By Brandon Bilyeu
Hot!
- Super stiff, full carbon sole is mounted inside the upper for low stack height
- Tongue-less, sock-like upper fits like a second skin
- Dual BOA Li2 dials make adjustments easy
- Rearward biased, slotted cleat mounting holes
- New last provides a roomy forefoot
Not!
- Should come with a shoehorn, because you need one to get them on
- Expensive
Price: $470
Colors: White, Black, White-Yellow Fluo-Blue
Sizes: 36-48 (half sizes available 37.5 – 46.5)
How obtained: review sample
Available: retail, online
Website: Vega Carbon
RBR Sponsor: no
Tested: 50+ hours
Sizing: With shoes it is always best to try on in-store, but Fizik has an online size guide to help you choose the right shoe size. I traced my foot outline and measured 267mm heel to toe. From past experience with Fizik, I know that it’s best to size up as the listed foot length is basically the exact inside length of the shoe. I was maybe a little over cautious and went with a size 43 (277mm). The fit was good, but I could have easily gone a half size smaller. With cycling shoes, it is best not to size up too much, because then the cleat position is pushed too far forward relative to your foot.
Vega Carbon – Fizik Embraces a New Approach to Shoe Design
The Vega is Fizik’s newest top-of-the-line road racing shoe and is a marked departure from the Fiziks of old. The Vega incorporates several new features to improve fit, comfort, and performance. As a race-oriented shoe, it may not appeal to everyone, but the changes offer a glimpse of Fizik’s design philosophy going forward, so hopefully we will see some of these new features trickle down to lower tier shoes.
New Last is Actually Shaped Like a Human Foot
A new last moves away from Fizik’s traditional Italian skinny and pointy-toed shape to a significantly roomier and blunter toe box. The result is a shape that should accommodate more peoples’ feet. I’ve worn several Fiziks in the past and the fit has usually been a little tight for me in the forefoot, but the Vegas feel great with no pinching at the metatarsals and room for my feet to swell on hot afternoons.
I have the wide version of the Fizik Tempo Decos Carbon from a few years ago, in the same size 43, and the Vega’s sole measures 90mm wide to the Decos Wide 94mm. The Vegas fit my feet better because the 90mm width continues forward to the toe box and they are relatively low volume, where the Decos Wide are wide but too high volume for me. The Vega is not currently offered in a wide fit, but that should not be necessary for most people given the new last.
Vega (left) and Tempo Decos (right): Note the Vega width extends all the way to the blunt toe box and the last is straighter than the more curved Tempo Decos
In addition to a wider fit, the last has also been straightened and flattened to better mesh with the modern understanding of pedaling mechanics. The result is a lower heal position that should help with power transfer. The cleat mounting holes are biased rearwards and slotted holes allow 15mm of fore/aft adjustment, again for improved power transfer in aggressive forward positions. I can’t say that I noticed much difference on the bike, except that the new last is perfectly comfortable and works well with my slightly wide and low volume feet.
The carbon sole has a very small built-in arch support, so plan to use aftermarket insoles to meet your arch support needs. The supplied insoles are the typical thin foam, but they at least have a decent metatarsal button. Interestingly the insoles are perforated in the front for airflow, but because the carbon sole is inside the uppers, there are no vents in the bottom of the Vega. Thankfully, the uppers are generously vented.
Vega’s Carbon Sole is on the Inside
Fizik has taken a new approach to the connection between the carbon sole and the upper that lowers the stack height. Standard shoe construction used on Fiziks other shoes is to bond the upper on the top side of the sole, which also involves a midsole on top of the bonded upper to make a flat surface for the insole. The Vega construction wraps the upper under the carbon sole to put the insole directly in contact with the carbon sole and therefore reduce the stack height by the thickness of the upper and midsole. This theoretically improves power transfer via increased stability. Visually, the result is the carbon sole hidden under the upper except for the exposed cleat attachment area. This helps protect the carbon sole from walking damage but gets dirty quickly if you go with white.
Goodbye Tongue, Hello Compression Sock
The upper is continuous with no tongue, best described as a mesh compression sock with a carbon sole on the bottom. This makes for a second skin fit that perfectly conforms to your ankle and midfoot shape, holding your foot securely even before you tighten the closure system. One side effect of the tongue-less upper is that it is very hard to get your foot into the shoe. I gave myself a calf cramp the first time putting them on and quickly realized that a shoehorn was a necessity and Fizik probably should have included one in the box. But the struggle to get them on is rewarded by a great fit that has no pressure points because there are no overlapping materials.
On the outside of the sock is a clear plastic exoskeleton that provides anchor points for the BOA Li2 dials and is a non-stretch layer to allow tightening of the shoes. It is perforated for very good airflow into the mesh sock, which is important because there are no vents in the covered carbon sole. The exoskeleton is reinforced in strategic areas to eliminate any pressure points from the BOA dials, laces, and eyelets. The Li2 dials work very well and give you micro adjustments to tighten and loosen, as well as quick release.
On the Bike
For my feet, all the changes Fizik made with the Vega were improvements and resulted in the Vega’s being the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. The biggest impacts for comfort were the extra space in the toe box and the sock-like upper. After the struggle to get them on, the Vega’s simply disappear on your feet. The super stiff carbon sole distributes pedaling forces to avoid hot spots and the new shape seems to play well with my foot anatomy. The uppers are extremely well ventilated, great for hot summer weather or indoor trainer rides.
After a summer of riding, the sock is still holding strong with no perceivable loss of compression. So, durability seems good, but time will tell whether the sock will last as long as more traditional non-elastic uppers. Unless you opt for black, the Vega has a lot of white to keep clean, and the two-layer exoskeleton plus sock makes this a little more difficult. You can wipe down the exoskeleton, but it blocks access to the sock underneath. I found that an occasional deep clean with mild soap and a shower head worked well to clear most of the accumulated grit, but they will never again be as white as when pulled out of the box the first time.
Bottom Line
Fizik continues to incrementally improve their shoes to better fit actual human feet and the Vegas deliver with great comfort and performance. A little tough to get on, but the sock-like fit and stiff carbon sole are worth the effort. These are easily the most comfortable and secure fitting cycling shoes I have ever worn.
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.