Fizik Ferox 2 Carbon: A gravel racer's favourite footwear returns, rebuilt from the ground up

The Ferox gets a total overhaul to bring it into line with modern off-road riding trends and positions – a redesigned upper, a new carbon outsole, an updated closure system, and a shape that reflects how gravel and XC riding have changed since the original

Photos: Fizik Words: Neal Hunt

The original Ferox established Fizik as a serious force in off-road footwear, originally designed for XC mountain biking and later adopted by the growing gravel race segment. The Ferox 2 Carbon arrives with a redesigned upper, a new carbon outsole, an updated closure system, and a shape that reflects how gravel and XC riding have changed since the first version was built. It is, in every meaningful sense, a different shoe, yet it still retains the classic styling and features that made the original so popular.

The Ferox 2 Carbon is the second generation of a shoe that the Italian brand has been developing with elite athletes for several years. The original version found its audience with the Powerstrap closure system, a hybrid design that combines a wide Velcro strap at the instep with a BOA dial at the forefoot, offering an unusual combination of rapid security and fine-tuned adjustability, plus added MTB crash resistance that neither system alone could provide. The Ferox 2 retains that architecture, but almost everything underneath it has changed.

As a brand that specialises in contact points, it's no surprise that the design process starts with the shape. Bike geometry has changed significantly in recent years, and the knock-on effects at the contact points between rider and machine are often underestimated. Modern riding positions ask different things of the foot than the positions that informed a previous generation of shoe design. Fizik has responded with a last that uses a reduced heel drop and an expanded toe box: less drop to encourage a more natural pedalling position, more room in the forefoot to allow the foot to fully extend under load.

Brand manager Alex Locatelli says in the press release: “We know flat profile, low drop and a wider forefoot is the best combination for power transfer and long fast days on modern bikes, but we still validated this with extensive testing with XC racers. The prototype we made allowed the riders to drop their heels better on technical descents with less stress on the calf muscle. This meant they could be more relaxed and save energy, but also have more control of their rear wheel."

That claim was tested rather than assumed by the extensive testing process mentioned earlier. Prototype versions of the Ferox 2 were evaluated in real-world conditions by gravel and XC racers across all kinds of riding and racing, and the finding that came back most consistently was rather surprisingly about the descents rather than the climbs. The reduced heel drop allowed riders to drop their heels more easily on technical sections, reducing calf muscle strain and improving rear wheel control. Dropping your heels is a well-known technique for those familiar with technical mountain bike trails and descents, but it's the first time I've seen it mentioned by a footwear brand for gravel and XC racing in regards to fit, and the comfort and confidence gained was not merely incidental; it had a measurable effect on riders' energy expenditure.

The closure system has been revised in detail rather than replaced. The Powerstrap, which runs across the instep, is now thinner and lighter and attaches via an angled loop that locks directly into the footbed and outsole. The geometry of the attachment has been changed so that the strap crosses the top of the foot in the most ergonomically neutral path available, spreading pressure across a wider surface area. At the forefoot, the Li2 BOA Fit System allows micro-adjustment for precise fit across the full width of the shoe.

Simone Orlando, Fizik product specialist: “We have also invested time into Powerstrap to work even better than before. We added an angled loop where the strap attaches to the inside of the foot. This allows Powerstrap to lock into the footbed and outsole for increased power, but still cross the top of the foot in the most comfortable way possible. The new strap is thinner and lighter than before, increasing the flexibility and comfort. It doesn’t break if you crash, feels better than before, weighs less, is infinitely adjustable and spreads pressure across a wider area.”

The upper represents the most significant structural departure from the original Ferox, and it was also, according to Fizik's design team, the hardest element to resolve. The brief was to meet three competing requirements simultaneously: be more breathable, more flexible, and at least as durable as before. The solution is a PU-laminated mesh construction that uses two distinct mesh layers in different zones, with breathability as the primary target, and adds a PU overlay where abrasion resistance and structural integrity are most critical. The unintended consequence of working in this way, layering over a mesh substrate, was that the creative team found they could play with colour transparency and depth in ways that the previous upper construction had not permitted, resulting in some striking colourways with even the plain white version having an unusual depth of shades and textures.

The outsole is new throughout. A full-carbon plate, wider and lower than the outgoing design, it prioritises contact area with the pedal over the narrower, more road-bike-derived profile of the original. The wider pedal platform means more of the carbon is actively transferring power at any given moment of the pedal stroke. A complete rubber coating, including across the midfoot, which many carbon-soled shoes leave exposed, improves grip during the off-bike sections that gravel and XC racing demand. The sections around the cleat are designed to offer support on the pedals as well, giving them a more supportive road-like feel. Stud fitments are present for those who want them. Weight comes in at 295g in a size 44.

Lachlan Morton holding the Fizik Ferox 2 Carbon

The roster of riders who tested the Ferox 2 in competition conditions before launch gives a fair picture of the terrain it is built for. Greta Seiwald used it to reach multiple podiums at the Cape Epic, one of the most demanding multi-day mountain bike events on the calendar. Payson McElveen, a two-time US national gravel champion, and Lachlan Morton of EF Pro Cycling both contributed feedback across the gravel spectrum. Jennifer Ming Jackson, a three-time Canadian XC national champion, represented the pure XC competition context. The shoe has been shaped by riders who could not afford to be wrong about their footwear, and riders who push their kit to the limits.

First ride impressions

Now obviously I haven't given the shoes quite as hard a time as their testing team, but my first impressions have been very positive. They have a slipper-like fit, with a protective sock-like enclosure around the ankle that gives a very snug yet unrestrictive feel. The last or shape gives a similar sensation, with its toe box noticeably larger than that of similar race-level shoes, yet theres plenty of support around the mid-foot area. I'm also a big fan of the Powerstrap concept. I was sceptical at first, but it makes for a very supportive closure, and as someone who has broken Boa dials before riding XC bikes, I can see the crash resistance benefits too.

At £319/ €329, the Ferox 2 Carbon sits in the premium segment of the off-road shoe market, as you would expect for a performance-driven item. It is available in three colourways, Black/Dark Forest, White/Light Grey, and Light Grey/Mint Green, across a size range from 36 to 48, with half sizes available from 37 to 47.

I have a pair I'm testing currently on my local trails and tracks in and around Sheffield and the Peak district in White, and whilst I don't expect them to remain so gleaming, I am looking forward to getting some longer and harder rides in on them to see if their claims ring true so keep your eyes peeled for a review in the near future.