Tested : Pete’s Fizik Terra Artica GTX Shoe Review.

·Friday 17 March 2023

Fizik’s Terra Artica GTX is a clipless MTB and gravel shoe designed to shrug off the worst that the winter can do to your feet.

Can the Fizik Terra Artica GTX shrug off the worst of the Scottish winter and keep Pete’s feet warm? Read on to find out.

Photos by Pete Scullion.

Key features:

GORE-TEX Insulated Koala membrane
Soft fleeced lining
High-density PU upper + Ripstop fabric
L6 BOA® dial D Fit System
X5 nylon outsole with rubber treads, stiffness index 5
Weight: 432 g
Sizes: 36-48 (37 to 47 also in half sizes)
£249.99 RRP
Fizik.com

The £249.99 asking price for a nylon-soled riding shoe might be lofty, can you really put a price on dry, warm feet when it comes to winter riding? Away from the sole, the features of the Terra Artica GTX are numerous.

You get a Gore-Tex Insulated Koala membrane that does the heavy lifting when it comes to keeping the elements away from your trotters. A high-density PU upper with Ripstop fabric keeping the Gore-Tex protected from wear and tear. Fit is dealt with by an L6 BOA closure and a upper foot bridge velcro strap. Your foot slips into the narrow opening through a fleece-lined inner.

As with most Italian shoes, the Terra Artica GTXs suit a narrower foot, which make them spot on for me. With the fleece liner, you’re probably not going to want to leave room for a thicker sock, so best to go with the size that fits from the get-go.

With a definite swing in favour of keeping your feet dry and warm, and towards the less extreme end of the market, you don’t so much get a cleat slot but more of raised traction pads that flank the cleat. This is a shoe for longer days in the saddle on those darker, wetter days rather than a lap of the woods. That said, if you’re into shoes that ring the best of you power out and transfer it to the pedals then these might be the ones.

The level of protection these offer your feet from the elements is hard to overstate. Like a top-tier waterproof jacket or set of riding trousers, you really need the weather to be pretty filthy for these to shine, or you’ll just end up with sweaty toes. If it’s proper minging out, these will allow you to bust out mile after mile without so much as a complaint from your feet.

Despite dealing with a fair amount of trail cack, the PU upper and Ripstop have fared pretty well all things considered, and the sole is still looking fairly fresh thanks to an almost complete lack of any hike-a-bike action.

What do we think?

If you’re after a shoe that will allow you to disregard the conditions and become part of an ensemble that gets your wheels rolling in any conditions you can’t go far wrong with the Terra Artica GTX shoes.