When Fizik unveiled their latest simple Venta Proxy gravel & XC racing shoes last spring in flashy orange & purple, I was pretty hyped and ready to review them. This was said to be a race-ready off-road shoe, but simpler and cheaper than the Ferox. And importantly – at least in my mind – incrementally flexier for better all-day comfort and walkability. And whether you loved or hated those bright colors (I count myself in the former), there are also classic single-color versions, too.
So, with high expectations for a Fizik Proxy review, I’ve ridden a pair hard over the summer. And I’m mostly very happy with them, except in one manner. Their single Boa design means limited fit control adjustability, which I’ve simply modified for improved comfort. You be the judge…
Review: Fizik Venta Proxy gravel & XC shoes in dirty white
Fizik describes the Proxy as a more affordable “off-road racing cycling shoe developed for competitive riders seeking race-ready features and efficient power transfer on unpaved roads“. The shoes feature a multi-layer, mostly mesh upper with polyurethane fabric, alternately laminated inside and out, for structure and durable reinforcement. Then, a single Li2 Boa dial per shoe tightens a long plastic lace that zig-zags across 3 sets of guides. Reaching from forefoot to midfoot with 2 crossings.
Compared to Fizik’s top-spec gravel, CX & XC racing Vento Ferox Carbon off-road shoes these Proxies are 23% cheaper, saving your wallet 70€ for a claimed 58g weight penalty for the pair. That extra weight mostly comes from the fiber-reinforced nylon composite sole structure with an 8/10 stiffness rating vs. the Ferox’s 10/10 carbon sole, while the upper construction is likely a bit heavier too.
My two favorite features of the Proxies are the just-right stiffness and ample ventilation.
Sweet Spot Stiffness
I’m not really a racer anymore. Although I’m happy to strap on a number plate a few times a year, especially for an adventurous race or some good old technical enduro. So, the vast majority of my riding leans toward the fun end of the spectrum. I’m always happy to go faster. But I’m unlikely to sacrifice comfort to shave seconds off any ride time. So in a pair of ‘off-road race’ shoes, the ability to comfortably do some hike-a-bikes (maybe even climb a tree?) is just as important as absolute pedaling efficiency.
So 8/10 stiffness is a great sweet spot. These Fizik Venta Proxy shoes are plenty stiff for fast gravel and cross-country riding. But I’ve also managed to scramble up some rock faces with them. I’ve comfortably saddled up to a couple of cafes & trailside restaurants. And I’ve finished every ride without feeling the need to immediately get my feet out of them.
Airy Ventilation
Equally nice, Fizik created exceptionally well-ventilated shoes with the Proxy. Cutouts in the inner layer of the PU structure of the shoe result in 9 unobstructed mesh panels along the inner and outer faces of the shoe and up across the top of the forefoot to let plenty of air in and heat out. (You can easily see darker or colored socks peering through.)
Yet a reinforced wrap-around PU layer over the toe has kept the mesh out of harm’s way, and keeps the shoes from feeling too vented on cool mornings and evenings.
But my feet have stayed comfortable and cool, even on the hottest summer days. And by simply pointing your toes down for a moment while coasting, and you get a blast of refreshing airflow for when it does feel especially hot out.
Limited Fit Adjustability
Now, here’s the rub in my Fizik Proxy review. And it makes these shoes less than perfect out of the box for my low-volume forefoot. They have a great Boa Li2 that offers precise adjustment – fine steps tighter or looser – equally pulling each wire out of the dial. But there’s just one dial to adjust tension across the entire foot.
Fully tightening the shoe at the dial, friction in the webbing guides means that there’s almost no tension in that straight section of wire furthest away across the forefoot. And really there’s very little tension at the lowest crossing of the wires either. In variably, tightening the shoe to the correct tension at the top of your foot next to the dial means inadequate tension at the bottom. And overtightening just leads to discomfort (and likely restricted circulation).
My hack of a fit fix has been to shorten the Boa wire to exclude the lower guide loops. I replaced the lower loop with a piece of braided rope that I simply tied off for a tight fit. It is comfortable, secure, does not restrict me sliding the shoe on or off, and ultimately can be retied once I shift to thicker socks in the fall. And now tension is much more uniform across just the upper two sets of guides for much improved fine fit adjustment. Just think of it like the old shoes you have with a velcro strap at the bottom that you almost never adjust.
Real Weight
My size 43 Fizik Venta Proxy off-road race shoes weigh in at a real 624g for the pair – with the Fizik insoles but without cleats. That’s 312g per shoe, which is actually 12g lighter than Fizik’s claim, which typically would exclude the insole. I’m happy with that. And they definitely feel light on my feet.
I originally was torn between whether I should get the orange & purple Proxies that I worried wouldn’t match a lot of bikes/riding kit or the black & light blue pair that might be less shocking. In the end, Fizik sent me the all-white version, which I would not have picked, presumably to see how dirty I could get them.
But white shoes are faster anyway, right?
Fizik Venta Proxy Review: Riding Impressions
Out on the gravel roads and trails, I’ve been really happy with the feel of the shoes. The material feels good against my feet, from ultra-thin synthetic to mid-weight merino socks. The soles feel stiff and responsive, yet are still flexible enough that my feet don’t hurt after longer, steeper sections pushing a bike up something unrideable. The lugs are grippy enough, and haven’t worn too quickly. And the Proxies feel so well-ventilated that I am surprised that they don’t show significant signs of abuse, besides being dirty.
The only issue is that unfortunately insufficient fit adjustability. But, I’m actually quite satisfied with my fix. Content to the point that I now often choose these over other shoes for my regular gravel and cross-country rides. And I have plenty of other shoes to choose from.
Now, can I realistically recommend a 230€ pair of shoes that you can’t easily adjust the fit tension on properly? That’s a hard one to answer, I guess. My immediate thought is… of course not. But there’s a lot that Fizik did really well with these shoes, so someone like me who takes pleasure in fixing things or customizing them might be OK with it.
And in reality, my time with these shoes just makes me think that Fizik needs to make a pair just like this, but with 2 lightweight velcro straps like on their latest Powerstrap Aeroweave road shoes.
