Review of the fi’zi:k Vento Infinito Knit Carbon 2

At the high end, fi’zi:k now offers four shoe models, some of which, like the Vento Infinito Carbon 2, are available with a knitted upper, to ensure comfort, ventilation and an almost custom fit. Here’s our review of these excellently finished shoes, after several hundred kilometers on the road and on an indoor trainer.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: 3bikes.fr

The fi’zi:k shoe range is very comprehensive and offers something for almost everyone, always with excellent finishing. At the top of the pyramid, you’ll find the new Vento Stabilita Carbon, the Vento Powertap R2 Aerowave, the Vento Infinito Carbon 2, which are the subject of this test, in addition to the already known Infinito R1 in the catalog, which retain the carbon sole of the same name.

All the brand’s latest models feature the new R2 unidirectional carbon sole with a structure designed for air circulation, in addition to being defined as fi’zi:k’s stiffest sole to date. The Vento Infinito Carbon 2 also comes in this Knit version with a rather astonishing knitted upper, which contributes to both weight savings, comfort, and ventilation. A soft and lightweight material that is heat-fused with stiffer TPU in key areas to ensure a firm hold when needed.

Equipped with two Boa closures and good quality insoles, the Vento Infinito Knit Carbon 2 are shoes that live up to their high-end designation, with a price tag to match (€380).

The fit

Fi’zi:k shoes generally run a little larger and wider than some of their competitors like Shimano, Sidi, Specialized, or Bont, for example. This doesn’t mean you should size down; on the contrary, it ensures you get your “true” size, the one that corresponds to your usual street shoes.

In terms of width, the Vento Infinito Knit Carbon 2 offers a fairly significant adjustment margin due to the very long opening design above the tongue. While the tongue appears a bit stiffer than the rest of the shoe, it allows both sides of the upper to gently wrap around it when tightened, holding the foot without any pressure points or creases.

With minimalist structural reinforcements placed only at the bottom of the heel and the Toe Box, plus a stiffer band to support the midfoot when tightening, the Vento Infinito Knit Carbon 2 gives a curious first impression: that of putting on a pair of running shoes. It’s soft, comfortable, but the foot initially lacks support. It is therefore necessary to tighten them precisely and quite firmly to immobilize the foot and feel like you’re wearing a real pair of competition shoes. This is done without pressure, surprisingly, as the upper conforms to the shape of the foot.

Effective tightening

The two Boa Li2 closures also allow for a wide range of adjustment for powerful tightening on a narrow foot, and the wire guides are positioned to avoid pressure points.

Support is also provided by a stiffer band that starts at the sole on the inside of the foot and extends up to the instep before connecting to the Boa closure. The system is quite effective, but even more so when combined with insoles that offer optimal arch support, as the band here locks the inside of the foot and ensures a perfect connection with the pedal.

The insoles offered here are adequate, but obviously insufficient for those who need higher support in case of a more or less hollow foot. Note that fi’zi:k still takes care to offer a model with light padding under the metatarsals, where pressure is often most significant and can cause venous stasis (leading to a burning sensation in summer or numb fingers/toes from cold in winter due to poor blood circulation).

Finally, small silicone dots placed in the heel padding limit slipping sensations and contribute to the overall feeling of good tightening, which proves effective and comfortable, even after several hours in the saddle, thanks to the absence of pressure points throughout the shoe.

Sole curvature and cleat positioning

The new R2 carbon soles are particularly stiff, with a complex shape that is slightly raised where the cleat is placed, leaving an opening at the front and back to promote air circulation. This construction slightly increases the sole’s thickness at this point, thus raising the foot’s position relative to the pedal by about 4 mm compared to, for example, Shimano S-Phyre.

However, we measure the same heel height as Shimano, which means that the Vento Infinito Knit Carbon 2 are less curved and allow for a slightly more “flat” pedaling style.

Regarding the positioning of the cleat holes, we find similar measurements to Shimano, although the shape of the fi’zi:k sole slightly limits the lateral adjustment range (in case of extreme needs), at the risk of having part of the cleat cantilevered.

Confirmed comfort

At 228 g in size 39, the Vento Infinito Knit Carbon 2 shoe is light, but without breaking any records. Comfort is paramount, even when applying a powerful and necessary tightening, otherwise you risk losing all reference points while pedaling.

Indeed, if you simply apply the tightening without locking the foot, the great flexibility of the upper and the absence of reinforcements on the sides of the shoes almost give the impression of pedaling in sneakers. You therefore need to “glue” your foot to the sole and limit its lateral movements to finally feel connected to the bike.

But unlike many shoes that can cause injury due to the extreme rigidity of the materials used, we observe no discomfort or tingling here because the tightening truly seems to be applied uniformly across the entire top of the foot.

The feeling of support, however, is never entirely identical to that of stiffer shoes, such as the Specialized S-Works 7, for example. We’re not talking about pure performance, because after all, every practice and every pedal stroke is different, but let’s say that those who are used to pushing hard and frequently accelerating while often riding out of the saddle will not find the best support with the Vento Infinito Knit Carbon 2 if they don’t always ride in a straight line.

As a result, the stiffness sensation of the soles is softened by the flexibility of the upper, making it “accessible” to those who seek a slight freedom of the foot while pedaling. The relatively low upper at the instep and ankle frees up movement and promotes a smooth pedal stroke, which, in our opinion, is even easier with a low sole curvature, as is the case with fi’zi:k.

Tested on the road in cool weather, the Vento Infinito Knit Carbon 2 leave a pleasant feeling of freshness with good air circulation, but without creating a sensation of cold, as the feet do not go numb over time thanks to the closure system. Also extensively tested on an indoor trainer – due to lockdown – they also demonstrate their comfort by avoiding excessive heat buildup, limiting sweat production, and remaining almost dry at the end of the session.

Ultimately, the fi’zi:k Vento Infinito Knit Carbon 2 are high-end shoes, and not just because of their price. They are very comfortable, well-designed in every detail, and suitable for many foot shapes. They are primarily aimed at those who do not seek extreme stiffness when pedaling (due to their overall design), either because they cover long distances or because they ride in difficult conditions (heat, mountains…).

=> SEE ALSO: All our Gear articles