an Indigenous community residing in the dense forest interiors of northern Brazil and neighboring Guyana hold Brazil nuts in deep cultural and economic significance These nuts are not just a staple in their diet but also play a crucial role in their livelihoods Brazil nuts have become the primary source of cash income for the Wai Wai particularly for the 350 families living within the Wai Wai Indigenous Territory in Brazil’s Roraima state The community’s reliance on these nuts extends beyond sustenance as they form the foundation of their cuisine and daily nutrition By engaging in direct sales with companies the Wai Wai have successfully secured significantly higher prices for their Brazil nuts bypassing middlemen who often offer the lowest market rates these direct agreements often face challenges reflecting the broader difficulties Indigenous and traditional communities encounter when trying to participate effectively in the potentially lucrative bioeconomy These challenges underscore the need for more sustainable and fair trade practices that empower Indigenous communities and protect their cultural heritage Indigenous Wai Wai seek markets for Brazil nuts without middlemen The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] but mountain bike shoes are generally more overbuilt and have soles suited to the demands of the chosen discipline shoes will be the closest analogue to gravel shoes and before gravel-specific footwear existed this was the next best thing However on the whole you don't need toe spikes for gravel riding and while many gravel shoes have ports to fit them they're much more useful in cyclocross just because you can clip into your gravel bike with a set of downhill shoes doesn't mean you should At the very competitive end of gravel races it is something we see as they do offer a better pedalling platform thanks to the larger cleat but this only really works though as the racers are unlikely to put a foot down over the course of the race In wet and muddy races it's rarely seen at all as road pedals are much more prone to clogging if you're going to ride off-road regularly then get some off-road shoes I took my road bike on an excursion down a bridleway once and my Look Keo Blade pedals got so clogged that I blew the carbon spring out of one of them trying to get my cleat to clip in Toe spikes are primarily added to shoes for cyclocross racing and CX MTB racing where the chances of having to run up a steep The toe spikes dig in and stop you from failing to make any forward progress Gravel riding generally doesn't involve fast but if you also race 'cross then having the option to fit them when necessary will be hugely beneficial My top tip is to make sure you remove them for general use too; throwing a leg over your top tube and accidentally scoring it with a sharp stud is a mistake you only make once offer easy adjustment to the fit of your shoes while you're riding You'll notice a conspicuous absence of Velcro in this guide save for the one Powerstrap seen on the Fizik Vento Carbon Velcro has a finite service life at the best of times and this is accelerated when you throw mud and dust into the mix especially if it's the main closure system on the shoe This depends on what sort of gravel riding you're doing For racing then you do probably want a stiff shoe as it's claimed to offer better power transfer Given composite soles are also light it doesn't necessarily offer a great weight saving though and if you're going to walk around in your gravel shoes a lot then a carbon sole can actually be a downside as it makes the shoes uncomfortable and ungainly to clip-clop about in compared to the more flexible feel of a composite sole We are conditioned in cycling to want everything to be skintight but your feet need room to spread out to their full width under load to best transfer power so don't go forcing yourself into a too-narrow shoe just because you want it to fit You aren't the ugly step-sister; you are Cinderella and you deserve a gravel-specific glass slipper of your own you want enough room for your forefoot to spread out with a heel narrow enough to prevent it from lifting on the upstroke the former is more important than the latter though if you have stiff shoes and are walking a lot then heel retention does become more important as the heel wants to lift away from the shoe each stride if the sole doesn't flex In general Italian shoes tend to be the most narrow so that's Fizik from this list but also Sidi If you do have wide feet then some brands offer wide fits or are wider out of the box anyway and Lake are both wide as standard and come in a few even wider options so from the \"weight\" stat box for each shoe you can also see whether I was true to size I spend a lot of time riding on gravel anyway but heading out with several shoes isn't unusual to be able to try back-to-back options to see how they stack up I also tend to get distracted and head down interesting trails usually ending up with me walking back up again when I get to a dead end so how they grip off the bike is also at the forefront of my mind I get about by bike in town and to the office so as much as anything else these shoes became my daily options for some time too I've been truly #Blessed to have had my fair share of mud as well as beautiful fast dirt to see how they handle getting filthy and how they clean up afterwards from racy options through to hike-a-bike workhorses for bikepackers Gravel shoes are now a well-established segment; long gone are the days of putting up with standard mountain bike shoes. Now most brands have some gravel-specific footwear in their range focusing on either performance or adventure ends of the gravel spectrum and collate a genuinely useful list of the very best of each category and at various price points too.  It's meant some uncomfortable rides at times over the past few months of testing I've learned a fair bit about what works and what doesn't not just for specific models but in general so as well as specific product recommendations I'll try and share what I've picked up in general terms along the way too your best bet is to head to the bottom where I've answered what I think is probably on your mind when you're looking to make a purchase.  the S-Works Recon is one of the most expensive on the list but is Extremely lightweight thanks to a light carbon sole with an especially well-thought-out heel cup that keeps your foot positioned perfectly The S-Works Recon are a favourite for those who want a close-fit Read more below the Giro Privateer offers excellent value for money and tops the list as the best value gravel shoe There’s little not to like in these shoes: they’re comfy and warm enough to wear year-round durable enough for a bit of hike-a-bike and supportive enough over rough terrain Read more below Bikepacking does from time to time tend to involve a bit of walking the Specialized Recon ADV has a thinner carbon sole in front of the cleat plate making the front more flexible for walking especially on loose terrain where stiff soles often make you feel like you're wearing crampons The lace closure ensures day-long comfort while riding and they are constructed very well so should stand up to the additional abuse that bikepacking throws up Read more below a wider shoe is better for foot comfort when riding gravel That's particularly true if you already have wider feet The Lake shoes are considerably wider than most shoes here to start with they're available in a wide fit for even more room and the suede uppers will stretch over time to conform to your feet too Read more below but if you want a perfect fit then Bont's Vaypor G gravel shoes offer up a sole that is heat mouldable along its entire length They are available in a wide variety of widths and to mould them to your feet you just whack them in the oven for a bit and the resin softens If you don't get it perfect the first time you can repeat the process indefinitely too Read more below you can’t ask for anything better than the Quoc Chelsea Boot They’re quintessentially a Chelsea boot in design and feel although are perhaps a little stiffer than you’d expect and a little less comfy to walk in but are surprisingly effective on the bike while also offering relatively good water-repelling qualities Read more below We regularly check our guides to make sure that we're bringing you the best products and adding new ones when these become available We also review many new models and add them to our guides if they hit the mark in our tests.  ❌ You're on a budget: The Recons are the most expensive shoes here ❌ You do much hike-a-bike: The stiff soles make walking any distance awkward If the Giro Privateer is a reasonably priced generalist the Specialized S-Works Recon exist at the other end of several spectrums they are also one of the more comfortable options on the list If you want a pair the main drawback is going to be the price so let's be upfront: These are the most expensive shoes of the bunch a full £60 more than the next most expensive What do you get for that high retail price the forefoot wider than previous generations and the dual Boa closure means you get a shoe that feels more of an extension of your body than any other I've tried but also made of very stiff material that doesn't always play nicely with ankles Here the dropped outer ankle area keeps things comfortable when you're throwing the bike from side to side They're also the lightest pair of shoes on test thanks to a light carbon sole but primarily eschewing any real interior padding and being constructed from a rather stiff (and fortunately durable feeling) with just a ridge of firm foam around the rim of the ankle to hold things in place Don't mistake this for a lack of comfort though the Recons were some of the most comfy on test These are a race shoe though, essentially a gravel copy of the S-Works Torch and that distinction is more important off-road than it would be on the tarmac; I wouldn't want to walk off-road for extended periods in these any more than I'd want to walk for ages in road cleats The outsole is essentially there to allow you to walk to and from your bike If you want a race-facing shoe that you can actually walk in go for the Empire VR90 or the Vento Ferox carbon if you've got narrow feet.  Just a warning when purchasing: The old MTB shoes and these new gravel shoes are both named the Recon so make sure you're getting the right ones ❌ You're in between sizes: Giro doesn't offer half sizes ❌ Your feet run hot: There's not the ventilation on offer for warm days that other shoes provide the more premium shoes below do offer better performance but from the point of view of the generalist the Giro Privateer represents a very very good option at an affordable price.  but unless you're regularly riding at maximum effort that's no real drawback and it's great for extended hike-a-bike along with the grippy outsole While they're not super racy I did race cross in a previous iteration of them and they were perfectly adequate; I don't think better shoes would really have moved me up from my mid-pack finishes.  The comfort factor from the laces is excellent along with ample ankle padding that comes into play over rougher terrain and provides decent heel retention as a bonus The extra padding and the mostly non-perforated nature of the outer does mean they get a bit hot in high summer but the flip side is that I have been able to use these year-round just by adding some of the best winter cycling socks The lack of perforations means it's harder for water to get in on wet rides The upside of them being at the cheaper end of the spectrum too is that if you do use them over winter and trash them you're less concerned; you can focus on the riding and not worry about your fancy summer slippers getting tatty if you need one shoe to do it all then the Privateer is a perfect starting point if you're unsure which direction to take and given that and the price that's why I think they're the best option for most people Want the same features but more of a race-focused option but not compared to something like the Fizik Vento Ferox Carbon If you really can't stand the idea of laces then the Giro Rincon offers similar things at a similar price but in a package with a BOA dial and a Velcro strap however I found the Velcro strap to be essentially pointless and despite the more breathable exterior I'd opt for the Privateer given the choice.  ❌ You frequently ride in the wet: The venting can quickly make for damp feet ❌ You want extra grip: The Recon ADV's sole isn't as aggressive as some and can slip around when walking in muddy conditions Nominally the Recon ADV is Specialized's 'adventure shoe' sadly another victim of the great gravel vowel shortage While the outsole isn't a huge amount more chunky than the S-Works Recon the carbon sole itself is more flexible in front of the cleat plate making them a great deal easier to walk in While they're never going to compete with an actual walking boot for off-road hiking for the sort of hike-a-bike that goes on while bikepacking it's just enough to make them decent without sacrificing shoe stiffness as the sole under and rear of the cleat plate is just as stiff as ever these sit alongside the Empire VR90 as a high-performance generalist with the offer of a lace closure but here it falls alongside a more secure heel cup utilising the same style of padded upper ridge as per the Recons so definitely gravel only without any cyclocross There's very little to choose between these and the Empires. For summer use I'd take the Recon ADV, if I had a pair of the best winter cycling shoes to fall back on or riding in wet conditions I'd take the Giro option.  It may just be because the Empires have been around for years now and the Recons are new but the Recon ADV are a more attractive shoe though the wider spacing of the side panels across the upper foot does have the effect of making your foot look a little more chunky ❌ You want to keep weight low: The natural suede upper makes for a heavier shoe ❌ You want the best heel retention: I found my feet lifting in the wide heel cup and rubbing on its side you have a wide forefoot and you are yet to try a shoe that truly allows your foot to achieve its full width unimpeded by the confines of the shoe then I urge you to try a pair of Lakes I use the standard width of the MX238 Gravel but if you're like me and blessed with flippers they may be transformative Just to illustrate the difference in width these are around 15mm wider than the Vento Ferox Carbons.  being constructed in this case from a delightful extremely supple black suede that certainly looks good against the gum outsole Even if you do somehow find your forefoot coming up against the sides of the shoe the exterior is not only soft enough not to hem your foot in at least in the suede option; I cannot speak for the microfibre options I'm afraid.  The dual BOA closure allows for an adequate fit but the older generation dials feel dated now compared to those in use on the Rapha Powerweave While these aren't the same kind of shoe as the Bont Vaypor G having never really had it in other shoes to this extent before and while I don't think it's as important as an appropriate width shoe it certainly makes for a more comfortable setup on longer rides.  If weight is an issue then these aren't the shoe for you My main issues with the MX238 Gravel come at the rear end of the shoe resulting in (for me at least) not the best heel retention Certainly not the worst on test by any means and nothing to cause me concern for general riding at all with the low point situated very far rearward of my ankle bone protrusions This resulted in the side of the ankle digging into my foot when pedalling out of the saddle This will be alleviated to some degree if you're cycling with your toes particularly pointed but that tends to be a sign that your saddle is too high too ❌ You want to walk comfortably: The bathtub sole makes for a very stiff shoe so the Bonts are best if you don't walk much ❌ You don't race: These are really race-only shoes are usually constructed around a flat carbon leaf sole whereby the sole extends up the sides to encase the foot entirely in a carbon hull This has the effect of making a shoe that is mind-bogglingly stiff; think about how a steel sheet is always going to be more floppy than a steel I-beam They are so stiff I honestly cannot fathom walking in them stiffer than any other shoe I have used by a noticeable margin The experience is similar to wearing mountaineering boots with fully rigid soles designed to accept crampons the heat moulding process is paramount to make sure you avoid any pressure points Twenty minutes in the oven at 70 degrees is enough to render the soles pliable enough for a few millimetres of adjustment in any case Bont does offer four different width options and choosing the correct one is key because try as you might with the butt end of a screwdriver if your feet are too wide for the bathtub there is nowhere for them to go Sadly I was just a hair too wide for the regular width so I didn't have the most comfortable experience But I did tune the fit enough to learn that if you want a shoe that gives you the feeling of total power transfer then it's hard to find anything that touches the Vaypor G Given the stiffness they are rather unforgiving over particularly rough ground but as a race shoe they'd rival the S-Works option and even beat it I'd say if you can get the fit spot on.  The closure system makes for a comfy upper even if the sole is hard going with a wide flap meaning no pressure points occur even when cranked up for an all-out effort so your little piggies can move around happily despite the appearance of the aggressively lugged outsole.  We've got a full Bont Vaypor G review already if you need a bit more info ❌ You're gravel riding: The Quocs are more for commuting than for exploring ❌ Your feet don't fit: The Quoc Chelseas are currently only available in limited sizes Many people opt for a gravel bike as a do-it-all wagon makes sense to include an option for those going to and from an office then a Chelsea boot with an optional cleat recess in the sole if you work somewhere distinctly modern then you could well get away with a pair of Adidas Velosambas but for something that works on the bike year-round and doesn't leave you falling foul of draconian dress codes While the leather forefoot and suede rear aren't totally impervious to water ingress it does a great deal better than any other shoe on this list when you fly through a puddle The sole is stiffer than you're likely expecting stiffer than some of the composite soled options above so while it's better for walking in it's not nearly as comfortable as The flip side of this is that they're surprisingly good for riding in You can fit a filler block where the cleat recess is you may as well get a set of Blundstones.  While reflective detailing is never a substitute for a set of the best bike lights while riding at night adding reflectivity to shoes is a good place to do it as the motion is unnatural to the human eye at night and stands out The series of dots on the rear adds a little bit of extra safety if you're riding to and from work after dark You may notice I have a size smaller here than the other Quoc options but after testing these are actually a smidge too small so stick to the sizing for the other pairs if you're in two minds ❌ You have wider feet: There's only one width on offer and it's not as wide as the Lakes ❌ You want more insulation for winter use: There's not as much padding as in the Giro Privateers so your feet will be colder I was torn for a time as to whether to award these the overall They fill much the same function as the Giro Privateers The Privateers however do a better job of trickle-down performance If you're not after laces though and want a great pair of gravel shoes with a dial closure then the Escapes are hard to beat is the same as the two found on the more premium Gran Tourer CX model As per the road model of the same shoe I've also had on test the closure is perhaps the best of any single-dial shoe I've tried Often one dial will mean the upper foot fits but the forefoot is a bit floppy The dial itself doesn't feel as good as a BOA-branded one The fit is similar to the Privateer; relatively narrow but with a soft enough exterior to allow the foot to expand over the edge of the sole if they aren't optimal Shoes at this price point don't come in multiple widths sadly They are noticeably less padded than the Privateers too; less comfy over properly rough terrain and a little less insulated for winter use but on the flipside they feel a little more connected though the heel lining annoyingly doesn't extend far enough around the entry to the shoe This means there's a transition between padded and unpadded that sits just forward of the ankle and did provide a bit of irritation but something that could easily be fixed by moving the transition forward of the tongue.  and these are a lovely-looking pair of shoes but it makes me want to use them more than many others.  I also tested the new Gran Tourer XC from Quoc but you'll notice it is conspicuously absent from the guide I couldn't notice any realistic improvements and I actually found them less of a joy to wear but with no real improvement in heel retention and as the dials aren't as accurate as BOA options I found having two meant I genuinely couldn't get as good a fit compared to that which I could achieve with the single dial Escape the reduced dial accuracy is negated against a pair of dials only tweaking the upper/forefoot individually The only improvement was a slight reduction in the rubbing issue from the heel pad Save the £90 difference and spend it on something else.  I also tested the Sidi Dust; a single dial It was more flexible and didn't close as well with a dial that was more of a pain to use and while you can pick up a pair on sale for a similar price to the Escape would be if you have extremely narrow feet or you just want to wear Sidis because of the brand name or aesthetics ❌ Your feet are on the wide side: The Terra Atlas shoes are quite narrow ❌ You want lower weight: These shoes are quite heavy and more akin to MTB shoes than road shoes take their design language from road shoes The Fizik Terra Atlas to me seems like it's come more from an MTB standpoint and though it's wider for sure than the Vento Ferox Carbon (I can actually get my feet in these) There's a clear focus on 'adventure riding' and greater reinforcements around the lower of the upper fabric too The single dial does an admirable job of keeping the foot retained across the whole length but here at least there is a BOA-branded dial closure so if you want to release the tension you do have to pop it open and then start from scratch that's less of a drawback with single-dial shoes as at least you've only got the one dial to fiddle with and while the little plastic dots are well-intentioned I found them more of an irritant than any help to actually keeping my heel down The same rings true for any heel texture; no grippy materials can replace a good fit unless your socks are actually glued to your foot too.  Despite not fitting me perfectly they did feel like a very supportive gravel shoe padded enough to feel like you're protected definitely more attuned to those of you who feel MTB curious To be honest you could probably use these for MTB quite happily too ❌ You find cleaning shoes a pain: The fabric uppers are hard to keep looking their best ❌ You have a broader toe profile: The Raphas have quite a pointed toe which may be uncomfortable The fit of the Rapha Powerweave is very similar to that of the S-Works Recon The twin BOA dials do a great job of properly ensconcing the foot and the heel is a similarly unpadded unit with a retention ridge at the upper reach and given the stiffness of the heel cup and the lack of padding this may be uncomfortable for some but I never found it an issue even over full days out.  so if you have a square toe profile you may find like me that a couple of your little piggies get distracted from having their roast beef and instead just press on the toe box The carbon sole is as stiff as you'd ever really want for a gravel shoe but the real party piece for me is the outsole feature a couple of serrated or smooth blocks on either side of the cleat (so as to effectively recess it) Rapha has added an unbroken tread from the midfoot all the way to the toe meaning there's no clunk halfway through each stride as you transition from cleat lug to toe lug It's a minor detail but it's certainly effective and in combo with the race fit these are what I'd take if I were ever to combine high-tempo riding with a lot of walking; I'm thinking bike-packing races They're better to walk in than the Recon ADV but definitely a more race-oriented shoe by the fit and profile The Powerweave outer fabric also accommodates my wider forefoot adequately With something like the Empire VR90 you need a wet cloth and you're done but here thanks to the textured nature of the outer you're better off leaving them to dry and going at them with a stiff brush ❌ You have wider feet: These shoes were too narrow for my feet ❌ You want more toe protection: The toe area is not well protected from scuffing and bashes Full disclosure time: I haven't tested these myself. Every other shoe I have ridden in order to compare and contrast, but these Fiziks were simply too narrow for my feet. Fortunately, though my colleague Josh Ross has already given us a full review of them and having gone through his guide to the best road shoes recently we have very similar opinions on footwear so I will summarise from his work in this case: The one Powerstrap up top is wide and comfortable and strong enough to retain the foot even at full power but rarely is the upper foot the bit that needs adjustment mid-ride This is why it's a Velcro closure that I can actually get on board with for gravel use as you're unlikely to actually expose the inner hooks and loops to grime that frequently.  takes care of smaller adjustments with ease for the part of your foot that actually swells over the course of the day.  The stiffness is spot on for fast-paced riding and racing not so stiff as to be uncomfortable when you're taking it easy The other good thing about the midsole is the cleat plate meaning if you're into slamming your cleats to the midfoot then you're in luck.  well that extremely pretty exterior that does kind of put me in mind of early 90's graphic design isn't hugely breathable it doesn't have the same protection from toe rub as the other models so if you do slam your cleats back just bear that in mind.  ❌ You want better foot retention: My heels slipped in these shoes and the laces were also prone to loosen ❌ You want lower weight: The traditional materials make for weighty shoes If you've been riding gravel for even a short term you'll probably have heard the phrase "The Spirit of Gravel" This nebulous beast means many things to almost as many people To me it means "Wearing sexy gear while messing about in the sunshine" and no shoe better encapsulates that to me than the Café du Cycliste Outlands I'd have loved to be in the meeting where someone proposed styling a performance cycling shoe after a vintage set of hiking boots; I presume it occurred after a boozy lunch with lots of rich cheeses and dried meats.  These aren't the best gravel shoes for anything really despite the best efforts of the cat's tongue fabric on the inside The laces too sometimes slip when you're trying to tie them up and slip in the eyelets metal eyelets and a full gum rubber outsole makes them the heaviest 'proper' gravel shoe of the bunch.  but they make me feel a million dollars when I do wear them they're perfectly adequate from a performance standpoint and I'm also a big proponent of the fact that looking good makes you feel better and ride better.  They are also extremely well made and feel luxurious more so than the more expensive shoes on the list The full gum outsole is also second only to the Explore Powerweave in terms of ease of walking only detracted from by the slight heel lift with each step These are a shoe to buy if I'm being totally honest There's space for that alongside more pragmatic choices but please still bear considerations such as fit in mind as I go into later in the FAQ's ❌ You want to keep the cost down: I reckon the Empires don't justify the extra expense over the Giro Privateers ❌ You want a contemporary look: The appearance of the Empires now feels a little dated add an Easton carbon midsole and a Vibram outsole and you have the Empire VR90 the gravel version of the Empire SLX road shoe which my colleague rated as the best road shoe on the market (something I agree with him on).  These are a better shoe than the Privateer the improvements over the Privateer aren't enough to warrant spending the extra hundred pounds unless you really want the performance gains and against the backdrop of the development of the Empire SLX the Empire VR90 sit alongside other high-performance options if like me you love the fit on offer from lace-up shoes and easy to clean then these are the shoes for you The carbon sole does an effective job of keeping the feet planted but isn't so hellishly stiff that you can't walk about in them.  Gone is the double reinforced heel of the Privateer but still with that all-season impervious nature The outer sole is essentially the same as the Privateer which doesn't really add much in my opinion except some number to the price.  but these do come with a customisable set of insoles to tune the fit too but I'm yet to find a shoe with sufficient insole support out of the box.  Of all the shoes these are what I'll probably continue to ride following the culmination of this group test because they fit me very well and aren't so fancy that I'd worry about trashing them While they used to be a serious contender for the best race shoe they now feel like a performance generalist like Specialized has done with the Torch/Recon to add a bit more competition at the top end the best way to get what's perfect for you is to start by being honest about your use case It's so easy to fall into the "ah but what if one day I..." trap but I implore you to really define what you need now before you home in on what you may one day need down the line the fit is the next key thing to consider (yes sole material or even aesthetics I'm afraid) Footwear is a huge part of one of the main contact points with your bike and getting the fit wrong can have knock-on implications up the biomechanical chain footwear can play mischief with your tendons rather than your soft tissue If you don't know how wide your feet are then do some research; I assumed I had the dainty narrow feet of a ballerina but after getting a bike fit I found out I actually have troll feet Then you can think about closure and aesthetics These are more down to personal preference and don't have any real drastic impacts so you can pick your poison as you please so from the "weight" stat box for each shoe you can also see whether I was true to size He’s tried his hand at most cycling disciplines to the more unusual like bike polo and tracklocross covered tech news from the biggest races on the planet and published countless premium galleries thanks to his excellent photographic eye given he doesn’t ever ride indoors he’s become a real expert on foul-weather riding gear His collection of bikes is a real smorgasbord with everything from vintage-style steel tourers through to superlight flat bar hill climb machines Be the first to hear about TerraPower's latest innovations By clicking or navigating you agree to allow our usage of cookies For more information on the types of information we collect, visit our Cookie Notice. 2024BIKE Magazine aims to feature only the best products and services If you buy something via one of our links Fizik’s Terra Nanuq GTX is a shoe for aggressive mountain biking in the coldest If riding mountain bikes in the middle of winter doesn’t sound like fun I bet it’s because you’ve never tried it with the right apparel and footwear but gear up with a proper winter riding kit and your riding season doesn’t need to end There’s lots of great options for winter riding apparel out there but one area that’s fallen short has been footwear and Fizik’s new Terra Nanuq GTX winter shoe aims to change that With mud season rearing its ugly head in the Tetons this November I put these shoes through their paces on some Teton Valley singletrack and was stoked on dry it looks similar to any old mountain bike shoe with a lugged outsole and a single BOA closure but pull open the tongue and you'll see design cues straight from a winter mountaineering boot the Nanuq GTX is designed to shield your feet from whatever’s out there The shoe is available in both flat-pedal and cleat-ready versions they broke in quickly and are now very comfortable but the single BOA closure does a good job of getting the shoe to snug up evenly around my foot especially when wearing thicker socks for winter riding I tried some thinner summer socks since the shoes are very warm and decided I was actually happier with that My favorite part of the shoe by far is the ankle gaiter Half of the battle in winter riding is keeping your feet dry and Fizik’s gaiter works exceptionally well in doing so The only other shoe that I’ve found to be as waterproof as these is the Five Ten Trailcross Pro and wouldn’t be my first choice for cold and wet rides There's a single ankle zipper on the inside of the shoe that allows for easy entry when putting them on Given that the zipper is in an area that might get caught on a drivetrain or cranks I’m not sure how long these will last but during my short test period I had zero issues with it I think it’s an elegant solution - laces would clag and freeze up with snow and ice and become unusable while velcro just doesn't seem to ever get a shoe to fit well I think the dial is in a solidly impact-free spot on the shoe and throughout my testing period I never had any issues with it What’s really cool about these is that they’re not just designed as a fat bike or gravel shoe they’re meant for aggressive trail riding in truly horrible conditions Like the kind of days where your friends will suggest going to the movies instead The shoe is quite stiff and very supportive but the Vibram rubber outsole features soft rubber that stays glued to pedals and to slippery rocks and roots The lugged outsole also lends itself well to hike-a-biking over rough and frozen terrain and I felt that I stood slightly taller on my bike compared to low-profile summer shoes like the Five Ten Freerider Pro - I actually ended up bumping my seat height up a few millimeters to compensate for this I don’t think this would be my go-to shoe when the temps aren’t at or below freezing - it’s simply too warm and sweaty feet aren’t really my thing I’d rather just stick to summer riding shoes What kind of rider will get along with the Terra Nanuq GTX I’m pretty excited about these shoes and their ability to add months to my riding season but I’ll be using them for commutes to the store and maybe some gravel adventures for those of you who live in areas where winter mountain biking is a thing consider the Nanuq Terra GTX as your everyday riding shoe for the cold months.  Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing The Fizik Terra Atlas represents an entry-level option in the growing best gravel bike shoes segment While it blurs the line between cross-country and gravel use they're not the cheapest option around and the overall performance is lacking in a number of areas which may aid walking but certain other areas can't quite match the competition The Terra Atlas has a slightly wider last (the mechanical form used to create the shoes) than the brand's standard road shoes it sits between the standard and wide-fit models with a generous toe box not to mention space for thicker socks during the colder months The shoe is available in a wide range of sizes ranging from EU36 to 47 while also catering for half sizes from 38.5 to 46.5 This generous spread allows for a more precise fit - especially if you find yourself between sizes Fizik has a size guide online and this proved to be accurate so I'd suggest potential buyers check out the size guide before pulling the trigger on a new pair The Terra Atlas is available in four colours (including the stealth-black version pictured here) and utilise an offset Boa retention system which is sleek-looking and representative of the brand Considering many options in this highly competitive category weigh upwards of 800g the Fizik Terra Atlas are reasonably light for a cross-country/gravel shoe which is the basic L6 version complete with incremental adjustment for tightening - there is no reverse adjustment the Boa needs to be pulled upwards which releases the tension A single Boa is not uncommon with entry-level shoes but there are many brands that offer more adjustment at the same or lesser price point The first thing I noticed with the fitment was a pronounced ridge that is on the outer edge within the mid-foot area there is no noticeable arch support and the insole is very basic with little padding and no profiling The sole is fabricated from nylon and is rated at 5 on the Fizik stiffness index scale which goes up to 10 it translates to a lot of flex and is particularly noticeable within the forefoot area This may be of use in hike-a-bike scenarios but for a shoe that will almost certainly be used with a dedicated clipless pedal The heel area has several silicone gripper spots that aim to hold the heel in place but they are nowhere near as effective as Shimano's cat-tongue-like fabric heel area The Boa dials and area that fastens everything in place are positioned quite forward on the shoe gives the sensation that your foot is slipping out.This is especially noticeable when pedalling out of the saddle and climbing steeper terrain I simply found I was not able to pull upwards for tougher climbs or outwards through the shoe to maximise cornering speed Some areas of the fit may be personal but I found I needed to run the Boa quite loose while riding to ease discomfort on the ridged area towards the outside of the foot - something that might be exacerbated should you require third-party insoles or orthotics The shoes have threaded inserts for toe studs on the front although are not included with the packaging - surprising given the price while this makes them the cheapest in the Fizik range of off-road XC/gravel shoes there are lots of other brands and models that are cheaper Shoe fit is very personal and what might be perfect for one rider is simply uncomfortable for another the Fizik Terra Atlas have elements that don't match the price while some flex can aid in hike-a-bike situations other areas such as the basic and low-positioned Boa dial and retention not to mention lack of heel support ultimately impacts the overall impression in a negative way The 11 gravel-specific products you never knew you needed Buyer's guide to mountain bike and gravel shoes - flat and clipless option Opinion: We need to be more specific about what 'gravel' is Matt is an endurance nut who loves big rides and big events Former full time racer and 24hr event specialist but now happy riding off-road on gravel bikes or XC mountain bikes and exploring the mountains and hills of Mid Wales Privacy policy and terms and conditions of use off-road.cc is dedicated to bringing you the best coverage of all off-road riding This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page (ECM)Albanian-born Elina Duni sounds intensely like herself while drawing on a variety of influences as her impeccable trio back her with diamond-bright sounds The artwork for A Time to Remember Photograph: ECM RecordsA Time to Remember is Duni’s ninth album and second with the UK’s Rob Luft (guitar) and Switzerland’s Matthieu Michel (flugelhorn) – a trio impeccably attuned to her ability to convey intensity with the most delicate yet diamond-bright sounds cannily improvising in ways that stretch the songs without disrupting Duni’s surefooted control over their shape In its mix of Duni/Luft originals with European A Time to Remember complements the same band’s cinematic 2020 ECM album Lost Ships But Duni’s and Luft’s travels have since taken them on expeditions to the Sinai Desert and the Red Sea and a sense of appreciative awe touches much of this music note-gliding title track and the wordlessly rapturous Duni’s excited gasps on the turns of the skipping Albanian traditional E Vogël (Little One) evoke a child’s impetuousness while the beautiful Charlie Haden ballad First Song opens on Luft’s echoing Bill Frisell-like effects and unfolds in Duni’s softly yearning delivery of the Abbey Lincoln lyrics similarly manifests this fine vocalist’s remarkable capacity for expressing strength and resolve by the most reticent of means Also in the imperishable-nostalgia bag is Soft Machine’s Other Doors (Dyad Records) an idiosyncratically hip and earthy set by the quartet featuring guitarist John Etheridge and reeds player Theo Travis It nurtures the legacy of the late 60s psychedelic art-rock mavericks with remakes of two Softs classics – Penny Hitch and Joy of a Toy – on the tracklist Imaginative young London composer/bassist Jonny Wickham makes a striking debut on the coolly Brazilian-angled Terra Boa (Fresh Sound New Talent) an engaging mix of airy and snappily staccato vocals smoky horn solos and sophisticated ensemble arrangements This article was published more than 6 years ago fact that I published my first piece of wine criticism back in university I had been looking to invigorate the weekly journal’s lifestyle coverage so I figured: Why not a piece on bargain bottles for student budgets I knew I had to find the right correspondent for the job was willing to hit up importers for freebies and could put in hard time at the tasting table I overlooked all other eager candidates and assigned myself We needed a price-point ceiling for the sake of a grabby headline and eventually settled on – are you ready when that kind of coin could score decent juice I won’t reveal the year because I like to keep my age vague in case I ever need to apply for work in Hollywood but suffice it to say that a certain promising young singer had just released a debut album that year titled Like a Virgin (which we also reviewed in our paper and which I predicted would go nowhere) was no less than a basic nebbiolo from Piedmont That article came to mind recently as I pawed a crisp $10 bill the newly minted one carrying the image of pioneering black activist Viola Desmond I wondered: Could a wine critic accustomed to the good stuff find much worth guzzling for a tenner or less these days It was time to dredge the bargain bins for another round of sensory research Everything you need to know about shopping for wine I’m alive to report that I’ve been to hell and back in pursuit of an answer at least at the large Liquor Control Board of Ontario store in Toronto where I purchased all the bottles were either sugar bombs or disjointed with cheap oak which contains 14 grams per litre of residual sugar which I would call cloyingly sweet for a merlot not every sub-$10 bottle made it into my two large and overfilled shopping carts I consciously steered clear of anything that I knew from experience would not make my cut such as the venerable German standbys Black Tower and Blue Nun I also drew the line at wines available only in large formats such as double-bottle magnums and multilitre bag-in-box cartons I’m the kind of guy who thinks cheap bathroom tissue isn’t such a great deal if you must commit to buying 400 rolls at a time at one of those club-membership stores is a joke thanks to the LCBO and its restrictive shelf-space allocations which have long favoured cheap foreign-domestic blends that I think unfairly bend the wine-classification rules I wish I could report that I’d struck gold if you are the sort of person who believes there are Petrus-like diamonds hiding in the rough of the bargain aisles I have a bridge in Bordeaux I’d like to sell you Quality begins with low yields in the vineyard to concentrate flavours and ensure full physiological ripening Virtually all under-$10 wines – whose prices must include packaging taxes and substantial retail-store markups – rely on industrial farming practices that deliver high fruit yields per vine such as using good-quality barrels from French forests that cost in the ballpark of $1,200 apiece which are a lame attempt to mimic the vanilla-like flavour imparted by months or years spent in actual barrels Many producers in those countries sell their products in Canada for not much more – and in many cases for less – than they do in the United States (after currency adjustments) is priced at an impressive $9.95 in Ontario Compare that with US$7.99 at a California location of the American chain Total Wine & More where the state sales tax of 62 cents brings the grand total to $8.61 Castillo de Monseran happens to cost $10.99 a province with some of the highest wine markups in the country many bottles I bought for this article exceed $10 in certain provinces The selections below represent the better half of what I sampled though they don’t include a new and popular Spanish red released in Ontario called Toro Bravo It’s omitted here because it’s currently sold out Most of these brands are available in at least several provinces some in select private stores rather than at liquor-board retailers so if you’re in a semi-private province such as British Columbia popularly priced wines such as these are in almost all cases not available in all provinces at any given time balkanized Canadian system works thanks to antiquated legislation and a liquor-board system that does as much to restrict product selection as to enhance it If you want to know about the dreck that didn’t make my cut ask me on Twitter – and please also share your cheap-wine horror stories and dirt-cheap favourites But don’t cite anything over $10 – that would be cheating Remarkably genuine and regionally distinctive for the money Creamy tropical fruit and vanilla with a fresh spine of acidity It would pair well with creamy soups or rich fish dishes old vines” on the front label would suggest a wine made with more exacting standards than most at its price it comes across like raspberry chews lightly dusted with spice and served on a cedar plank with a sangiovese-like salty snap on the finish gets a commendable interpretation here in a consistently undervalued wine from the sunny southern region of Puglia Riper than most affordably priced Chiantis Salted dried cherries with underbrush and sticky caramel One generous Italian reviewer actually awarded this red a score of 96 El Abuelo de Piqueras Tempranillo Monastrell 2017 Medium-bodied and intriguingly savoury for an inexpensive red licorice and coffee grounds left in the herb-spice drawer Pair it with lamb or other fatty red meats KWV The Vinecrafter Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 For those with a preference for the familiar Enjoyable on its own and suitable for steak or beef roasts A long-established and respected Portuguese value brand Gently oily (is that the viognier talking?) and subtly aromatic with suggestions of green melon and grapefruit Need a party wine worth buying by the case with a pleasantly dry grip and saline tang on the finish Similar to Chianti but made from a different red grape (montepulciano) in a more down-to-earth region than hallowed Tuscany Domaine Boyar Cabernet Sauvignon Selection 2017 From the first wine producer to emerge in Bulgaria after the fall of communism in 1989 Here’s a red that actually tastes like cabernet sauvignon with sweet tannins – that’s par for the course when it comes to affordable Argentine malbec But what’s especially nice about this one is the exceptionally low price A crowd-pleaser from a respected Argentine producer known for more rarefied fare Well-made if basic – like a Hyundai Accent very dry and a little bit woodsy and smoky A basket of forest berries with a firm handshake Hardys Stamp of Australia Shiraz Cabernet 2017 with the sort of concentrated and lifted blackberry fruit classic to southern Australia with proper balance and notes of plum and cherry carried on a creamy texture One of Argentina’s flagship bargain exports Somewhere there’s an Uber Eats pepperoni pizza that would like to make its acquaintance tangy and redolent of baking spices beneath the fruit Enjoy this with a “meat-lover’s” pizza and you may be ordering pizza more often but admirably dialing back the raisin essence to reveal cherry Yet this offers more of a ripe-fruit character than most competing Italian pinot “cheapos” – undoubtedly because it’s from sunny Sicily rather than the northeast with the subtly aromatic character of chenin blanc almost overshadowing the chardonnay (and that’s not a bad thing) wood spice and a solidly astringent backbone Imagine eating strawberry jam and marinated cherries using an old twig – but without the splinters zesty and with pronounced gunmetal and citrus flavours Join wine critic Beppi Crosariol and other Globe and Mail journalists this July aboard the Globe Portugal Cruise. For itinerary and booking information, visit globedourocruise.com Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following Beppi Crosariol was The Globe and Mail's wine and spirits columnist for almost 20 years and enjoys a large following of devoted readers he also wrote a food trends column called The Biting Edge he held a variety of additional positions in the newsroom He was also a regular columnist with Report on Business Magazine he worked as a technology reporter at The Boston Globe and He started his career as a science writer and investigative reporter at the Kingston Whig-Standard Beppi has a master's degree in the philosophy of science from the University of Toronto and was a Knight fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology He has won a National Magazine Award for investigative journalism and five Canadian Science Writers Association awards Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Non-subscribers can read and sort comments but will not be able to engage with them in any way. Click here to subscribe If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff We aim to create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate If you do not see your comment posted immediately it is being reviewed by the moderation team and may appear shortly We aim to have all comments reviewed in a timely manner Comments that violate our community guidelines will not be posted UPDATED: Read our community guidelines here We have closed comments on this story for legal reasons or for abuse. For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions It seems we can't find what you're looking for CONTACT USCOOKIE POLICYPRIVACYLEGAL Focus on the fit to avoid heel slip; could do with a second Boa dial or Velcro strap The Fizik Terra Atlas is an off-road cycling shoe described by the brand as its most versatile shoe, suitable for everything from gravel riding to downcountry The shoe is based on the Fizik Terra X5 mountain bike shoe but it has a number of adaptations that make it suitable for a wider range of cycling disciplines as well as “hiking with a fully-loaded bike” Fizik says the Terra Atlas has a roomier fit and grippier sole when compared to the Terra X5 It trades a Boa and Velcro closing setup for a single Boa dial and has a nylon foot plate and rubber-coated outsole rather than a full-carbon sole The Terra Atlas has some similarities to the Terra X5 shoe There is a handy loop on the heel of the shoe and studs can be fitted to the sole The Terra Atlas is said to be suitable for walking, bringing bikepacking adventures within its scope It has a wide outsole with a broad heel platform and deep-set lugs to provide a secure and firm grip There is a rubber coating across the whole of the sole meaning you can be a bit more carefree about where you place your foot on loose or slippy terrain as opposed to the carbon sole used in the Terra X5 shoes While’s it hard to get a measure on what that means exactly the shoe certainly has a good level of flex for walking without ever feeling too flexible when pushing on the pedals As well as providing plenty of grip, the wide outsole means the Terra Atlas has a more generous fit than the Terra X5 and other race-ready mountain bike shoes which is the same size as my Fizik R1 road shoe My feet are rather slim and I don’t mind squeezing them into narrow road cycling shoes as a result and roomier toe box of the Terra Atlas meant they were comfortable from the first time I put them on The downside of this was the closure system had more work to do I had to tighten the Boa dial a great deal to get a snug fit around my feet I found the fit of the shoe leads to some heel slip when walking regardless of the grippers on the inside of the heel I thought going down a size might rectify this problem because this is something Jack Evans had to do when testing the Fizik Tempo Decos Carbon I’m sceptical of this because my Fizik R1 road shoe fits me well the R1 isn’t designed for hiking with a bike but I haven’t suffered any heel slip when pedalling or (doing my best impression of) sprinting when wearing them The two Boa dials on the R1 mean I can get a better fit than when wearing the Terra Atlas I wore the Fizik Terra shoe on gravel rides that had a fair mix of loose gravel tracks While the sole is more flexible than many racier shoes the Terra Atlas evenly distributes pressure across my foot even when riding on tarmac roads and pushing hard on the pedals The flexibility might compromise power transfer but it does mean the shoe is easy to live with on and off the bike Given the fact it’s designed for all manner of riding The lugs around the front of the shoe and the heel work well on loose and wet terrain and make it easier to walk than in some other cycling shoes the heel slip was bothersome when I was pushing my bike up trails and paths Despite the large lugs at the front of the shoe The middle rubberised section of the shoe proved useful when walking and I was grateful for it when I missed clipping in on trickier terrain It should be noted that the lugs are part of the shoe’s outsole The Fizik Terra Atlas holds up well to bumps and scrapes thanks to its sturdy upper and the TPU overlay on the toe cap The Fizik Terra Atlas is a good-looking and robust off-road shoe The shoe might not be the lightest or stiffest but its wide and grippy outsole combined with its generous fit make it easy to live with Despite the presence of heel grips designed to keep your foot in place you might find your foot lifts up when walking It’s probably worth trying before you buy to get the right fit especially if you're looking for a shoe to serve you on your next hike-a-bike adventure A great shoe that will tick all the boxes for most people’s general riding The Fizik Terra Atlas shoes are better suited to those with slightly wider feet than the more race-oriented options in the brand’s range - and succeed in being highly comfortable for longer rides The lug design and rubber coated outsole also greatly improve the grip in muddy conditions and on hard The fit would be even better with a second Boa dial The Fizik Terra Atlas is an entry level gravel shoe that benefits from a single Boa dial retention system and a rubber coated sole for extra off-the-bike grip - whether that’s any hike-a-bike trail sections or nipping into a cafe supermarket or restaurant on a bikepacking trip the Terra Atlas benefits from a reformulation of Fizik’s venerable X5 design there are more lugs and with directional spacing to provide more grip when both climbing and descending soft The soles also benefit from a rubber outsole which is much grippier on hard surfaces (such as rocks and wood) than the plain plastic that was used before The stated stiffness comes in at five out of 10 on Fizik’s own scale which isn’t particularly stiff - but as these shoes are designed for a broader spectrum of riding and wandering than an all-out race shoe the fit around the forefoot of the Terra Atlas is rather more generous than Fizik’s shoes- typically are This is combined with a fairly generous padding which makes the shoes more comfortable still if a little warmer than a more minimalist model there are still perforations to help with breathability and these are designed as a three-season shoe rather than a model for cooler and more inclement weathers so you can’t just back it off slightly if you’ve done them up a little too tight the Terra Atlas gravel shoes were really great in many ways They still have their limitations in certain areas but as an entry level shoe that was always going to be the case - even the majority of top-end shoes don’t manage to hit everything off perfectly.  So it’s worth being aware of what the compromises are and whether any are deal breakers that would tip you towards going up a price point or with a different model the Terra Atlas do a fabulous job at what they’re intended for.  the cushioning liner and the not-too-stiff soles make for a shoe that’s well suited to big days out on the bike - long meandering gravel epics or multiday bikepacking trips.  which makes it hard sometimes to get exactly the right tension across the foot - particularly balancing the tightness across the top of the foot with that lower down but they would be comfier still with either two dials or with a combination of a Velcro strap at the bottom providing better grip in muddy sections and with a much tackier rubber - which has been particularly good on the rockier trails of Wales.  That said, the lugs could be more widely spaced than they are to provide even better grip - and although the soles are reasonably forgiving, they are not in the same league as the Specialized Recon 2.0 shoes which are incredibly easy to walk in.  the Fizik Terra Atlas are quite expensive for single Boa-dialled off-road shoes You can get two Boas for not too much more for example Shimano’s XC7 cost $230.00 / £189.99 If you are adventurous on your gravel bike rides and could do with shoes that are reasonably ‘walkable’ off the bike then the Terra Atlas will cover you nicely for this Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1 *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1 my cycling life centred around racing road and track.  But that’s since broadened to include multiday two-wheeled, one-sleeping-bag adventures over whatever terrain I happen to meet - with a two-week bikepacking trip from Budapest into the mountains of Slovakia being just the latest Fizik Terra Nanuq GTX winter boots combine Gore-Tex Koala membrane and fleece lining inside The Vibram sole has a chunky tread for traction on soft terrain The boots are secured using a single Boa L6 dial One guess for who supplied the waterproofing for the Terra Nanuq GTX winter boot A zipped cuff and rear loop reduce the amount of wiggling to get your feet in and excellent breathability make the Fizik Terra Nanuq GTX one of the best winter boots available turning the heating up is expensive though Cuff doesn't hug the ankle when heels are dropped Fizik released the Terra Nanuq GTX winter boots late last year ready to tackle the grotty winter climates that were inbound Insulated and waterproofed with a Gore-Tex liner I have been putting the Fizik Terra Nanuq GTX to the test to see if they can keep my toes cozy on the coldest days.  The Fizik Terra Nanuq GTX's main form of defense against weather unpleasantries is the Gore-Tex Koala membrane This thin layer works in the same way as Gore-Tex’s other waterproof jacket fabrics featuring holes that are too small for water droplets to enter but large enough to allow water vapor molecules to escape thus giving Gore-Tex the breathability it's known for A neoprene ankle cuff extends upwards to help stop puddle splashes from finding their way into the shoe and to further enhance the cozy levels there is an insulated insole and fleecy lining inside Externally the Terra Nanuq GTX is covered in a ripstop fabric which is further protected by a generous amount of PU covering Both the heel and toe cups feature a decent amount of protection from the gritty nature of winter and stumbling around on slippery rocks.  Underneath Fizik has specced a chunky Vibram XS Trek EVO rubber tread with directional lugs to enhance grip in slippy winter conditions The sole itself uses a Nylon shank and an EVA midsole with a stiffness index of three according to Fizik The cleat is a standard two-bolt setup with a 32mm slot and some guidelines to help with lining your cleats up The Terra Nanuq GTX uses a single Boa L6 dial with a lace that crosses twice across the midfoot The L6 dial allows clicks tighter and pops open to loosen The ankle cuff has a short zipper to open the shoe up to help slip your foot in Fizik has added a pull loop on the back too so you can tug them on there are plenty of non-winterized enduro shoes that are around the same 500g per shoe weight Fizik offers the Terra Nanuq GTX in both the clipless version I have on test and a flat pedal shoe version that features a flat pedal optimized tread the Terra Nanuq GTX only comes in a single Black / Grey colorway with most sizes coming in half-size options as well.  As Fizik states “warm feet are fast feet” and the Fizik Terra Nanuq GTX certainly performed well keeping my toes cozy on the wettest and most unpleasant days The comfortable fleece lining paired with my regular riding socks was all I needed on snowy rides to keep my digits warm The Gore-Tex Koala membrane laughed off boggy hike-a-bike and puddle splashes keeping feet dry no matter how many times they were submerged the cuff doesn’t always sit flush with the ankle and can create a gap if you drop your heels when riding That means water can sneak in if your pant leg doesn’t extend well past the ankle cuff Even with a little dampness working its way in but it isn’t trapped within either as the Terra Nanuq GTX delivers impressive breathability On one test ride temperatures were significantly warmer than expected the Terra Nanuq GTX managed moisture buildup very well Getting them on requires a little twisting of the foot to slide in but otherwise The single Boa securely held my foot in place and I didn’t experience any discomfort from the neoprene ankle cuff’s zip There is plenty of adjustment for cleat positioning and despite being a little bigger and heavier than a standard shoe I didn’t have a problem clipping in and out winter boots are notorious for taking ages to dry again drying themselves out overnight next to a radiator Not only does this mean you will have dry feet every ride but it should hopefully reduce the build-up of unpleasant smells too The make or break of a winter ride is often based on whether you can feel your fingers and toes during the ride The Fizik Terra Nanuq GTX’s cozy lining and high-quality construction kept my feet warm and comfortable on the winteriest rides Winter shoes are never cheap and the $299.99 / £289.99 / €279 price tag is no small sum if you can justify the cost Fizik’s Terra Nanuq GTX are a worthwhile investment for those who want to ensure winter warmth on a trail ride.  Graham CottinghamSocial Links NavigationSenior reviews writer Bike PerfectGraham Cottingham joined the BikePerfect team as our senior tech writer in 2020 Graham has embraced bikepacking over the last few years and likes nothing more than strapping some bags to his bike and covering big miles to explore Scotland's wildernesses When he isn’t shredding the gnar in the Tweed Valley he is writing tech reviews for BikePerfect The best gravel bike shoes are a reflection of the growing trend for gravel-specific kit you’ll find some of the shoes in this list were originally designed for mountain biking Shimano and Fizik are all now producing gravel-specific footwear The best gravel shoes in this new generation of footwear tend to come without the considerable sole, heel and toe protection more commonplace on cross-country shoes The styling is often – but not always – more casual We have also included a gravel shoe buyer's guide at the bottom of the page so be sure to read that before purchasing your next pair Editor's note: This list was updated on 3 January 2025 The Fizik Terra X5 shoes are rugged enough for off-road exploits and have a balanced and secure fit thanks to a wide tongue and an asymmetric Boa dial The shoes have carbon soles with deep treads and TPU-injected studs This makes for a pair of stiff shoes that shed mud well but when walking they lack flex and do feel like beefy road shoes Originally designed for mountain biking but also great for gravel riding are the Privateer Lace shoes from Giro with a sole that provides a good compromise between efficiency and comfort Billed as shoes that deliver all-day comfort and will work equally well for off-road adventures and cycle couriers But they do this well and at an excellent price too The shoes have a rubber outsole with deep treads delivering plenty of grip The Boa dial and toe strap pairing makes for a secure fit and efficient pedalling and although the sole feels stiff in the hand The RX8 is Shimano’s dedicated gravel shoe and a close relative of the excellent S-Phyre XC9 mountain bike shoe it manages to save over 100g (in a size 45) from the aforementioned despite a lower retail price the RX8s are superb and combine the qualities of the best road and mountain bike shoes The Shimano RX600 gravel shoe deals with all manner of adventurous riding ventilation and grip from the well-designed lugs impress for the price The nylon-reinforced carbon sole provides sufficient support when you push hard on trails and tarmac making the RX600 a viable option for touring and cold-weather commuting The Sidi MTB Gravel is a top-notch shoe for when the riding gets rough Padding on the sides and toe reduces the risk of bashing your feet Such protection contributes to the shoe's chunky weight Thanks to the carbon sole and secure heel cup the Sidi MTB Gravel Shoe is supportive and stable suede-like material in the upper for added comfort DMT's GK1 shoes are designed for epic days out and multi-day adventures Although the open-weave isn't ideal in rainy conditions The XC7 is a mid-range option from Shimano and is designed for cross-country mountain biking and cyclocross racing. The dual Boa dials are unidirectional and the fit and performance are strikingly similar to the brand's road equivalent of this shoe, the RC7 Rather than using Michelin's tread on the sole as Shimano does on its higher-end off-road shoes It has spike fittings at the front for increased grip Officially a design for mountain bike marathon racing the DMT K1 also works superbly as a gravel shoe These are very comfortable shoes that breathe well The stiff carbon soles feature rubberised protection from tyre specialists Michelin which makes the shoes a pleasure to walk or run in Cyclocross racers and some cross-country riders will really appreciate the extra traction offered by the twin stud mounts though most of us will likely keep them in the box The Giro Sector comes from the world of mountain biking but does a great job as a gravel shoe thanks to its all-day comfort The Sector closes with a dual Boa dial system that allows for precise adjustments while the supportive footbed is better than many The tongue and collar are padded and the one-piece The carbon composite sole helps with efficient pedalling which will pay dividends on climbs and when gravel rides involve stretches of tarmac The Lake MX332 Helcor gravel shoes’ carbon soles are supportive yet not too stiff for walking unrideable off-road sections Their large rubber lugs provide grip even in mud A dual-direction Boa dial in the leather upper enables small adjustments of tension ThermaForm technology in the heel cup moulds the shoe to your foot These very pricey gravel shoes tip the scales at a portly 492g each The upside is that comfort and durability accompany the Lake MX332 Helcors’ heft and cost Superseding the original Gran Tourer shoe the Gran Tourer II trades laces for two-way Boa-style dials and has a stiffer sole We found the Gran Tourer II to be extremely weatherproof The change to a dial closure system makes for high levels of micro-adjustability despite the 'Natural Fit' footbeds being rather flat The Shimano XC501 is primarily a mountain bike shoe but its racing pedigree means it can take on gravel duties with ease The stiff sole makes for immediate power transfer and provides a solid pedalling platform This might not be ideal if your gravel riding involves a lot of walking but if efficiency on the bike is the aim then this shoe will serve you well This olive green version of Sidi's premium Jarin is aimed at the gravel market it sheds over 100g from the weight of Sidi’s previous range-topping off-road shoes but has the same replaceable grips protecting the carbon sole Sidi’s microfibre uppers are tough with decent weather protection and there’s still good ventilation from the laser-cut pinhole vents You get two of Sidi’s Tecno 3 Push dials for retention with the top one working in tandem with a strap across the instep We don’t find Sidi's dials quite as simple as the two-way micro-adjustment of the latest Boa dials but they are still easy to use and hold firm over long rides The Specialized S-Works Recon Lace is closely related to the S-Works Recon shoe but the laces do give the shoes a classy look and provide more points of tension control The upper uses a seamless synthetic material that is lightweight which led to some initial discomfort in testing providing space for winter socks and an airy feel the rest of the time but at this high price it would be nice to see a custom option included which we found avoided hotspots and was still forgiving on long rides There are three main sections of rubber to provide a reasonable level of grip The design team at Decathlon has kept things simple with these shoes and they're all the better for it Costing significantly less than the next cheapest shoe on this list the RC 520 shoes from Triban are a true bargain these are not well equipped for walking on treacherous terrain or thick mud They're also a little heavy at 798g for a pair of size EU42s The Udog Distanza has a 3D-knitted upper which alongside the laces and the brand's 'Tension Wrap' design helps create an excellent fit and a very comfortable gravel shoe The breathability of the upper is also excellent but the Distanza wouldn't be our tester's first choice come bad weather Udog has opted for a generous wrap-around rubber sole providing plenty of protection and grip when you're walking or running with your bike We test gravel bike shoes out on the dirt roads and trails to see how they perform in their natural surroundings Our testers use the shoes for long durations and on varying types of terrain to identify any strengths and weaknesses our gravel bike shoe reviews are based on the following criteria: BikeRadar has been an authority on bikes and cycling tech since its inception in 2007 We have experts testing all types of bikes Our reviews are always editorially independent – with no exceptions. Our reviewers comprehensively test all products in the real world, always reflecting on performance, value and the wider market when delivering their verdicts and review ratings We have more than 15,000 product reviews available at your fingertips Our annual Bike of the Year test is an industry benchmark and the BikeRadar team consists of some of the most experienced riders and testers in the business The best gravel shoes depend very much on how you interpret 'gravel' gravel is simply a jaunt down a few green lanes while others regard gravel as anything that mixes tarmac and dirt in one ride – even if that dirt calls for what are effectively mountain bike skills but on drop bars Location is often a factor too. In the UK, ‘gravel’ is more likely to mean country lanes and bridleways, while in the USA the well-maintained gravel roads of races such as Unbound are more commonplace But however you choose to define gravel riding, it is more likely than not that your gravel shoes will need to balance stiffness and efficient power transfer with comfort for longer rides and walkability for rugged terrain or off-the-bike use So just like the best gravel bikes the best gravel bike shoes often feel subtly different to kit designed specifically for other riding disciplines Compared to road shoes gravel shoes are designed for walking comfort and are a bit more forgiving They also differ from many road shoes in that they use two-bolt mountain-bike style cleats as opposed to three-bolt road cleats At the other extreme, flat-soled mountain bike shoes might have off-bike comfort but their flexible soles aren’t the best for power transfer fitness and preferred riding in order to understand whether you might want to trade off some walking ease for stiffness which gives a rock-solid fit that’s easy to adjust even when riding but less room for variation in tension through its length A common combination is a strap over the toe section that allows it to be tightened independently with a Boa dial or similar over the mid-foot It’s a construction that generally works well as long as there’s enough adjustment in the toe strap you probably find that they allow for the differentiation in tension that gives a snug forefoot fit combined with ease over the instep that you need for best comfort The downside of laces is that they have a habit of working loose over the course of a ride which is likely on more technical gravel rides We demand a lot of the uppers of any cycling shoes – gravel shoes perhaps more than most Gravel-shoe uppers have to help deliver power transfer like road shoe uppers but also have to have enough stretch for walking They also have to be particularly durable and resistant to any scuffs from clambering over rough terrain Synthetic uppers are common across the price spectrum synthetic uppers rely on perforation and mesh inserts for breathability They don’t mould to the shape of your foot in the same way that leather does and fastening paired with other factors such as insole choice can practically circumvent this issue If we ask a lot of the upper of cycling shoes in general we expect the impossible of the sole unit of gravel-specific shoes These need to be stiff enough for us to put the power down but flexible enough to walk in and light enough not to feel uncomfortable but sufficiently stable and grippy to keep us grounded The first thing you’ll learn if you test a lot of shoes is that simply flexing them between your hands is no indicator of how comfortable the shoe will be to walk in The second is that fit is more important than how stiff the sole is the sole should be rigid through the mid-foot with the flex being apparent in the toe section past the cleat lifting up from instead of being flat on the ground this will also enable the rolling action of your foot Outsoles made from rubber or TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) add grip and durability with gravel shoes tending to have a more open lug pattern than the outsoles of off-road shoes this provides enough grip while still enabling them to shed mud faster The fit of a gravel shoe needs to be snug but not tight, comfortable but not loose. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that pulling the fastenings tighter will overcome a shoe that’s slightly too big, or that you can wear in one that’s too tight. Foot pain is a likely consequence either way you should be able to walk without your heel pulling out What’s inside a shoe is almost as important as what’s on the outside water and mud are probably going to feature on rides for a chunk of (most of) the year A sealed footbed is a must-have to prevent water ingress from the cleat holes take a look and run your fingers over the surface The smoother it feels inside the forefoot section the less chance that you’ll be aware of the cleats insoles feel almost like an afterthought: thin and offering little discernible support Yet a cushioned insole with a shaped arch adds another degree of comfort and can help you to dial your fit Shoes from some brands, such as Rapha, come with different arch inserts, so you can customise the support you need. Other brands, including Specialized have premium insoles as part of their footwear collection that you can buy as an upgrade Insoles are an easy upgrade to a budget shoe and can rescue expensive fit mistakes Comfy upper; fit feels steadfast without being overly tight; sole just about stiff enough; plenty of cleat adjustment; toe flex makes walking more comfortable Flex can cause discomfort with smaller pedals when putting the power down; toe box feels a touch narrow Giro’s Rincon mountain bike shoes are designed for more than just trail riding happily taking on gravel jaunts and commuting duties when necessary locked-in fit and airy feel make them ideal for rattling out the miles on warm days It helps that there’s a decent amount of flex through the sole to prevent you looking like Bambi on ice when you do need to get off and walk about The upper of the Rincon is constructed from Giro’s thick which is pieced together with a thermo-bonded exo-structure a toughened toe bumper offers some genuine protection Giro has opted for a Boa ratchet dial teamed with a Velcro strap to lock your feet in securely The Boa dial can be popped up for a quick release of tension and easy exit a nylon composite outsole forms the backbone of the Rincon and provides the stiffness required for efficient pedalling Chunky tread blocks surround the cleat pocket and heel for traction off the bike while there are fixtures for toe studs if you want even more grip Giro has joined the rubber tread blocks at the front and back of the outsole with a section of textured rubber through the middle of the shoe This is great for boosting traction if you’re unclipped and stood on the pedals and far less skatey than some shoes can feel Getting the Rincons onto your feet is a quick and easy affair as is perfecting the tension across the top of the foot with the Boa dial and Velcro strap Coupled with the soft, very flexible upper, I found them comfortable almost instantly, though would have preferred a little more room around my toes. This didn’t cause any real discomfort, it just meant I couldn’t let my toes splay out as I can in other mountain bike shoes It helps that the heel and ankle cuff feel particularly well padded secure with next to no slip as you walk or move about on the bike Although the bonded sections of the upper will offer some water-resistance the mesh-like panels (which make up the bulk of the upper) won’t prevent splashes getting in these sections help to make the Rincons feel light and airy there’s still enough flex at the toe to keep things feeling natural and less penguin-like off the bike That flex goes largely unnoticed when you’re seated and powering along though get up out of the saddle and start putting in some effort and you’ll feel the Rincon bow ever so slightly around the pedal This resulted in slight ache in the middle of my feet during longer high-torque efforts, though it dissipated quickly once seated again. Clipless pedals with larger platforms help alleviate this which cost exactly the same as the Rincons which can be felt on smaller clipless pedals when really grinding out the watts This means neither are perfect in that regard although that flex enhances feel and feedback from the pedal beneath your feet the Terra Atlas works a little better with smaller clipless pedals and great for hammering out the miles on a balmy summer’s day The flex through the sole helps with walking off the bike and gives plenty of feel and feedback from the pedals beneath it can create some temporary discomfort compared to others with stiffer outsoles malleable upper that makes these shoes nice to wear I’d prefer the shape of the toe box to be squarer and less tapered we’ve gone out into the wilderness to pedal mile after mile but there’s no better way to highlight those all-important details Fizik has partnered with Kenyan cycling Team Amani to make two flashy limited editions of their most popular gravel bike shoes At the top tier are the latest lightweight Boa & Powerstrap Ferox Carbon shoes in special Amani pink & white zebra stripes And at the more affordable end of the spectrum are a pair single Boa Atlas shoes developed with their Black Mamba development team in the bright orange & yellow snakeskin print… Special edition Fizik Vento Ferox Carbon Team Amani gravel race shoes Special edition Fizik Terra Atlas Black Mamba gravel shoes Fizik calls the special Vento Ferox Carbon Team Amani gravel shoes a “limited-edition Team Amani colorway featuring bold colors and bright patterns inspired by the wildlife from Team Amani’s home country of Kenya.“ And they describe the special edition Terra Atlas Black Mamba as “developed in collaboration with the men and women of Black Mamba U-23 Development Squad our allterrain all-rounder Atlas is now available in a bright Fizik.com Cory Benson is the EU Tech Editor of Bikerumor.com Cory has been writing about mountain bikes gravel bikes & bikepacking for over 25 years even before the industry created some of these names Cory was a practicing Architect specializing in environmental sustainability has designed bike shops & bike components Cory travels extensively across Europe riding bikes meeting with key European product developers industry experts & tastemakers for an in-depth review of what’s new Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed I’d be all over these if they fit my feet well!! but don’t want to deal with solvents Simpyfast claims their Lube Cube is the easiest way Peak Performance expands on their MTB specific clothing with new pants Apparently that’s an option when you’re designing products for the GOAT We spotted Cofidis racing an all-new prototype wireless 13-speed Campagnolo Super Record 13 WRL SC road groupset Canyon Bicycles is now selling select models directly through Amazon.com Want wireless shifting but don’t want to have to buy a whole new drivetrain Be protected from the sun with the new UV Hooded Trail Shirt… OrNot The new Van Nicholas Astraeus is a beautiful titanium road bike that’s limited to just 50 frames North London pianist and trio play music that sets out to relax but thanks to its detail and dynamism ends up being rather stimulating Noah Stoneman – a young pianist from North London – certainly moves in high circles with pianist Kit Downes acting as mentor and producer of this debut album saxophonist Alex Hitchcock a regular performance partner and trumpeter Mark Kavuma an acknowledged help and support this record is about finding moments of solace and quiet amongst the noise hoping that “people can find some sense of quiet reflection or poetry in listening to it that they embrace the ebbs and flows and trial and error of everyday life that the music speaks to” it is apparent that this music is far too interesting and provocative to provide mere solace catchy opener sets him up against the quietly insistent drums of Luca Caruso a pairing that forces you to listen to the immaculate interplay between them and the shifts of speed and tone that flow through the piece The uptempo Borders opens with a sturdy drum roll before its convoluted melody makes its agitated entrance Stoneman giving equal weight to all the notes of a chord so that you can hear the piece in depth Even the calmer Evanesce demands concentration rather than supplies any solace while the aptly titled Mourndoom is claustrophobic in its intensity each piece – all composed by Stoneman – requiring your detailed attention to every note and chord and particularly to his fine touch: he is rarely demonstrative but always apposite bass player Will Sach is equally commanding but he plays like a mature musician with a lifetime’s experience behind him DiscographyTomas And Tereza; Borders; Evanesce; Calm; Mourndoom; Band Of Brothers; Postlude; Strands; Major (42.27)Stoneman (p); Will Sach (b); Luca Caruso (d) 7–8 October 2021.Fresh Sound New Talent FSNT 657 © Unless otherwise indicated, all content copyright Jazz Journal 1948-2025 because fortunately good products are more common than bad Purchases made after clicking on those links may help support road.cc by earning us a commission but all of our reviews are fully independent The Fizik Terra Artica GTX shoes are targeted at winter gravel and mountain bike riding in the muckiest of conditions The Boa dial helps with dialling in your fit (but isn't bi-directional) and they are roomy enough for a thick sock Perfectly capable of being a road shoe too overall they're a solid contender for your winter foot gratification though the premium price tag begs shopping around You can also try fending off cold feet on the bike with the toasty tips in our feature How to keep your feet warm cycling let's acknowledge our extravagant pachyderm cohabitor – two hundred and fifty quid for a pair of shoes is right up there there will be a pause as they question whether said heels will be warm dry feet – be met for a fraction of the price with a decent pair of waterproof socks and shoe covers over your normal pair of cycling shoes But some folks don't get on with waterproof socks while shoe covers tend to be best for road or gravel cycling but not forays where actual mucky scrambling is needed being prone to quickly wearing and literally tearing In the Terra Artica GTX we are looking at a package aimed at those looking to minimise faff and layering These are shoes for gravelly days when the forecast says 0-10°C with a high chance of rain Possibly when it's been raining for days and you know there's going to be a lot of standing water thrown onto your feet off the front wheel or where the chance of having to step off the bike and into a good few inches of water is high These days it's a given that Gore-Tex waterproofing just works the quality control of the waterproof fabric brand not leaving anything to the chance of random manufacturers I've yet to have a Gore-Tex-branded shoe leak Of course there's always one hole in a Gore-Tex shoe – the one your foot goes in So you need a strategy for your knees and shins if your shoe isn't to simply collect and retain water over time Fizik has gone for a neoprene cuff with a Velcro strap to tighten things which does a pretty good job of minimising ingress The look and finish of the Articas is premium – the materials assembly and overall feel of the shoe sits well with the price with the option to up the grip game with studs if desired the grip afforded was on a par with the best mountain bike shoes I've worn including at the heel – often an area of shortcoming The sole is rated 5/10 for stiffness – leaning towards walkability over supreme rigidity – but the Articas feel plenty solid when putting power down There's bright purple scuff-guard material in the high side-wear areas before the darker upper material takes over The padded one-piece waterproof tongue gives enough room to leverage your foot in without being excessively bulky once the Boa is cranked down The Boa is the main letdown or compromise of the Artica This means you can't micro-adjust the fit by loosening – you need to pop the whole Boa up and start over the Boa line slides easily on the guides and pressure is evenly distributed as you tighten Over the top of the tongue is a wide Velcro strap that pulls the back of the shoe tight around the ankle and adds to the feeling of overall security when pedalling out of the saddle On the bottom there's the standard two-position SPD cleat fixings, with marked gradients to get the left-right balance correct. As befits a shoe designed to be clambered about in, the cleat ends up slightly recessed below the rubber blocks, affording better traction than exposed metal. As Matt noted in his review of the same shoes for off.road.cc the stack height of the Artica is not inconsiderable meaning I had to tweak my seatpost up about 3mm to get my preferred leg extension again My feet are pretty wide-ish for my size (EU45 in most brands) and I had no issues with the fit of the 46 Articas over a thick waterproof sock In standard woolly winter socks there was loads of room Unlike some brands there's no 'wide' fit potion the proof is in whether you forget about it while riding wearing a single thermal leg layer (the excellent Castelli Entrata Thermal Knicker) plus aforementioned knee-length waterproof socks and I didn't feel the need to adjust the Boa as the ride progressed including getting off and back on the bike to clear gates In non-waterproof woolly socks there was no evidence of water ingress as you'd expect from a Gore-branded premium product > Buyer’s Guide: Best cycling overshoes 2023 The interior of the Articas is a brushed fleece and if you don't have your leg insulation dialled then cold blood arriving at your feet will remain cold the Articas will keep that blood flowing to your toes but I didn't find that – an evening/morning sat atop a radiator and they were bone dry again It's now widely accepted wisdom that 'mountain bike' SPD cleats are perfectly fine for road cycling even for huge audax-length daily distances The evolution of sole design means smaller cleats are now perfectly capable of managing power transfer from foot to pedal without leading to hotspots and discomfort – therefore the Articas could do double duty as your cold/wet-weather road shoe and look snazzy along for the ride This Road-Chic-Gravel/Mountain Bike-Competence certainly helps with swallowing the £250 premium price tag pill with the Articas becoming your go-to across multiple use cases The only area of improvement I'd like to see on the Articas is that basic Boa as unless you have feet that swell during rides necessitating a release of pressure A lower price would be nice, too... Iwein highly rated the Shimano MW701 shoes and they're £30 cheaper at £219.99 (up £20 since his review last year) these could be a strong contender for your money You can spend more, though – if you feel you need extra insulation, Fizik's own Terra Nanuq GTX are £289.99 protection and Vibram-soled increased grip the Fizik Terra Artica GTX could become your go-to boot for a winter of wet and cold rides Make and model: Fizik Terra Artica GTX shoes dry feet and a shoe that's easy to scramble about in Terra Artica GTX is our off-road winter cycling shoe Both insulated and equipped with a breathable it is a versatile shoe that is reliable for all-terrain riding The Terra Artica GTX is designed for off-road winter riding in any weather our performance all-terrain shoe comes ready to roll in extreme climates and is built to protect you from the most severe weather whether you're tackling snow-covered technical trails Featuring an insulated GORE-TEX Koala membrane meaning you can rely on proven performance to keep you dry when it matters most the advanced GORE-TEX technology is optimized for better breathability To fight against frozen toes and keep feet toasty the Terra Artica GTX features a brushed-fleece lining adding a soft layer that encompasses the feet in extra comfort while providing added warmth for big off-road rides in low outside temperatures The Terra Artica GTX takes a two-part approach to keeping feet stable and secure over uneven off-road terrain The upper Velcro closure wraps around the ankle to deliver a locked-in feel while the shoe's lower section is secured via a single L6 BOA® dial we've redesigned our X5 outsole for better grip and more traction in slippery winter conditions Equipped with generous studs and a rubber coating that covers the entire surface the X5 outsole provides sure footing when steep rough tracks require you to hike with your bike Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product Sizes: 36-48 (37 to 47 also in half sizes) Overall very good; I might want just a smidge more width despite a good waterblast after every ride Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose Tell us what you particularly liked about the product Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market Expensive compared with the Shimano MW701 – a highly rated shoe with similar features and performance Would you recommend the product to a friend Use this box to explain your overall score They're very good; if it wasn't for the L6 Boa I usually ride: Sonder Camino Gravelaxe  My best bike is: Nah bro that's it I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Expert I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross please consider subscribing to the site to support us directly As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free The revenue from adverts helps to fund our site then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99 Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist Mike is constantly finding innovative and usually cold/wet ways to accelerate the degradation of cycling kit At his happiest in a warm workshop holding an anodised tool of high repute Mike's been taking bikes apart and (mostly) putting them back together for forty years With a day job in global IT (he's not completely sure what that means either) and having run a boutique cycle service business on the side for a decade bikes are his escape into the practical and life-changing for his customers Exceptional quality shoes that are not only extremely comfortable – they're also the stiffest and lightest I've ever worn Stiff race shoes with a comfortable shape and upper especially for those who like a generous fit comfortable gravel shoes that are stiff and efficient for road riding too road.cc's audience Report an advert on road.cc Privacy policy Subscribe All material © Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA11JB. Tel 01225 588855. © 2008–present unless otherwise stated. Terms and conditions of use The Kestrel's new performance pedaling purpose is new to Five Ten Five Ten Kestrel Pro XC Clipless Boa sole features grippy lugs and Stealth Marathon rubber Closure is handled by a single L6 Boa and two velcro straps Plenty of potential but some niggles limit their performance A decent first attempt at a performance shoe with good levels of comfort and reasonable stiffness There's room for improvement though when it comes to cleat clearance Five Ten have long been a dominating force in the gravity market since they first introduced their revolutionary Stealth rubber flat pedal shoes Other than branching out to clipless in 2010 and expanding into adventure markets the Adidas-owned brand has stuck firmly to its trail riding lane Five Ten has decided to branch into a new market with a clear overlap between the old Krestel and popular Hellcat ranges arose an opportunity to re-purpose the Kestrel Boa for downcountry Can Five Ten take their know-how from producing some of the best mountain bike shoes and apply it to a cross-country/downcountry shoe We have been riding the Five Ten Kestrel Boa’s to find out.  The sole unit is all new for Five Ten and uses a partially recycled poly sole with a glass fiber reinforcing shank to balance pedal power transfer with reasonably comfortable walking SPD-style cleat slots aren’t particularly long but they’re biased slightly rearwards for a more centralized foot position Raised lines molded into the sole are designed to help sync alignment and you also get metal protection plates to sit under the cleat The threaded cleat plates themselves are loose under the slots too Feedback from Five Ten is that this comes from their DH/gravity shoes where plate damage is quite common so being able to slide a fresh plate in quickly through the taped L slot in the inside sole stops shoes from becoming unusable if the plate gets damaged.  Unsurprisingly for a brand synonymous with sole traction they’ve also used a distinctive arrangement of rounded tread studs in a horseshoe pattern at the toe and heel with flatter blocks alongside the cleat area These are in a firmer ‘Marathon’ blend of their signature ‘Stealth’ rubber with that sticky stuff reserved for a small section of the instep The upper is also a semi-recycled mix with a thinner mesh fabric over the tops of the toes and flanks Bow and stern structure is provided by a reinforced toe bumper and a separate heel section that’s picked out in a safety first reflective orange on the more gaudy ‘Impact Orange’ samples I tested The lower front and back of the shoe also get a sturdier TPU fabric to shrug off scuffs and anchor the two Velcro wrap-over straps and single BOA Li2 dial That’s the all-singing all-dancing BOA dial that allows micro tightening and release as well as quick release too While the replaceability is a useful feature having a completely loose rather than captive cleat plate makes set up awkward at the best of times as you need to hold it in place from inside while bolting up the tread alongside the cleat slots is so shallow that Shimano and Hope cleat designs project beyond it if you use the metal protective plate The slightly deeper Hope cleats still contacted the ground first even without the plate in place and the molded lines make alignment irritatingly prescriptive too one bolt hole on the cleat plate was completely oversized so the bolt pulled straight out while the other was deformed enough to make inserting the bolt awkward On the bright side if you’re not clattering around on the cleat on hard ground (which is very slippery and rapidly creates a pressure point) the toe and heel tread are reasonable if not remarkably grippy The Stealth rubber instep is useful if you accidentally get a wet root or rock under your arch and there’s enough flex in the sole to make walking OK if you sort the cleat issue.  You’ll need to fully open both straps and the BOA to get into the very structured and therefore stiff upper of the shoe especially as the heel loop is so stiff and close to the shoe it’s essentially unusable that achieve a more refined fit using a single Boa dial and an extended Boa lace pattern The flexible straps and fine-tuned dial make fit easy though and the well-padded heel hooks in snugly too That means as soon as you strap up and dial in there’s a real grip on the top side of your foot I also appreciated the dual direction micro-adjust to reduce bite from the stiff materials if I went too tight to start Having the Boa right on the side of the shoe makes it very vulnerable to rock knocks that pop it right open which doesn’t match with the rough and tough ‘downcountry’ targeting The Boa also loosened a couple of times at max effort too which I've not had with fixed-release L6 designs The toe bumper is welcome if you stub a toe and the thin toe and flank fabric keep your porkers cool or cold and wet if you’re enjoying the UK ‘spring’ as much as I am If you’re used to a raised orthotic bump underneath your foot though you’ll need to add an aftermarket insert as there’s no internal profiling as standard.  It's worth noting that while I found the volume of my size EU44's to be on the small side for my wider feet though slender-footed fellow Bike Perfect tech writer Graham (who's also been testing a pair) found quite the opposite Five Ten offers half sizes on all but the largest sizes so there is the option to size up and down to find the perfect fit The firmly anchored upper means plenty of power transfer into the sole and while it’s definitely softer than a carbon shoe it doesn’t flop or flex obviously even when cranking out of the saddle The more forgiving feel is appreciated on longer rides or rockier descents too although the feel is still direct rather than having buzz and impacts damped with an EVA layer like some competitor's shoes the Kestrel Boa is a competitive weight to other single-dial with Bontrager’s Evoke at £140 you’re paying an Adidas tax on the Five Tens unless you really want/need that dual directional BOA The Kestrel Pro Clipless Boa's XC make-over is a distinct break from the mold for Five Ten but they haven’t completely shaken their roots when redesigning the Kestral Boa.  and a firm but easily tuneable grasp on your foot for getting the power down the Kestrel Boa has a lot of potential for pedal priority riders looking for casual they felt a little lacking purpose and struggled to shine if seeking outstanding performance or specialism in any of those disciplines.  Definite cleat mounting and dial placement issues plus several detail disappointments make it hard to justify the premium price in a segment already well-stocked with excellent options.  He started writing and testing for bike mags in 1996 Since then he’s written several million words about several thousand test bikes and a ridiculous amount of riding gear He’s also penned a handful of bike-related books and he reviews MTBs over on YouTube secure fit; really comfortable upper and footbed; good power transfer Not enough cleat adjustment; slippery surface makes accurate cleat setup tricky Scott’s shoes have a good reputation for blending fit and function with an agreeable price tag thanks to the impressive fit and comfort levels as well as their reasonably stiff sole that makes a real difference when you’re putting the power down Where the Team BOA shoes really win a lot of points is thanks to the closure system Instead of using a Boa ratchet dial to tighten a wire that zig zags across the top of the foot Scott employs the indexed dial a little differently but the wire is attached to a broad flap that spans about half the length of the upper helps to create a more even tension across the top of the foot avoiding those pesky hot spots that can be common with single Boa closures An additional Velcro strap sits just above the toe box to cinch in any additional excess material for a firmer fit A mix of perforations and a mesh panel help to keep the Team BOAs airier on warmer days while ample padding around the heel and ankle cuff improve fit and bolster comfort though it remains relatively malleable compared to others I’ve tested suggesting this is more about boosting the shoe’s durability rather than all-out toe protection Scott scores the outsole an eight on its stiffness index (though it doesn't say what that score is out of) The stiffness comes courtesy of the nylon/glass fibre composite mid-sole The cleat slots are surrounded by alignment markers (there are even angled reference lines to use) in a bid to make cleat setup more accurate and repeatable Surrounding the outside are the pronounced along with two removable screw-in toe studs While it’s great to have the plethora of alignment markers either side and in-between the two cleat slots cleat setup was trickier than I anticipated The simple reason for this was down to the shiny slick surface you’re attaching the cleat to Every time I tried to torque the Crankbrothers cleats down tightly (onto the plastic spacers that sit beneath them) I managed to finally remedy this by wedging things either side of the cleat to prevent it from spinning The other issue I have with the cleat setup is Scott doesn’t offer enough rearward adjustment I simply couldn’t get the cleats back far enough on the shoes This didn’t really cause any issues when sat down and pedalling along flat singletrack or when climbing when standing up out of the saddle on the descents I felt as though I was stood up on the balls of my feet I otherwise really liked wearing the Team BOA shoes That was primarily down to how comfortable the upper felt thanks in part to how the closure is able to clamp the shoes solidly onto your feet I never suffered any pinch points or hot spots on my feet they felt perfectly secure inside the shoes Even when really pulling up on my pedals during high-power efforts my feet didn’t lift or shift inside the shoes This was helped further by the padding and forming around the heels hugging the back of your feet and leaving them feeling well-supported There’s some subtle arch support that feels very natural and didn’t cause any issues on longer rides The relatively stiff outsole enables you to really mash at the pedals (including smaller cross-country style clipless pedals) with next to no unwanted flex even when stood up out of the saddle and climbing for prolonged periods If you do struggle to clip in and need to rest the Team BOAs on the pedals I tested the Scott MTB Team BOA shoes as part of a bigger group test which also included the Five Ten Kestrel BOA Although the Five Tens are £50 more expensive I’d say they’re worth the extra investment While the Scotts can easily go toe-to-toe with the Five Tens when it comes to stiffness and fit they offer the potential of getting your cleats set farther back on the shoes It's a big win for me and something that should help keep your legs fresher on the descents They also offer a patch of grippier rubber behind the cleat pocket just in case you find yourself unclipped and balancing on the pedals It’s a small feature but makes a huge difference during those heat-of-the-moment scenarios Despite the fact that I couldn’t get my cleats as far back in the Team BOA shoes as I’d have liked That’s largely down to how comfortable they are is thanks in part to the flexible upper and impressive closure system that properly clamps the shoes onto your feet without any discomfort no matter how hard you’re pushing at the pedals The stiff sole makes for an efficient feel on the pedals though the firm tread and studs make walking on harder surfaces a little dicey at times If you’re keen on racking up massive mile counts in comfort the Scott MTB Team BOA shoes are certainly worth considering Fizik's Terra Artica X2 was both difficult to pull on and tricky to clip out The Fizik Terra Artica X2 is one of the most expensive clipless winter boots we’ve tested but it is superbly made and features a quality eVent membrane so there’s absolutely no foot movement when pedalling hard and good support when scrambling up steep inclines the placement of the waterproof zip on the side of the shoe and the fact that it’s only about 75mm long makes this boot really difficult to get into There’s only a single pull tag on the rear too so you also end up pulling the neoprene sock at the front and this puts quite a bit of stress on this area the Fizik Terra Artica X2 comes with a BOA L6 dial that tightens clockwise and releases by pulling up To get it tight we had to wear gloves because the dial is pretty thin and not that grippy It also doesn’t release the cable that easily – you physically have to grab the nylon cord and pull up not something that’s particularly easy on the bike which was not good for rider confidence or our fragile knees The Fizik Terra Artica X2 is a really expensive boot we’ve marked it down a point because of the tricky access and because clipping out of the pedal was often impossible Because gravel biking can mean so many different things to different people you can’t assume a ‘gravel shoe’ will be exactly right for your version of the sport That means you need to judge the various features against your actual needs If you're gravel racing you will want to look at a stiff lightweight shoe for ultimate power transfer and performance A close fit is key in order to hold the foot in place and make the most of the stiff sole Racey shoes will make sacrifices in walkability and protection and minimal uppers limit the amount of walking you want to be doing more adventure-based gravel shoes will feature broader and softer treads to improve comfort in walking sections as stiff performance isn't as vital over multi-day trips or a shorter carbon sole to allow the foot to bend more naturally These adventure-based shoes usually have a more rugged construction and are happy to take on tougher off-road terrain One thing all gravel shoes will have in common is a two-bolt cleat mount as this is the standard that all the best gravel bike pedals use In short, yes. A lot of the best MTB shoes cross over very well into gravel riding and have made it into this guide some of the more durable or heavy-duty shoes won't be able to compete in breathability or stiffness with dedicated gravel shoes Coming from the other side of the spectrum road shoes are light and stiff however the cleat systems are prone to getting clogged with mud or stones They are also terrible when walking due to the exposed and delicate road cleats and Rapha – have more flex and sometimes more sole curve so that getting miles in on foot feels fine narrow and wobbly to properly aggressive and wide so make sure you look at the whole package laces and Velcro straps all have their advantages and disadvantages The laces run through loops of the upper for extra slip security and help you really tailor foot fit Some riders just want simplicity and that’s where Specialized’s Recon 1.0s come in Graham Cottingham thought the Suplest Mountain Performance shoe were the comfiest gravel shoes he has ridden Zero stretch material creates a solid base for the two Boa S3-Snap dials to anchor and lock the foot in Fizik Ferox Carbon is a great all-round gravel shoe which comes up the instep for extra rigidity and cradling Specialized S-Works Recon Lace has classic laced shoe looks Fizik Terra Atlas uses a single micro-adjustable Boa L6 dial tension with the cable crossing through five anchor points down the foot The Fizik Terra Nanuq GTX is a superbly warm and waterproof winter gravel option Café du Cycliste Outlands gravel shoe are incredibly stylish The Crankbrothers Candy shoe delivers a sweet all round gravel performance The best gravel bike shoes that will make your pedaling more efficient so you can ride faster and longer in comfort The best gravel shoes are unsurprisingly, generally based on the best mountain bike shoes but as the gravel explosion continues there are detailed design and styling differences appearing that are more influenced by pure road cycling shoes but we'd really advise going clipless if you can check out our buying advice and FAQs on the best gravel shoes at the bottom of this article A near-perfect gravel shoe that blends on-bike performance with off-the-bike comfort Read more below comfortable take on the gravel bike shoe concept with sticky aggressive tread Read more below A versatile gravel shoe with a wider fit that's super comfortable on and off the bike Read more below Lightweight and backed up with superb power transfer and comfort all-day comfort and an ultra-stiff carbon sole Read more below The Fizik Ferox Carbon delivers all-round gravel performance The Ferox Carbon offers excellent fit and comfort and is equally impressive on fast rides and long days out too Read more below the Shimano RX8 is a solid choice for gravel racing Read more below S-Works performance and style in a classic laced gravel shoe Specialized's S-Works Recon Lace shoes are loaded with performance features ready for gravel racing and have a timeless laced shoe look Read more below The Fizik looks great but backs it up with great ride quality and is a superbly versatile gravel shoe Read more below Flawless performance with summer riding vibe looks After four years of modifications since its release the Gran Tourer XC is now a brilliant Read more below Ready to tackle everything winter riding can throw at it Read more below Stylish looks backed up with performance features The Cafe du Cycliste Outlands shoes aren't just about good looks they also pack a spec to back up their cool gravel vibe Read more below The Crankbrothers Candy Lace shoes are comfortable and deliver a great all-round performance Read more below The perfect gravel bike shoe might just exist in the Rapha Explore it tops our best list with a perfect score grippy-and-durable shoe with classic styling then you will struggle to beat these from Rapha." The Rapha Explore was the first in-house-developed Rapha off-road shoe and they’re a solidly stylish option for all types of gravel riding The only slight negative we found on the Rapha Explore was the out-the-box stiffness of the synthetic leather which took Dean a few weeks of riding to 'bed in' the shoes and he said "Your patience while breaking in will be rewarded with a supremely comfortable shoe and the high-quality materials and construction means that these should go the distance and last many years." That might not sound like the most technically advanced option but we found the double-wall lacing system designed in conjunction with the velcro strap and padded tongue worked extremely well Check out our full Rapha Explore gravel shoe review to find out why it's our go-to for gravel riding The lowdown: Rapha ExploreAttributesNotesRatingComfortSuper comfy once the synthetic leather is broken in ★★★★GripImpressive levels of grip★★★★★FasteningLaced and strap fit system works perfectly★★★★BreathabilityPerforated upper gives plenty venting★★★★★ValueCostly but well worth the outlay★★★★2 Boa dials are great for micro-accurate tightening and a high-tech feel on your feet, but some riders just want simplicity and that’s where the Specialized Recon 1.0 gravel shoe comes into its own This tremendous value gravel shoe shares the same TPU-injected nylon sole as the more expensive Boa dial-equipped Recon 3.0 shoe – which is another highly recommended off-road shoe from Specialized The budget-friendly 1.0 gives decent pedaling stiffness but with enough foot flex for comfortable walking You also get a super aggressive mountain running shoe style tread in grippy SlipNot rubber so walking is never an issue.  The multi-piece synthetic leather upper includes a chunky toe box and a reinforced heel wrap for a naturally comfortable cradling fit and the accurate fit means the three Velcro wrap-over straps don’t get over-stressed either and tightening or loosening couldn’t be easier at any time The simple Velcro design also makes them lighter than average when compared to other shoes around the same price point Have a read of our Specialized Recon 1.0 gravel shoe review to find out more The lowdown: Specialized Recon 1.0AttributesNotesRatingComfortMinimal padding isn't the best★★GripThe Slipnot tread works well★★★FasteningLow-tech Velcro does the job★★★BreathabilityWell vented for the price★★★★ValueHard pushed to find a better value shoe★★★★★3 Suplest may be the best cycling shoe brand that you've never heard of. The Swiss brand is mainly focused on road shoes, but they also have several off-road specific models too from the best flat pedal mountain bike shoes to gravel.  The Mountain Performance shoe is its gravel shoe offering – featuring a stiff sole and a single Boa closure The shoes are made from a microfiber outer material and lined with a softer mesh material they have a thin layer of carbon on the upper where the Li2 spec Boa is mounted as well as one of the textile Boa lace guides found the Suplest Mountain Performance shoe to be probably the most comfortable gravel shoe he had ever ridden without any of the unforgiving tightness that usually comes with performance shoes Comfort is enhanced with an even pressure across when tightened up The gentler fit approach means they are a worthy contender for longer-distance gravel racing too Read Graham's Suplest Mountain Performance shoe review for a full overview The lowdown: Suplest Mountain Performance AttributesNotesRatingComfortSublime levels of comfort★★★★★GripThings get slightly slippy in the wet★★FasteningThe Anatomical Wrap delivers a perfect fit★★★★BreathabilityNot a lot of venting ★★ValueExpensive and there's a few performance issues★★4 Specialized's S-Works Recon is a lightweight shoe ready to tackle any off-road riding from the best cross-country mountain bike racing to multi-day gravel riding adventures but having ridden these shoes for many years myself the durability and performance make the cost more justifiable and also made them a close contender for the title of best gravel bike shoe overall – the Specialized Recon shoe is simply superb but I found they definitely aren't the worst if you need to hoof it up a short section.  zero-stretch material which creates a solid base for the two Boa S3-Snap dials to anchor and lock the foot in Tightening or loosening micro-adjustments allow fine-tuning and the cables can be unhooked so it's easier to get the shoes on or take them off.  To find out more, read our Specialized S-Works Recon gravel shoe review The lowdown: Specialized S-Works ReconAttributesNotesRatingComfortBody Geometry footbed is superbly comfortable★★★★GripHard to find fault in all conditions★★★★FasteningVelcro strap and double Boa is superb★★★★BreathabilityNot the best for keeping feet cool★★★ValueCostly but well worth it★★★5 It doesn't stop at looks though and in his review our resident gravel shoe expert the Powerstrap configuration gave superb pedaling performance What makes Fizik’s Powerstrap fastening unusual is that Fizik has positioned the Velcro strap above the Boa which Graham found delivered an excellent and secure foot fastening with the Boa backing it up with accurate tightening and loosening Contributing to the all-round capabilities is the carbon sole which gives that excellent stiff-pedaling platform but still isn't harsh or fatiguing over longer or rougher rides The outer sole is noticeably softer than many other gravel shoes and gives them good levels of grip which delivered well while hoofing the bike up a hill Read Graham's full review on the Fizik Ferox Carbon shoe for all the details The lowdown: Fizik Ferox CarbonAttributesNotesRatingComfortPowerstrap locks the foot in place well★★★★GripRubberized mid-foot gives loads of grip ★★★★FasteningBoa and Velcro combo does the job★★★★BreathabilityPerforations lets air circulate well★★★★ValuePricey but hold their own against other performance shoes★★★6 As you would expect for a race-specific shoe they offer a super stiff carbon sole but also carry a relatively expensive price tag and you won't be walking around the local coffee stop very well either so not a wise choice for those keen on some hike-a-bike gravel riding our reviewer Dean Hersey also noted that "the super narrow fit and tread could increase the risk of a rolled ankle when walking." the Shimano RX8s are a gorgeous looking piece of footwear and come into their own in the correct environment and Dean was full of praise for the excellent fit saying "When you first slip your feet in and twist the Boa dial you will notice how snug the RX8 and its wrap-around design fit is." and that "Shimano had aimed to give ultimate comfort for ultra-endurance gravel racing events and the glove-like fit genuinely delivers." Fit is on the narrow side so bear that in mind if ordering online and we’d recommend sizing and buying from your local Shimano stockist just to be sure.  For more info, check out our full Shimano RX8 gravel shoe review The lowdown: Shimano RX8AttributesNotesRatingComfortMade for all day racing and delivers ★★★★GripThe grip is shallow and narrow so not great in mud★★FasteningSingle Boa and Velcro delivers the goods★★★★BreathabilitySynthetic leather and loads of perforations★★★ValuePerformance racing comes with a hefty cost★★7 The Specialized S-Works Recon Lace like its Boa fastening sibling featured in this guide as the best lightweight gravel shoe and features a very similar spec and design I reviewed these recently and found them to be a superbly capable gravel race-ready shoe packed with plenty of features that have made them a go-to gravel shoe The upper of the shoe is a one-piece Dyneema material which proved to be extremely durable shrugging off trail debris with ease and has remained damage-free The Dyneema is also perforated for breathability which works well but can result in wet feet when things get overall damp The Recon also has added protection with a rubber toe cap at the front and a hard plastic heel cup at the rear The sole has plenty of Specialized 'SlipNot' rubber providing grip for moments when you need to push the bike The 'SlipNot' material also extends from the rear between the heel and the cleat area giving grip and stability when walking on wet logs or climbing over a fence I did find the exposed carbon scratched up quite easily which was slightly annoying considering the cost Check out the full review of the Specialized S-Works Recon Lace for all the details The lowdown: Specialized S-Works Recon LaceAttributesNotesRatingComfortRobust and very comfortable ★★★★GripSpecialized 'SlipNot' sole is very sticky★★★★FasteningThe laced system delivers a refreshing alternative★★★★BreathabilityGood but perferations let water in★★★ValuePremium S-Works price★★★★8 we found the nylon sole to be better suited for the longest of days rather than hard-paced gravel racing and while it may not be the stiffest the trade-off is for forgivingness over those big miles and for hike-a-bike moments giving the Terra Atlas larger blockier knobs around the cleat and at the heel We have always had good experiences with Fizik's fit although the fact there's no inner sole arch support included might not suit all riders straight from the box They certainly come well-priced and our experiences with Fizik's durability have been totally positive Read our Fizik Terra Atlas gravel shoe review to find out more about these off-road all-rounders The lowdown: Fizik Terra AtlasAttributesNotesRatingComfortDelivers all-day gravel comfort easily★★★★GripAn excellently grippy compound rubber covers the sole★★★★FasteningSingle Boa simple but effective★★★BreathabilityLoads of vent holes enable feet to breathe★★★★ValueTop marks for value for money★★★★★9 After four years of alterations and modifications since its first Gran Tourer shoe, the all-new Gran Tourer XC from Quoc was recently launched, and was put to the test by our tester – Amy Perryman, on the Rapha Pennine Rally Amy gave them a 5-star review saying they "delivered a flawless performance" and "was a perfect durable gravel shoe superbly capable over multiple days and long distances" One thing that I questioned was the color of the shoes with the Dusty Pink color scheme looking as though it wouldn't retain its good looks for long and looked more suited to summer riding rather than muddy winter slogs Amy reported that due to the Abrasion Resistant Microfiber the shoes are fairly easy to wipe clean.  For more information, check out our Quoc Gran Tourer gravel shoe review The lowdown: Quoc Gran Tourer XCAttributesNotesRatingComfortFlawless levels of comfort ★★★★★GripChunky rubber gives a ton of grip★★★★FasteningQuoc Technology dual-dial system isn't perfect★★★BreathabilityOutstanding at keeping feet cool on big summer rides★★★★★ValueCost a fair bit but ticks a lot of boxes★★★10 On test, Graham Cottingham was full of performance praise for the Fizik Terra Nanuq GTX winter boot, noting that they delivered superb warmth, waterproofing, and excellent breathability and therefore made them one of the best winter boots available Fizik released the Terra Nanuq GTX boots late last year with its design and features aimed to be ready to tackle the worst of conditions coming with a fully insulated fleece lining backed up with excellent waterproofing from Gore-Tex Graham put the Terra Nanuq boots to the test in some seriously cold and wet conditions and reported that the Gore-Tex membrane kept his feet dry – even when fully submerged Breathability was also impressive with little moisture buildup and properly toasty toes Winter hike-a-bike conditions can catch out some of the best of shoes but Graham found the Vibram sole coped well and was flexible enough to cope with tough walking conditions without losing out on power transfer The tread offered plenty of grip and he had no problem scaling muddy For more details, have a read of our Fizik Terra Nanuq GTX review The lowdown: Fizik Terra Nanuq GTXAttributesNotesRatingComfortA winter boot with plenty cozy comfort★★★★GripVibram sole copes well in tough conditions★★★★FasteningSingle Boa does what it should ★★★★BreathabilityGore-Tex delvers the goods easily★★★★ValueCostly but top winter performance always is★★★11 French performance-wear brand Café du Cycliste is well known for creating some of the best cycling apparel with an added French twist of style and sophistication They have taken all its clothing je ne sais quoi and added it to a brand new gravel shoe launched last year along with an equally appealing road cycling shoe.  I've been using the Outlands sparingly because the main problem with them is – they look so good I didn't want to get them covered in Scottish crud the Outlands have delivered on all fronts and even eased my apprehension of using a laced shoe with the stylish lacing system offering almost the same security as a Boa – just without the on-the-fly adjustment Elsewhere the good looks are backed up with performance features Breathability is decent and the SUPtraction sole ticks all the boxes with the custom-designed rubber tread delivering plenty of grip Power transfer again is top-notch with carbon footbeds giving a rigid feel but with still enough flex to mean they are easy to walk in too The full review of the Café du Cycliste Outlands will be coming very soon, so keep an eye open for that, if a laced shoe for the best gravel bike riding is on your radar The lowdown: Café du Cycliste OutlandsAttributesNotesRatingComfortRobust and very comfortable ★★★★GripSUPtraction sole is designed for gravel and works★★★★FasteningThe laced system delivers a refreshing alternative★★★★BreathabilityFairly minimal so could be better★★★ValueSuper premium price★ Like myself having recently loved the Specialized S-Works Recon Lace shoe and the Candy shoes have secure laces that allow a much more accurate tensioning setup than a dial system Elsewhere the Match MC1 rubber proved to be more than capable of providing plenty grip in the wettest of conditions and the natural curve of the sole tread and compliance in the shank make them comfy for walking in too.  The only negative was the weight and the Candy Lace shoes tipped the scales at 920g which made them fairly hefty when compared to the Rapha Explore shoes at 694g and the S-Works Recon at 624g – both laced fastening system shoes Check out Guy's full review of the Crankbrothers Candy Lace shoe for all the details I've listed a few points that are worth considering when picking your next pair of gravel shoes There are a few options to choose from when it comes to the fastening system and comes down to your own personal preference and the gravel riding you do Most shoes will have either Boa dials (or a brand's own equivalent) Velcro fastening or a combination of these options A Boa dial gives superb on-the-fly adjustment A laced system can be equally suitable for racing but also offers a more relaxed fit and can be a good bikepacking option but the system you choose is really down to rider preference Fit can also vary from one brand to another The best gravel bike shoes will be designed to keep your feet cool and sweat free on the biggest days in the saddle All the shoes featured in the guide feature some sort of perforation system or material that allows them to ventilate your feet It's also worth noting that the more the shoes are perforated the more water they can potentially let in when riding in rain or through puddles A nice lightweight shoe is always a good choice and will help reduce fatigue and heat build-up in your feet depending on the specs and the fastening system used the weight from shoe to shoe will vary a fair bit but unless you're a gram counter then it's not a deal breaker on any of the gravel shoes listed in our guide and it doesn't necessarily mean the most expensive shoe you're buying will be the best for your needs.  Our advice would be to check out all the features of the shoes you are considering, and how they compare for value. We think the Specialized Recon 1.0  represents tremendous value for the features then check out the live best deal prices at the bottom of this article One thing all gravel shoes will have in common is a two-bolt cleat mount as this is the standard that all the best gravel bike pedals use In short, yes. A lot of the best MTB shoes cross over very well into gravel riding and have made it into this guide Our expert reviewers have put these gravel shoes through their paces on a range of trails roads and everything in-between over many hours of hard riding to test them out for grip Guy KestevenSocial Links NavigationTechnical-editor-at-largeGuy started writing and testing for bike mags in 1996 Since then he’s written several million words about loads of gravel bikes and a ridiculous amount of off-road riding gear Graham CottinghamSocial Links NavigationSenior reviews writerGraham is all about riding bikes off-road Based in Edinburgh he has some of the best gravel riding on his doorstep he has dabbled in gravel racing and MTB racing Paul BrettStaff WriterPaul is a huge cycling fan and riding all sorts of bikes but is now mostly found riding gravel bikes planning bikepacking trips and dreaming he still can cut it as a cyclocross racer Dean HerseySocial Links NavigationFreelance writerDean is a freelance cycling journalist fortunate to have the New Forest National Park and the Isle of Purbeck on his doorstep Riding gravel and MTB bikes has meant Dean has been fortunate to travel the world in search of the best off-road trails Amy PerrymanSocial Links NavigationFreelance writerAmy competes at a high level in various disciplines including gravel racing She races CX for Montezuma's Race Team and throughout the summer gravel for the London-based team TEKKERZ CC Paul BrettStaff writerPaul Brett joined BikePerfect as a staff writer in 2022 He has been an avid cyclist for as long as he can remember initially catching the mountain biking bug in the 1990s and he raced mountain bikes for over a decade before injury cut short a glittering career he can be found at the side of a cyclocross track or a downhill mountain bike world championship shooting the action editor and writer of Proper Cycling magazine and he's traveled the world interviewing some of the biggest names in mountain biking and writing about some of the biggest cycling brands All the warmth and comfort of a winter boot Fizik has a new version of its Terra Nanuq GTX winter boot, and for the first time you can get it in a flat pedal version as well as the usual clipless. That means those of us who want to stay riding flat pedals when the trails are at their slippiest (most of us at mbr) can still get access to the best mountain bike winter boots The Fizik Terra Nanuq GTX is actually pretty low profile for a full-on winter boot with Gore-Tex membrane The new Terra Nanuq GTX gets a fully waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex Koala membrane whether you’re going for the clipless or flat version Gore-Tex is pretty well known to most of us but the Koala addition looks like being Fizik’s own name for the breathable membrane when used on a winter boot meaning there’s no lace holes to let water in brushed fleece lining to keep your feet toastie and the fit is on the generous size so you can pile on the thick socks too if needed There’s no need to upsize and make allowances for this BOA’s micro-adjustable dial lets you back off the pressure when your feet get warmed up inside the shoe What about when it’s not freezing cold though and the Terra Nanuq GTX uses a BOA L6 dial so you can back off the pressure to allow for big socks There’s also a zippered cuff to help you slide them off when they’re honking and the last thing you want to be grappling with The rest of the outsole is made up with a reinforced toecap which has been reinforced with thermolaminated PU The heart and sole: flat pedal boots need even grippier soles that conventional mtb shoes Flat pedal shoes are hopeless without a decent connection to the bike Fizik has built the Terra Nanuq GTX with a Vibram X2 outsole to help that connection and there are big deep-groove lugs for mechanical grip We’ll bring you a full review when we get our hands on a pair A grippy compound rubber covers the entire outer sole from toe to heel The Terra Atlas features the L6 Boa closure system and six wide eyelet loops Well vented footwear offering out of the box comfort The shoe to match whatever your off-road ride might entail with a focus on all-day comfort on and off the bike No turn to loosen function on closure dial Fizik recently introduced the Atlas shoe to its off-road range after feedback from riders The focus was to provide a shoe that is comfortable for any kind of off-road riding whether it's against the clock in an ultra-endurance race or embarking on your far-flung adventures into the unknown.  At one end of the Terra range is the Powerstrap X4 shoe boasting a Velcro strapped closure it's a lightweight take on a mixed surface shoe The Terra X5 and Terra X5 Suede shoes sit at the performance end of the spectrum with a stiff carbon soleplate and a combination of Boa and a Velcro strap retention.  The new Terra Atlas wasn't designed to be the best gravel bike shoe offering a do-everything take on the gravel footwear concept The aesthetics are less traditional and more of an offering that blends the ruggedness of an off-road shoe and the function of a trail running trainer The Fizik Atlas comes in stealth all-black a brighter grey option and the most outlandish colorway being eccentric pink and grape you see here The latter is for the braver riders among us and will certainly divide opinion.  Starting off with the completely redesigned outer sole and tread Fizik has taken the existing mountain bike shoe; the Terra X5 and not only increased the contact area of the tread but also the amount of supportive width and grip on offer from the outer sole on the Terra Atlas The Terra Atlas also features toe studs for times when you need to push or walk up steep sections The redesigned X5 tread is made from a soft and grippy rubber coating that runs from toe to heel including the midsole The TPU bumper gives your most vulnerable areas increased protection for off-road riding Fizik has opted to utilize a nylon sole plate to give riders more comfort for long days on the bike The soleplate is given a stiffness rating of 5 by Fizik but it is difficult to quantify exactly what that means as there is no cross-brand rating system on offer.  choosing to use a nylon material over carbon fiber gives the Atlas more flex in the foot without compromising too heavily on pedaling performance you will find a 100 per cent polyester lining Padding in the shoe is kept to a minimum to give the best fit and reduce the chance of hot spots The upper part of the opening has the most welcomed amount of padding that extends from the area at the top of the tongue and around the heel At the top of the deep heel cup  is a series of silicon dots to grip onto your foot to stop any heel lift The upper section of the shoe low-cut in design and is made from a flexible polyurethane synthetic leather material with a diamond texture The outer layer is covered with vent holes over the toes and it continues almost all the way down both sides to the heel cup to enable your feet to breathe The rear of the shoe has a heel loop that can be used to simply store them or to aid in sliding your feet in The retention duties are taken care of by a sole Boa L6 system Fizik opted for a cleaner look with five neat plastic eyelet loops stitched into the upper and a single loop guiding the wire on the tongue to ensure that the tongue stays in place to boost comfort With an emphasis on comfort the Terra Atlas is designed to be wider and more flexible than a traditional cycling shoe Think more of a hiking trainer feel than the unyielding To further ensure that you will find your fit Fizik has a comprehensively huge range of sizes from 36 to 48 with half sizes offered between 37 and 46 I truly believe that the Fizik Terra Atlas is one of the most comfortable and versatile shoe I have worn Short of wearing a hiking shoe with a cleat in the sole these offer a great compromise of an off-road cycling shoe and something that is comfortable off the bike It's a difficult balancing act to produce a shoe that is flexible enough to offer grip on the ground and yet remains rigid enough to transfer power through to the pedal.  The upper material is thin and has been made as flexible as possible for synthetic leather Not as thin or as breathable as a woven design but this shoe provides a more weatherproof and robust finish The construction and the choice of materials make for a shoe that is light (my size 42 comes in at 742g for the pair) and remains supportive and gives the rider protection The flexibility in the upper means there is little or no bedding in time required - you can expect straight out-of-the-box comfort much like a pair of trainers The Terra Atlas is indeed a very impressive shoe but it is not without some minor oversights some that I would argue are key on a shoe that has been designed to offer the ultimate all-day comfort The model is fitted with the lesser Boa L6 closure system the dial can only tighten in millimeter increments The Li2 version allows you to turn the dial to tighten and loosen to ensure a precise fit and the pull to fully release the wire allowing removal.  The Fizik Terra Atlas gravel shoe is a superb offering - perhaps not an out-and-out performance shoe but an adventure option for those who enjoy exploring or bikepacking in general While the colorway is polarizing there are other hues on offer Then there's the sticker price which strikes a superb balance in a segment that's flooded with options.  Dean HerseyFreelance writer  Dean is a freelance cycling journalist and a self-confessed pedal addict based in Dorset who's fortunate to have the New Forest National Park and the Isle of Purbeck on his doorstep riding bikes has meant Dean has been fortunate to travel the world in search of the best trails From summers spent in the Alps to exploring iconic locations such as Scotland Over the years he has dabbled in racing DH and enduro to XC More recently Dean has been exploring the UK with his gravel bike and loves a bikepacking trip As passionate about writing as much as his riding by recapturing his adventures through his stories and sharing his own experiences of products by writing technical reviews he's also a regular contributor for Singletrack and Grit CX Fizik reworks its popular XC mountain bike shoe for adventure and endurance riders If you like gravel adventures, bikepacking or just general off-roading while clipped in rejoice – Fizik has reworked its stiff more XC and mountain bike-focused Terra X5 with a bit more chill While visually pretty similar to the X5, the new Terra Atlas gets a host of changes aimed at comfort both on and off the bike (the X5 still made our list of the best gravel bike shoes, mind you The fit is more generous and the heel is wider for better support while the outsole is nylon instead of carbon and registers a five (out of ten) on Fizik's Stiffness Index There's a new set of fully rubber-covered treads underneath for surefooted walking and it keeps the removable toe studs if you need a bit of extra bite The closure is similar with a single micro-adjustable Boa dial but the Atlas has no toe strap so the Boa wires drop further down the front.  All these changes, which Fizik says are based on rider feedback seem firmly aimed at making a shoe that's more comfortable for long lower-paced days and those times you're off the bike walking everything from fast downcountry laps and epic all-mountain rides to back-country adventures overnight bikepacking trips and cross-continent endurance races.' The Fizik Terra Atlas is available now and certainly seems to tick all of 2022's most popular boxes Here at Bike Perfect we're ahead of the curve with our back-continent down-lap adventurepacking and wondering if they're good for that – stay tuned for our Fizik Terra Atlas review to find out Steve WilliamsFreelance writerSteve is a highly experienced journalist and rider who's been involved with bikes of all kinds for more years than he would care to remember he has mile upon mile of swooping singletrack an array of plummet and winch descents and everything in between right on his doorstep Comfortable fit; super-secure without any discomfort; plenty of cleat adjustment; impressive power delivery While Five Ten has dominated the flat pedal shoe market for years the brand's clipless range has been a little hit and miss Thankfully, the Kestrel BOAs seem to have picked up the baton from their flat-pedal brethren, and with that, transferred their winning formula over to these clipless mountain bike shoes Five Ten is targeting the Kestrel BOA at ‘downcountry’ trail riders looking for the benefits of a stiff and efficient cross-country shoe but with some practical features you’d usually find only on a weightier trail shoe Five Ten has done a great job in that regard There’s plenty of attention to detail where it matters most along with an impressively comfortable fit and feel They deliver when really putting the power down retaining some of that all-important feel and feedback required for good bike control Five Ten uses a single BOA paired with two Velcro straps to secure the Kestrel BOAs to your feet The upper is made from 50 per cent recycled materials mesh-like panels to help with breathability it's still soft enough to remain comfortable on long rides the heavily formed heel feels solidly made and designed to lock your foot in place There’s plush padding around the ankle cuff (though not loads) you’ll find plenty of horizontal lines either side of the cleat slots to help with accurate setup There's plenty of available adjustment to ensure even those (like me) who prefer a rearward cleat position won’t be disappointed Relatively soft rubber studs feature under the toe and heel area for off-the-bike traction as some firmer rubber or plasticky tread compounds can One of Five Ten’s neatest touches is the use of its sticky Stealth rubber The red patch that sits behind the cleat pocket features this and means should you get caught unclipped and need to stand on the pedals especially those with trail shoes that have a very firm sole I could feel just how stiff and effective the Kestrel BOAs are at transferring that effort into forward motion The connection between shoe and pedal feels solid with a stiff sole comes a more forward cleat position this isn’t the case with the Kestrel BOAs and I was able to get my cleats suitably far back towards the middle of my feet This helped counter any awkwardness and the somewhat precarious feel commonly found with shoes that prioritise efficiency above everything else This more rearward cleat position helps to prevent your legs from tiring more quickly on long descents there’s definitely an air of XC race shoes about the Kestrel BOAs thanks to their svelte profile but their robust build and solid toe bumper make them feel far more protective and capable Getting an even tension across the top of the feet is simple even when the straps and dials are cranked nice and tight to produce a proper foot-hugging feel A squarer profile to the toe box enables you to let your little piggies spread out when you’re pedalling away There’s some subtle shaping and arch support inside the shoes and I found I got on with the fairly neutral footbed incredibly well While the Kestrel BOAs feel reasonably airy though will dry quite quickly following a soaking though scrambling up steeper pitches will highlight some heel lift due to the lack of flex through the sole the rubber studs do a decent job of digging in If you can’t manage to clip in quickly enough and need to rest your foot on the pedal the small patch of Stealth rubber in the centre of the shoe provides some much needed traction the Kestrel BOAs enable you to shift cleats decently far back on the shoe boosting bike control and limiting fatigue While the Recon 2.0 shoes have a stiff sole That means they’re not as easy to walk in as the Recons I’d say my feet felt more comfortable quicker inside the Kestrel BOAs largely down to the closure and neutral foot bed but the patch of Stealth rubber on the Five Tens really makes a difference when unclipped The Five Ten Kestrel BOA shoes offer a stiff sole for impressive power transfer but have enough cleat adjustment and a robust sturdy feel to ensure they don’t feel quite as awkward to ride in as full-on XC shoes you can pedal in the Kestrel BOAs for hours on end without any hot spots With some neat features and plenty of attention to detail Really comfortable; neutral footbed is easy to live with; decent amount of cleat adjustment; versatile; comfy to walk in Really need cinching up to lock feet securely in place; cleat setup can be a little fiddly Northwave designed the Rockit Plus shoes with versatility in mind – something many brands promise but fail to deliver ample cleat adjustment and an impressive blend of flex and stiffness through the sole Northwave has done a great job in achieving this The Rockit Plus shoes use a Ripstop nylon upper with a PU and TPU coating This helps to produce a light yet tough shoe that does a decent job of keeping water splashes and rain showers out they’re unlikely to dry as quickly as some more slender An X-Dial SLW3 ratchet dial takes care of securing the Rockit Plus shoes to your feet hooked lever to release the shoes from your feet but I’d argue it’s not as quick or elegant as the Boa mechanism you’ll find a fair share of padding throughout side and tongue padding is relatively thin things get plusher around the stiffened ankle cuff Northwave has included a wraparound toe bumper at the front of the shoe though it’s still quite flexy and doesn’t appear to offer the same level of protection as some An EVA foam midsole is designed to add a little more cushioning to proceedings while the Vibram outsole is there to provide traction off the bike or when riding with your feet unclipped The toe and heel tread blocks are quite prominent in a bid to boost grip when walking There’s plenty of room around the cleats once bolted in place in the recessed cleat pockets to allow for mud build-up This doesn't hamper the ability to get in or out of your pedals Because the surface of the cleat pockets is very smooth fitting cleats to the Rockit Plus shoes can get a little fiddly I found my Crankbrothers cleats (which were sat on top of plastic spacers) shifting ever so slightly as I torqued up the bolts This meant getting them set up precisely where I wanted them was trickier than expected slipping your feet into the Rockit Plus shoes is an absolute pleasure I also got on well with the neutral footbed I found it very comfortable on longer rides avoiding any pressure points and aches through the mid-foot as some shoes with more arch support can cause The X-Dial has its work cut out when it comes to getting the Rockit Plus shoes securely locked onto your feet and I had to really crank it up to get them feeling tight on my feet when pulling up during the upward pedal stroke you can feel your feet lift within the shoes but does underline the fact that the Rockit Plus shoes sit at the other end of the spectrum from the stiffer-soled super-efficient trail shoes they may be compared with there’s still a decent amount of stiffness through the sole meaning when you do stamp down on the pedals you don’t feel power is being lost as your shoe flexes around the pedal especially considering how comfortable and natural the Rockit Plus shoes feel to walk in Even paired with smaller XC-style mountain bike pedals I found them to be stiff enough to avoid any aches or discomfort when stood up out of the saddle and really hammering the pedals But if you’re looking to venture into more rugged terrain on a longer-travel bike a svelte-looking shoe such as the Fizik Terra Atlas might appear to be a better high-mileage option While the Terra Atlas’s upper is comfortable which feels better when putting down the watts The Rockit Plus shoes from Northwave offer lots of comfort and will work for more than just trail riding underlining the value of the reasonable price tag along with the chunky treads and how well they work off the bike may well chip away at outright efficiency and performance I think it’s a small trade-off for what’s on offer here While not totally perfect, the Rockit Plus shoes are great all-rounders and among the best mountain bike shoes on the market The new Fizik Terra X5 two-bolt shoes bring tech from Fizik’s higher end shoes to a lower price point The Fizik Terra X5 provides a lot of off-road tech in an affordable package robust and well ventilated and provides good foot support both on and off the bike L6 Boa is prone to catch on obstacles and open The new Fizik Terra X5 shoes are designed to provide a two bolt cycling shoe at a mid-range price They share the sole unit for the £190 M4B shoe As well as the standard synthetic leather upper shoe there’s a version with a waterproof suede upper available for an extra £10 this strap doesn’t make a lot of difference in how well the upper closes I put the shoe on and took it off without using it >>> Winter cycling shoes for the cold months of 2018 The double crossing of the Boa wires leads to good pressure distribution across the top of the foot too It’s easy to tighten the shoe by small increments whilst in motion although you have to click out the Boa dial to loosen the lace again The dial also has quite a high profile from the side of the shoe so it’s relatively easy to catch it on trail obstacles and click it open as you ride There’s a lot of ventilation from the perforated synthetic leather uppers in the Fizik Terra X5 shoes the holes extend from near the toe all the way to the side of the heel The tongue too is perforated and has thin but effective padding so that I didn’t feel any uncomfortable pressure over the top of my feet There are rubber knobs built into the inside of the heel cup to help stop heel lift but you can feel them against your skin if you ride in thinner socks structured insole helps avoid pressure-related sole discomfort and hot spots too Fizik’s shoes have quite a deep fit and the Fizik Terra X5 comes up to my outer ankle joint This and the wrap-around upper lead to a secure fit and good foot stability when riding or moving on foot over less even terrain Fizik’s aggressive lug pattern helps with grip and you can add toe studs if you need them as well Fizik protects the toes and sides of the Fizik Terra X5 with reinforced rubber sections so that they’re resistant to scuffing and trail damage Paul NormanSocial Links NavigationPaul started writing for Cycling Weekly in 2015 he’s reviewed hundreds of bikes and thousands of other pieces of cycling equipment for the magazine and the Cycling Weekly website He’s been cycling for a lot longer than that though and his travels by bike have taken him all around Europe and to California He’s been riding gravel since before gravel bikes existed too riding a cyclocross bike through the Chilterns and along the South Downs The Terra Artica X5 GTX comes in this 'eyecatching' grape/purple or stealthy full black colourways but it's lacking traction up front unless you add screw in studs GoreTex Koala keeps the insides warm and dry from below but the stiff collar can let water in from the top but at least the Fizik's are holding up well to day in Fizik’s Terra Artica X5 GTX winter boot is warm and dry with good pedalling performance but with grip mostly dry comfort with good pedaling performance is undermined by grip and sealing details though and price is high The Terra Artica X5 GTX looks more like a conventional boot than Fizik’s radical sock style Terra Artica X2 It has a stiffer nylon shank sole (a 5 rather than 3 rating on Fizik’s scale) for a firmer push through the pedals The cleat position is conventional XC/gravel/road rather than pushed back for gravity centring Tread is limited to two shallow siped bars at the toes and largely toothless pontoons either side of the cleat slot with only the heel providing proper grip unless you screw in toe studs The upper is a perforated synthetic leather with a deep unperforated rand (the contrast purple strip) above the sole A dense ripstop fabric forms the webbed tongue and upper cuff The interior uses a Gore-Tex membrane for breathable waterproofing with Koala furry lining for extra insulation.  It comes in a wide 36 to 48 size range with half sizes in most choices so you can get a really accurate fit too The main fastener is a Boa L6 dial pulling plastic cable between five anchor points A hook and loop upper strap controls cuff closure Fizik have upsized the fit of the Terra Artica X5 GTX so it’ll fit the same as a your normal shoe size That’s a relief if you’ve suffered from boots where the insulation has taken a lot of space internally but if you want to wear fat socks for extra warmth then you need to size up my feet stayed warm down to freezing point as long as I remembered to keep wriggling toes and not letting them press against the front GoreTex membrane and upper fabric perforations meant I had no issues with excess sweat build up in the shoes either Lack of background dampness real win when it comes to putting them back on again the next day so another point in favour of high frequency riders/bike packers The GoreTex membrane and webbed tongue means you can wade pretty deep without them letting in any water too middling weight and relatively low bulk suits their XC/gravel/trail remit compared to the floppier The stiff collar makes it very hard to get a decent seal without the cuff being too tight though so water gets in easily from splashes etc if you’re not over topped them with trousers While the compound is OK on roots and rocks the lack of decent tread leaves them annoyingly slippery in mud and wet too I also had consistent issues with full release on the Boa dial so often had to fight the boots off despite a potentially generous opening when fully undone Pricing is high as well although durability seems good so far and that’s been the case with other Fizik shoes I’ve worn for years Fizik’s Terra Artica X5 GTX winter boot wins in terms of decent warmth generally impressive waterproofing and efficient pedalling in a wide range of sizes However sealing is undermined by the stiff cuff the Boa fasteners can be temperamental and sole grip is poor It’s more expensive than our favorite Shimano Gore Tex option too.  We get out on the gravel in these purpose designed shoes A comfortable pair of shoes which straddle the road and gravel aesthetic extremely well and Velcro is stronger than it looks - but we did find the strap a little too long and were hesitant to doctor it with a pair of scissors the two-bolt design is easy to clip in and out of and the recessed cleat allows you to walk when required without slipping and sliding like Bambi on ice comparatively the X4s have a little less tread The Powerstrap has been used on other Fizik shoes in the road line-up - it's an elasticated two-part ribbon that attaches via Velcro The idea is that you can tighten the midfoot and instep independently resulting in greater comfort for more foot shapes Whilst Velcro can seem a primitive tech in the age of Boa dials it's actually incredibly strong - it always has been which is why it's used in industries all over the world it does pick up a few passengers from time to time.. this sits on Fizik's ‘stiffness index' at a level six Almost all brands have their own stiffness index when it comes to soles - and they're not comparable so not wholly useful as a buying tool I found these shoes a little more flexy than road models but not so much I could feel movement when pedalling out the saddle On a three hour on/off-road ride in the heat I didn't suffer any discomfort associated with having your feet held firmly in place for hours The underside also reveals a thick enough tread to shed some mud and provide some grip when required to walk the bike in dry conditions it was fine but the X5 might be more suited to winter rides the synthetic upper is perforated to provide breathability Riding during the 30ºC heat of our current wave of summer haze the former rung true though I didn't have the chance to test the latter in downpour I have what I call "spade-like feet" - wide at the front and narrow at the heel I've found Fizik's road shoes to be overly narrow for my feet at the toe box I was surprised to find that this was not the case here and I opted for my normal size 40 (I wear a 6 in UK shoes but always a 39 or 40 in cycling shoes) with no issues to get enough tension I had to pull the Velcro right over This didn't cause any major fit issues but did collect mud and dirt,  and it looks a bit odd too The overhang could be remedied with a pair of scissors and a lighter (to prevent the cut end from fraying) it's not a treatment I'm accustomed to giving to shoes it's a balancing act to fit all feet - but I'd like to see it be a little shorter; there's ample stretch so I don't see this being an issue The heel cup features silicone dots to help grip the ankle and I had no heel slip on the steeper climbs with no adjustability or spare parts for those who need more arch support but it did the job for me and you can always fit your own if you have a custom pair I tested the Anthracite/Grape (otherwise known as 'Grey/Purple') pair these work well off-road but don't look bulky - suiting the lycra often worn on a gravel bike but compared to the swing tags adorning many road shoes I feel they're not excessively priced and represent good value for money An NCTJ qualified traditional journalist by trade Michelle began her career working for local newspapers She's worked within the cycling industry since 2012 and joined the Cycling Weekly team in 2017 having previously been Editor at Total Women's Cycling Prior to welcoming her first daughter in 2022 and still rides as much as she can - albeit a fair proportion indoors Michelle is on maternity leave from April 2025 until spring 2026 The mid market price point is highly competitive for gravel shoes Quoc stands out with its variety of styles A comfortable three-season shoe at a punchy price bracket going up against reputable names is tough for a company at the start of its second decade The Quoc Gran Tourer II is a competitive shoe with some good features and a couple of niggles are designed by and made for gravel cyclists the second generation of the Gran Tourer shoe which originally came with laces rather than dials However, I always feel a single dial isn’t the best. Adding another dial or a Velcro strap at the bottom would solve the issue of them being tighter at the top than around the toes. Air holes for breathability are good but also a source for water ingress - even though they’re designed to be one-way. The tongue is separate from the shoe’s upper material, meaning water can also get in down the sides. So, designed by and for gravel rides, the second generation of the shoe, from a company which has entered its 13th year of shoe production - what can we expect from them? Well, the in-house developed dials offer quick and easy adjustment, as well as being replaceable. A stiff sole reduces any power lost from your legs to the pedals. GravelGrip custom-specced lugs mean off-the-bike walking/pushing is assisted and minimises the chance of slipping around in the mud. You’ll not find any carbon fibre on these; instead, the midsole comprises a Nylon-composite with a cushioned insole to help reduce vibrations and add comfort. With the upper material being a splashproof microfibre, whilst you can roll through the odd puddle and still stay dry, in properly wet weather you do need a decent pair of overshoes. A 3M reflective logo and rear strap offers some visibility in low light conditions, and a recessed MTB/SPD cleat makes it easier clipping in and out on muddy rides. I found these shoes to be comfortable and reliable in late summer and early autumn conditions where there’s a bit of road spray and light wet weather. They were sturdy and breathable, so my feet didn’t overheat, and they dealt with leaf litter, gravel and mud well. There’s nothing worse than treading in cold, wet mud and your feet turning into blocks of ice. To their credit, the Quoc Gran Tourer II will survive one or two sodden steps before they end up becoming wet on the inside. The dial is easy to adjust; turning it counter-clockwise to tighten and one-click clockwise will release the cables allowing your foot out nicely. I enjoyed wearing them, and Quoc offers nice colour combinations. They’re certainly more of a Spring/Summer/Autumn shoe than year-round, though. At $262.00 / £190.00, they’re not cheap. Fizik's Terra Atlas single-Boa offering costs $160.00 / £154.99, for example. In the UK, some might be perfectly happy with that £35 extra spend just for the extra choice of colours. But in the US, that over $100 price difference makes it hard to recommend the Quoc Gran Tourer II over the Fizik Terra Atlas. Moving the single dial to the shoe’s middle or replacing the bottom cable with a Velcro strap would improve the fit for me. But some people might like extra space around the toe area - I prefer a nice, evenly tight-fitting shoe myself. But considering you could use the Quoc Gran Tourer IIs for three seasons on your gravel adventures, I’d say they were fairly good value. It’s not that you can’t use them in winter, but they would require overshoes to be completely comfortable. 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Myles Warwood is a cycling journalist A recent study by the Family Travel Association found that 79% of participants are likely to travel with family members in the next 12 months Respondents said that having their children discover new places and experiences as a family was paramount Mozambique ticks all the boxes for the ideal family holiday The country is mostly known as an attractive beach destination explained: "Mozambique offers travelers a balmy climate miles of untouched beaches and colorful Portuguese and Arabic heritage based heavily on abundant seafood and fiery spices It's what has made and strongly continues to make Mozambique an irresistible and authentic African beach experience." a holiday in Mozambique does not need to be a mindless beach holiday Most popular in the Bazaruto Archipelago and the Quirimbas these safaris follow the ancient Arabic trade routes Guides are eager to share the history and traditions with visitors Other activities available on dhow safaris include beach picnics scuba diving and snorkeling as well as experiences such as swimming with dolphins visitors also have the opportunity to swim with whale sharks and manta rays It can be incredibly rewarding for parents to teach children about the wonders of the underwater world Mozambique is one of the finest diving destinations in the world with numerous incredible diving sites boasting remarkably unspoiled coral reefs and an abundant variety of marine life travelers will also be able to enjoy whale-watching season southern right whales and humpback whales migrate to colder waters to feed and then make their way to warmer waters to mate and birth their young Ponta Mamoli is a great place to see turtle nesting Female turtles come here to lay eggs along the beaches between November and March They crawl along the beach right through the night cover them with sand and then return to the sea There's no shortage of cultural experiences for parents who want to open their children's eyes to the different cultures of the world Dana Tours' Stephanie von Allmen noted that Inhambane is known as the "terra da boa gente -- land of the good people." The locals are helpful and friendly in Inhambane and always welcome travelers with a smile She said she can't think of a better place for visitors to interact with some friendly locals and learn a bit about Mozambique culture Another enjoyable way to learn more about the culture of the country is with a trip to Ibo Island which formerly was a key Swahili trading post Travelers can wander the main streets there which feature fascinating albeit very crumbling colonial architecture or they can visit various silversmiths on the island making silver jewelry from old coins taking a Mozambique City Tour is highly recommended Travelers can explore the city on a hop-on which loops the city in two hours with 10 scheduled stops at the main sights Visitors can purchase tickets from the kiosk at the main entrance of the train station parents can take the kids to Bazaruto Island for a dune boarding adventure the younger travelers will love the rush of sliding down the dunes The good news is that there are dunes in various shapes and sizes making it the perfect activity for various experience levels Anvil Bay in Southern Mozambique also offers traveling families some truly unique adventure experiences In this exclusive resort travelers can explore the coastline by "fat sand" bikes or take to the seas on body boards This exclusive barefoot beach camp is set on a rare untouched stretch of coastal wilderness in Mozambique's most southern national park Just 10 casinhas are nestled in the dune forest on stilted wooden decks Experiencing the best of both worlds by combining a holiday in Mozambique with a wildlife safari experience in South Africa has also become a lot easier and more affordable thanks to the new Mozambique road which includes the longest suspension bridge in Africa (/Middle-East-Africa-Travel/Africas-largest-suspension-bridge-opens-in-Mozambique) The long-awaited road is set to cut travel time between Kosi Bay and Maputo from six hours to a mere 90 minutes "Until now a time-efficient transfer to White Pearl has only been possible by chartering a private helicopter The improved infrastructure means that it will not only be much quicker and easier to access Mozambique's coast but also much more affordable," said Cordelia Masher "The potential to lure more tourists is high given the unique wildlife experiences and eco-attractions this part of the country has to offer." There is no doubt that Mozambique has a lot to offer travelers The country is expected to receive a further boost in popularity in the years to come as president Filipe Nyusi has announced he aims to position the country as the most sought-after tourist destination in Africa by 2025.