By Brandon Bilyeu
Hot!
- Full carbon sole is very stiff and comfortable
- Classic, simple design looks great
- Single BOA closure works well for a good fit
- Rearward-biased, generously slotted cleat mounting holes
- Wide and High-Volume fit
- White uppers clean easily
Not!
- Only moderately wider than the standard version
Price: $300
Colors: White, Black
Sizes: 36-48 (half sizes available 37.5 – 46.5)
How obtained: review sample from Fizik
Available: retail, online
Website: Fizik Tempo Decos Carbon Wide
RBR Sponsor: no
Tested: 30+ hours
Sizing: I typically wear ~44.5 in cycling/street shoes, but using Fizik’s sizing chart, which uses both foot length and width measurements, I went with size 43 Wide and the fit is good. As always with shoes, it is best to try them on in a store to find the right fit.
Fizik – A History of Italian Style and Fit
Fizik has been making cycling shoes since 2010 with a reputation for high-quality footwear. They are also known for their Italian styling and, depending on your foot size and shape, famous/infamous for their shoe last. Historically, Fizik shoes have been low-volume, narrow, and pointy-toed. For many, this was a stylish torture device.
More recently Fizik has refined their last to fit a wider range of foot shapes. The changes include ditching the unnaturally pointy toe for a slightly more anatomical round shape and a wider forefoot. A good example of this change can be seen in the images below of a 2017 Fizik R1B UOMO (left) and the 2021 Fizik Vento Stabilita (center). You can see the Stabilita toe is less pointy, and I measured the maximum width of the carbon outsole at 90mm for the R1B and 94mm for the Stabilita (a difference of 4mm or 5/32 inches).
Fizik also has a portion of their shoe line available in a Wide fit that can be found on their website here. My feet are borderline wide, so I tested the Tempo Decos Carbon Wide shoes to see how they compare to the standard-width Stabilita shoes. The Wide fit combines a wider outsole with a higher volume in the forefoot, but it is a modest increase. I measured the Decos (right in the image below) outsole width at 96mm, which is 2mm (3/32 inches) wider than the current Fizik standard width outsole. It doesn’t seem much wider, but it is enough to make a difference. Consider how tight your cycling shoes feel when you switch from thin summer socks to thicker winter socks.
Above images: 2017 R1B UOMO (top), 2021 Vento Stabilita (center), 2023 Tempo Decos Wide (bottom)
I can’t measure the extra volume but can say I feel more room around and above my toes, which my feet appreciate. The forefoot now feels comfortably secure instead of aggressively snug. The fit in the heel remains lower volume and with the help of grippers avoids any heel lift. For my feet, the slight increase in width and volume at the forefoot made a positive difference in foot comfort.
Tempo Decos – Simplicity for Us Mortals
The Tempos Decos are one step down from Fizik’s professional road race shoes, the Vento Infinito. The Decos keep Fizik’s stiffest carbon outsole but go for a simplified upper design including a single BOA Li2 dial and a standard tongue design rather than wraparound uppers. The result is a high-performance shoe with a very classic and clean aesthetic.
The full carbon outsole has a permanent toe pad and replaceable heel pad that don’t show any signs of wear yet. The cleat mounting holes are biased rearward and include slots for ~10mm (3/8 inch) cleat adjustment which should make bike fitters happy. Slots at the front and rear of the forefoot provide airflow for cooling and are covered with a fine mesh to keep any surprise out. On the bike, they feel perfectly stiff but also very comfortable. There are no harsh vibrations or hot spots. Built-in arch support is minimal so bring your own insoles as needed.
This was my first experience with a shoe using just a single BOA dial, so I was a little worried about not being able to adjust the ankle and forefoot tightness separately. But Fizik nailed the design so tightening the BOA dial locks down the ankle and gives a snug, but not toe-crushing hold in the forefoot. The padded tongue does a great job at eliminating any pressure points and it’s easy to adjust tension with the BOA dial while riding. The uppers are stiff enough for a secure hold with no stretch, but also pliable enough to conform to the foot. The numerous vent holes provide average airflow. Overall comfort is excellent.
Bottom Line
The Fizik Tempo Decos Carbon Wide shoes provide enough extra width to make my toes very happy. The quality is top notch and comfort is balanced well with performance. If you have avoided Fizik due to past fit issues, it’s worth taking a second look now that more accommodating fits are available.
Brandon Bilyeu is an avid recreational roadie who lives in Regensburg, Germany. He’s a year-round bike commuter and is a mechanical design engineer by trade. Click to read Brandon’s full bio.