The latest performance road shoes from Fizik – the Tempo Powerstrap R5 – are a return to basics. While most companies have reached back to laces for the fully retro look & light adjustability, the Italian shoe & saddle company doesn’t go so far back in time – just returning to velcro straps.
Fizik Tempo Powerstrap R5 affordable road shoes
The Tempo Powerstrap R5 isn’t quite a top-level road shoe for Fizik. That R5 designation suggests a mid level performance road shoe. And these get the same carbon reinforced nylon shoe as the standard Tempo Overcurve R5s which use a single Boa closure. But the new two-strap crossing Powerstrap closure does shave weight off the standard R5 and brings the price down as well.
Fizik Tempo Powerstrap R5 Tech Details
The new shoes are the first to unveil the new Powerstrap Velcro strap design, but are rumored to not be the only shoes to get the new closure. Instead of a simple strap closure that pulls the two sides of the shoe together like you usually get in a velcro strap shoe, the Fizik Powerstrap traces back and forth across the forefoot pulling together more like you get with dial closure shoes. Then the upper strap offers more conventional tightening over the midfoot.
The rest of the shoes construction is shared with the other R5 family, including the same flexible perforated synthetic upper.
Of course even with wide, quality velcro, straps are cheaper than dials & wires. So these new Tempo Powerstrap R5 shoes sell for just 119€, down 30€ from the Boa equipped R5. That reinforced road sole is pretty isn’t overly light too, so these weigh in at 499g per shoe to deliver performance stiffness (more than twice the weight of Fizik’s top R1 shoes, weird?).
UPDATE: OK, so much like we suspected, that 499g weight is actually for the pair, making these a nice light, affordable option. Fizik for some reason quotes the weight on these shoes for the pair, instead of per shoe like most of their lineup. Anyway, good news for anyone looking to buy a simple, affordable, light road shoe!
The new shoes are available in all black, white & black, navy & black, and red & black. They come in wholes sizes 36-48, and half sizes from 37-47. Get them now direct from Fizik or through regular retail channels.
A 500g shoe? Seems like a typo.
It is a typo, they are 500g for the pair
It was a tech spec typo on Fizik’s part. We do have the official word from Fizik now that the shoes are in fact 250g a piece, 499g for the pair in a size 42.
Finally, fricking finally, finally, someone noticed that there is nothing wrong with the fricking velcro and it’s better than laces, atop, boa, sidi brrrabrbrbb, and any other closure system. Bring back the fricking velcro, put a carbon sole on it and take my money.
sidi brrrabrbrbb, hahah you made my day!
Yes I have been waiting for velcro too, no need for anything else no need for oven dials on my shoes. Mavic brought out some really nice velcro shoes for 100$ no carbon sole but they are stiff enough for riding, not racing.
These would be awesome if they had a full carbon sole. Anyone know of anything with a full carbon sole and similar velcro straps?
My Times from 2003.
Those were awesome!
If you can find a pair of Lake CX300, then yes.
+1 carbon sole and Velcro
The Giro Prolight and Prologht II have had all velcro systems for years – and until recently they were the lightest on the market. The Rapha Pro Team shoe, which is bases on the Prolight II, is also all velcro. The Prolight Techlace is now Velcro plus laces (sort of) so no doubt Fizik will catch up soon…
Why the need for a carbon sole so much.