You’d be forgiven if you thought these flashy new Fizik Venta Proxy cyclocross, gravel & XC racing shoes were a new top-of-the-line for the Italian cycling shoemaker. Striking out from the sea of drab earth tones and unexciting blacks & whites, these new Proxies are unabashedly outspoken. Screaming to be looked at and raced off-road. But with a slightly simplified upper construction and slightly less-stiff sole to tackle run-ups, they are actually around 20% cheaper than Fizik’s Ferox…
Fizik Venta Proxy simple but flashy off-road racing shoes
I’m all for some flashy race kicks. And Fizik describes the Proxy as “developed for competitive riders seeking race-ready features and optimal power transfer on unpaved roads.” So, cross-country, gravel, and cyclocross race-ready. But still with enough flex in the sole that they won’t make you suffer when you have to hike up a hill too steep to pedal.
Plus, the new Fizik Venta Proxy shoes reveal all of their construction tech in bright contrasting colors.
Tech Details in Technicolor
Coral orange microfiber on the heel & toe where they need extra protection, and around the laces for support. Purple for the outer polyurethane mesh for great breathability. Then, more purple microfiber laminated underneath for more structure to tie it all together. Bright yellow webbing lace guides so you have fewer plastic bits to worry about breaking racing off-road.
A single minimalist black plastic Li2 Boa dial and wires fine-tune your fit, with a low-profile. And a perforated purple microfiber tongue to comfortably spread that pressure over your foot. Then lastly, an extra bit of hi-viz yellow and reflective detailing at the heel for added visibility.
Even the sole gets the tech-color treatment. Black reveals the X3 glass fiber-reinforced composite construction with a 8/10 stiffness (the also colorful Feroxes are a 10). White the over-molded rubber lugs for sticky grip. And bright yellow for the thread-in toe spikes.
Complete weight comes in at 326g per shoe (size 42 without its 20g insole.)
Fizik Proxy – Pricing, options & availability
The new Fizik Venta Proxy off-road racing shoes are actually available in 4 color options, so you don’t have to only wear these extra flashy ones if that’s not your style. This bright Coral & Purple option is great, but my favorite is probably the Black & Sky Blue Reflective version.
Presumably, the weave in the mesh is reflective? I’m not entirely sure.
Otherwise, there are all-white and all-black versions for the less adventurous among us.
Any way you look at it, they all sell for $250 / 230€ – in EU half-sizes 37-47, plus 36 & 48. And are available now direct from Fizik or their partner retailers.
