Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2 Review

Our testers spent many hours in the Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2, both on the road and on the trainer. While some loved the fit and ergonomics of the Infinito Carbon 2, others found it didn't adjust enough to achieve a comfortable fit. Even though the dual BOA Li2 dials work well for regular and wide feet – the shoe is even available in a wide last – riders with narrow or lower volume feet had trouble tuning in the right fit.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

Comfort is notoriously difficult to measure, as there are as many definitions of comfort as there are feet to fill shoes. Our testers with slightly wider feet loved the way the Infinito Carbon 2 fit, thanks to the high-quality upper material and the ergonomic fastening system. Other testers – especially those with narrow feet – found the fit-and-finish of the shoe to be excellent but were disappointed by a cable guide that stopped the shoe from adjusting snuggly enough for spirited riding.

The upper is a firm, 1.2-millimeter laser-perforated Microtex composite with very little stitching. Its firmness translates into superior energy transfer, but one could assume to the detriment of comfort. Fortunately, its cut and closure system helps it fit like a glove, so the stiffness doesn't cause undue friction or discomfort.

The Infinito Carbon 2 uses a tongue-less construction: the two sides of the upper wrap over each other and are held in place by two BOA Li2 dials. This spreads the force from the closure system evenly over the foot and allows one to easily adjust the volume of the shoe. The aptly named Volume Control system is designed so that the lower dial controls the volume of the forefoot while the upper dial locks the foot in place. Unfortunately, for folks with lower-volume feet, the forwardmost system doesn't suck up enough volume. These testers noticed that their toes would curl down to take up extra space, which wasn't particularly comfortable.

Upon critical examination, our testers noticed that Fizik employs a small fabric cable guide on the upper BOA system that the upper flap can bottom out against, which limits the tightness of the closure. When smashing up a hill out of the saddle, our smaller-footed testers noticed their feet moving around in the shoe because the instep closure simply wouldn't cinch tight enough. This movement caused significant discomfort and rubbing, as well as decreased power transfer. Our testers with wider feet didn't experience this problem, so we suggest trying on the Infinito Carbon 2 before buying to make sure it's compatible with your foot.

Power Transfer

Power transfer depends on the stiffness of the outsole and the retention of your foot inside the shoe. A snug-fitting upper locks your foot in place, which allows you to transfer the power from your legs to the sole of the shoe without much loss. That stiff sole simultaneously wastes less of your energy in flexing the shoe, thus applying more of that power directly to the pedal.

Fizik claims that the R2 carbon outsole has a stiffness rating of 10, but they don't provide any units to go with that number. To be able to compare the Infinito Carbon 2 directly to other shoes in our lineup, we developed our own test.

We inserted a 3D-printed heel block into each shoe to imitate where you would apply force to a shoe during a hard effort. The shoe was bolted to a jig using standard mounting hardware, and we hung a 25-pound weight from a U-bolt fastened around the sole and heel block. Using a linear deflection gauge, we measured the flex of the sole of each shoe and averaged the results.

The Infinito Carbon 2 performed well in this test, deflecting only 1.99 millimeters. This places it among the stiffest of the shoes we've tested and certainly backs up what we felt during hill sprints. Although the fit hampered the experience of our lead tester, we freely admit that if this shoe fits properly, a snug-fitting, stiff upper and stiff outsole is a powerful combination.

This shoe also incorporates the recent design trend of moving the cleats rearward on the sole, and it offers one of the widest ranges of fore-aft adjustment of any shoe we've tested. In theory, the more rear-mounted cleats will reduce tension on your knees and improve power transfer, but that really depends on your setup. Regardless, increased cleat adjustability is a great feature that gives you the opportunity to maximize power transfer and comfort.

Durability

For the most part, the Infinito Carbon 2 is a tough shoe. It incorporates premium materials and a solid design to minimize the areas that commonly break down and buffer the areas that need fortification. Incorporating replaceable parts in key spots provides the peace of mind that you can doll out a lot of abuse and still expect to roll with this shoe for more than just a few years.

The BOA Li2 dials can be easily replaced, and BOA even offers a lifetime guarantee on their products. The heel pad is substantial compared to the tiny bits of rubber attached to some other road shoes, and it is also replaceable when you eventually wear it down. Unfortunately, the toe pad is not replaceable. It is more substantial than the pads found on other high-end shoes, but considering that this part of the shoe is used for every single start, it's disappointing that this is not more of a commonly replaceable component.

Weight

The Infinito Carbon 2 comes in at 18.59 ounces for a pair of EU size 42.5 (19.5 ounces for a pair of EU size 44). We'll be blunt here: for a top-level cycling shoe that's not very light.

This extra heft seems to come from features like the thick toe and heel pads – which, to their benefit, do a great job of protecting the carbon outsole – as well as the extra rubberized material around the heel cup and ankle collar. The insole, with its meaningful shaping and padding, is also more substantial than those found in most other shoes. While it's a bit heavier than other high-end options in our lineup, the extra weight seems to be in service of durability, which is worth it in our book.

Should You Buy the Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2?

The Infinito Carbon 2 is slightly less expensive than other top-shelf cycling shoes, yet it offers nearly the same level of performance. Its stiff sole and concessions for the sake of durability all but ensure that it will be a high-performance shoe for years to come – as long as it fits your foot. We highly recommend testing the fit, considering the limitations on adjustability. But if the fit works for you, it's a great blend of performance, durability, and style.

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