Fizik Terra Artica GTX 2023
Reviews / Shoes
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At a glance
The Terra Artica is an off-road winter / bad weather mountain bike shoe featuring a waterproof GORE-TEX membrane and insulating, breathable fleece lining for better warmth and comfort on cold-weather MTB and Gravel rides. Price: 259 Euro
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The product
The Terra Artica GTX is a shoe aimed at the person that doesn’t let sub zero temperatures or some horizontal rain stop them. Fleece lining, GoreTex membrane and a Boa closure system show there is a lot of technology going into this, which justifies the 259 Euro price tag.
The sole is made for SPD style cleats, has plenty of grip and the option to add two extra spikes for added grip when things get muddy and slidy. The neoprene ankle cuff keeps the crud out and a velcro ankle strap lets you adjust the support to your liking.
Key features:
GORE-TEX Insulated Koala membrane
Soft fleece lining
High-density PU upper + Ripstop fabric
L6 BOA® dial D Fit System
X5 nylon outsole with rubber treads, stiffness index 5
Weight: 432 g
Sizes: 36-48 (37 to 47 also in half sizes)
Out on the trail
I got to try out the Terra Artica’s in prime alpine winter conditions. Definitely not my favorite riding time of year, but someones gotta do it! With 20cm fresh snow and the bright ball of light radiating in the sky I slipped on the Fiziks and went out to earn my hot chocolate.
For a mid-high shoe they are easy to get into by using the pull tab on the heel, and as you can expect from an Italian shoe maker they are on the narrow side of the spectrum. Luckily not a problem for me, but be aware if you have wide feet.
First thing to notice is that the ankle strap is on the short side. I don’t have overly big ankles, but I was struggling to close the strap properly. Over time however the fabrics stretched a bit and closing the strap was a bit easier. The Boa closure is a test team favorite. It makes easy tightening the shoes and micro adjustments are done on the fly.
According to Fizik, they rate 5/10 on the stiffness scale, but I reckon that's more a 7 or 8 in my opinion. There is some flex in them for the hike, but this wouldn’t be my shoe of choice for any lengthy hike a bike section.
Cleat adjustment is definitely on the conservative side leaving out the option of slamming the cleats all the way to the center of the sole. Still I could find a comfortable position easy enough, and I had no issue finding the pedals when sliding round in the mud.
Comfort with the Terra Artica is on a new level. The fleece lining is super soft and definitely helps to keep you warm. The GoreTex membrane does a great job of keeping the tootsies dry and happy. Even after standing about in some puddles of muddy ice water, there was no sign of water penetration. Do keep in mind that any water coming in from above stays inside, so don’t go crossing rivers with them!
Breathability is about as good as it gets for a waterproof shoe. It definitely has its limits, but when used with single digit temperatures I never got sweaty feet. These shoes are perfect for heading out in the worst of the weather for hours on end if needs be. They’re warm, waterproof and comfortable for those long sloppy winter rides and everyone knows that warm hands and feet make a world of difference in riding comfort.
Verdict
Not everyone rides through the winter, but if you do these are a welcome addition to your kit. They are pricey for sure, but you will get a super high quality shoe that will let you ride through any weather in comfort. The IMB Test team recommends!
Buy Shoes onThis review was in Issue 75 of IMB.
For more information visit FizikRelated
By Jarno Hoogland
Jarno's life has revolved around two wheels ever since he swung a leg over his first BMX at age 4. After a BMX and DH racing career, he moved on to work for bike shops, distributors and brands before ending up in the editors seat at IMB. Based in the ultimate testing ground in the Swiss mountains, he runs his guiding operation and makes sure every IMB issue is filled with top notch content.
