Fizik R5B Donna Women's shoes

A number of factors come together to make the R5B BOA Donnas some of the most instantly desirable cycling shoes I've had the good fortune to slip my feet into. First off, they mark a departure from the usual solid black or white/silver colour schemes, being a slatey grey with hot pink accents that some will doubtless hate and others love.

Colour aside, they have the pared down style and low key (apart from the pink) looks that Fizik seem to have down to a tee, managing to combine a stylish edge with a sporty performance feel – a tall order that many don't quite manage. Even more desirable for me was the fact that they also feature subtly reflective panels, toning in with the overall grey, but adding to the safety element and even adding a little subtle sparkle in their own right!

They're not only good-looking though, they have a raft of performance features to keep even the most demanding rider satisfied. The BOA system and single Velcro strap are designed to optimize both comfort and performance, while the overall lightness of the shoe and stiffness of the carbon reinforced nylon outsole also contribute to enhanced power transfer. The R5B is designed strictly with three hole attachment road cleats in mind. One winning feature for me was the fact that they are available in half sizes, allowing a more finely tuned fit, but sadly it seems to be very difficult to actually find all but full sizes on sale in the UK.

Given the combination of the sleek fit, wrapping around the foot, the quite high heel cup and the shortness of the BOA cable, they were a little tricky to get on and off, but utterly stable and snug once on. With the BOA closure dialled in (easy and super fast, even on the bike) there was little or none of the movement I often get with cycling shoes. It felt like all my effort was going into rotating the pedals, rather than moving my foot about in the shoe.

The fit was comfortable too, with no pressure points from straps, another plus point of the BOA system that allows a much more even pressure distribution across the foot. The striking pink heel and toe bumpers were well-positioned and perfect for preventing damage to the carbon fibre reinforced outsole, but I did find myself walking on tip toe now and then, thinking the shoes were far too pretty to even risk damaging.

Sizing is a very tiny bit on the small side, so given the lack of half sizes easily available in the UK, I'd advise anyone on the cusp of two sizes to consider going up a size rather than down.

You're getting a lot for your money, as many performance shoes from other brands, with similar weights and features to the R5B BOA, come in at a much higher price. They're a sound investment for good looks, low weight, excellent fit and effective power transfer.

Verdict

Great value for money for stunning-looking, well-featured and genuinely comfortable performance shoes