Fizik Terra Artica GTX & Fox Defend Fire: Fizik shoes and Fox trousers for winter biking put to the test

In winter, mountain bikers often get goosebumps just by looking outside. Cold, damp weather is the enemy of every bike tour. If the route is riddled with puddles and mud or the trails are even covered in snow, bikers can expect a combination of wet conditions and low temperatures. Particularly nasty: splashing water that soaks normal cycling gear with just a few turns of the cranks and can quickly lead to the tour being cancelled. Waterproof MTB shoes and warm trousers are a must in these conditions! However, the best equipment is only good for biking if it is breathable despite offering protection from the elements. In our winter test, we took a close look at the Fizik Terra Artica GTX click shoes and the long Fox Defend Fire MTB trousers.

What the Fizik Terra Artica GTX shoes offer

We were able to put the warming Fizik shoes through their first test back in autumn. At that time, the boots already stood out with their high-quality workmanship and good power transmission. But can they still impress when the cold season shows its most unpleasant side? As a winter shoe for touring mountain bikers, the Terra Artica GTX should be waterproof, thermally insulated and breathable. A Gore-Tex membrane and warming fleece should make the mid-height click shoe a reliable and functional companion even in adverse weather conditions, such as on snowy trails.

The facts about the Fizik Terra Artica GTX winter shoe

• Price: 259 Euro >> available here
• Weight: 432 grammes
• Range of use: Mountain bike and gravel tours
• Construction: PU upper material, Gore-Tex Koala membrane, fleece lining, Boa twist fastener
• Colours: black, purple / aubergine
• Sizes: EU 36 - 48 (size EU 47 in the test)

Fizik Terra Artica GTX winter shoes in the endurance test

In the hand, the winter shoes from Fizik have a high-quality finish. Of course, the weight is higher than a classic racing shoe for bikers, but the Terra Artica GTX are pleasantly light for an insulated winter shoe. They are also less bulky than some models from the competition. The Fiziks are slim and sporty on the shoe shelf. As with other bike shoes, our test editor chose a size 47 and the fit is not too tight, so that even with slightly thicker socks, there's no roominess. With the combination of a Boa twist lock and a simple Velcro fastener, the Fizik shoes sit comfortably tight and without pressure points. At just under 260 euros Bikers looking for cheap ways to survive the winter look elsewhere.

With models from Time as well as from the Shimano SPD system range, there is enough space for cleats to be positioned individually. Clicking in and out is uncomplicated and intuitive. Overall, the connection between shoe and pedal makes a solid impression. This is confirmed on tour: the stiff sole allows direct power transmission without becoming uncomfortable. Fizik chose a good mix of hard and soft for the rubber of the cleats, so that the MTB winter shoe also performs well when running. Especially on slippery winter trails, walking comfort and grip are superior to classic race shoes.

The Terra Artica GTX fulfils the most important characteristics of a winter shoe with flying colours. In the test through mud, snow and slush, the shoes remained waterproof. Even on gravel tours through the rain, the Fizik shoes did not leak water. The thin fleece lining keeps your feet warm even on long rides. The reinforced cap in the front area protects the sensitive toes from the cold. On tours around freezing point, the toes only started to feel cold after three hours of riding. By then, however, the hands and the rest of the body have already reached their limit for most bikers. In terms of breathability, the Gore-Tex membrane did not disappoint and effectively prevented sweaty feet. Even at temperatures of around ten degrees on the northern shore of Lake Garda, the insulation and moisture exchange of the Fizik shoes were still very comfortable.

Test summary of the Fizik Terra Artica GTX winter shoe

For touring cyclists who don't shy away from dirty weather and low temperatures even in winter, the Fizik Artica GTX* are an excellent choice. The colourful winter boots offer a successful combination of weather protection, insulation and breathability. The fit, walking and riding characteristics are also impressive. The price of the Fizik shoes is high. But the workmanship is right. The shoes promise to keep bikers' feet dry and warm for several winters. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE tester

What the Fox Defend Fire MTB trousers offer

We have also been able to test the winter trousers from Fox in freeride use in the past. At that time, the weather protection and good workmanship stood out in particular. Is the result confirmed by another tester and touring-heavy use? With a body-hugging fit, the Fox Defend Fire trousers should guarantee sporty bikers plenty of freedom of movement on the trail. The inside of the trousers is lined with fleece especially for use in cool temperatures. The fabric of the long Fox trousers is designed to be both insulating and breathable and promises to make it unnecessary to put on or take off additional layers of clothing. A coating based on Durable Water Repellency technology is designed to protect bikers from dirt and moisture from the outside.

Facts about the Fox Defend Fire MTB trousers

• Price: 169,99 Euro >> available here
• Construction: Polartec Alpha insulation (Here is an overview of other MTB clothing with Polartec technology), two side pockets with zip, ratchet fastening, 86 per cent polyester, 9 per cent polyamide/nylon, 5 per cent elastane
• Colours: black, camo, caramel
• Sizes: 28 - 40

Fox Defend Fire trousers in endurance test

The first impression of the long Fox trousers is consistently positive. All the seams are neatly finished and the material looks robust and of high quality in the hand. When put on, the fit is impressive with stretchy, tapered trouser legs and plenty of space in the knee area, which also allows for knee protectors with thick padding. A little caution is required with the trouser width, as the ratchet fastener at the front is also the only way to adjust it. Any side Velcro fastening systems, as known from other manufacturers, are not found on the Fox Defend Fire. Mountain bikers who are between two sizes should therefore opt for the smaller trousers. Apart from two zip pockets, the trousers offer no additional features.

The Fox Defend Fire trousers offer good freedom of movement on the bike. The integrated stretch material makes the trousers flexible and the body-hugging cut makes them feel unobtrusive when pedalling. The breathability is also impressive on tour. Despite the fully closed outer material at the front, the Fox Defend Fire does not create a sweaty climate. Here it pays off that Fox also uses some mesh fabric in the inner lining despite its winter properties. The small openings on the rear waistband also help to dissipate excess heat.

The robust outer material of the Fox Defend Fire scores highly in terms of weather protection. As part of the test, we also had the opportunity to compare it with the regular Defend model, which does without the Polartec technology and has openings on the front of the thighs for additional ventilation. The Defend Fire does without these "holes" - in the truest sense of the word - and comes with a fully closed outer material at the front. This provides even better protection against cold and moisture. The good splash protection at the bottom of the trouser legs is particularly welcome on winter mountain bike tours. However, warm, preferably water-repellent, socks are needed between the shoe and trousers to complete the winter outfit. On most winter tours, the Fox Defend Fire MTB trousers provide sufficient warmth. At temperatures around freezing point, however, you will need an additional pair of long pants to keep your legs warm.

Test summary Fox Defend Fire MTB trousers

Put it on and forget it - the Fox Defend Fire* fulfils this good characteristic for winter trousers. They have a high-quality finish and offer good materials without any frills. The protection against splashing water is good and the insulation and breathability are also impressive. Without additional width adjustment, a little caution is required when choosing the size. For really cold winter tours, an additional layer of warmth is required. On most tours during the cold season and for trail laps in the transition period, however, the Fox Defend Fire is a reliable pair of long bike trousers with good weather protection. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE tester