Bike Perfect Verdict
Light, tough enduro/trail shoe with excellent feel and easy walking but not for power pedallers
Pros
- +
Excellent fit and lightweight comfort
- +
Awesome trail feedback
- +
Decent weather protection
- +
Aggro cleat position potential
Cons
- -
Expensive for a lace-up shoe
- -
Too floppy for power pedallers and/or small pedals
Why trust BikePerfect Our cycling experts have decades of testing experience. We\'ll always share our unbiased opinions on bikes and gear. Find out more about how we test.
It took us a few rides to get into the distinctive sock and sandal style of Fizik’s Terra Clima boot but once we’d synced we wore them nearly all winter/spring. The Ergolace shoes offer the same high feedback, gravity/tech-oriented trail feel with a light, low profile but impressively tough and comfortable upper.
Sole
The shared feel between the Clima and Ergolace isn’t a surprise as the sole unit is identical. That means a soft compound, chevron Vibram offering plenty of grip in all conditions. A very flexible and mobile shank underneath makes them comfortable and easy to walk. It gives excellent pedal feel on larger cage pedals and they’ve got a damped rather than clattery feel on rocky trails. The cleat slots are also extended back into the midfoot to provide a more centred ‘flat pedal’ foot position if you want it. The flex in the sole does mean less power transfer for hard pedalling though and you’ll also flop and droop around smaller platform pedals more than most shoes.
Upper
The upper is also similar to the Clima’s with a thick, stiffened Ripstop fabric reinforced with big toe and heel bumpers plus a long rubber scuff panel down the outside. That makes them armoured enough to use as a proper enduro shoe without risking bludgeoned toes. They’re naturally wind- and splash-proof but you’ll need to use a coating spray to make them more shower/rain resistant. While it feels slightly stiff at first the tough fabric moulds really well to your foot after a couple of rides and the asymmetric lacing tensions evenly across the stiff tongue for a secure but comfortable fit. While their ultimate security depends on your ability to tie a knot in the laces, there’s obviously no risk of dial or ratchet failure. It also keeps the overall shoe weight low at sub 400g and while the cost is high for a laced shoe, durability and quality are excellent. They also come in four different colours.
Verdict
They’re not cheap and the floppy sole won’t suit power riders, but the tough, lightweight, securely comfortable and grippy, maximum communication sole make Fizik’s X2 Terra Ergolace an excellent enduro/trail investment for clipped in pinners.
Tech spec: Fizik X2 Terra Ergolace trail
- Sizes: 36-48
- Weight: 770g
- Price: £119.99
