lot longer than I’ve experienced before. i’d go as far as saying they are the warmest cycling shoes/boots that I’ve tried so far and as the temperature drops the further we get into winter i’m looking forward to spending longer out on the bike than previous years.

Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX making waves
Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX will never be this clean again

The Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX shoe is a comfortable, efficient pedalling, warm and weatherproof shoe that’ll help you go further for longer in the grimmest of conditions.

you can see more details on the shoes on the Northwave website

Northwave haven’t paid for this review, they took the risk of an honest review, there are no affiliate links or discount codes. I do (I hope) get to keep the shoes, not that anyone would want then after my plates of meat have been in them for a few weeks!