Vittoria Ikon Road Shoes

The new top-of-the-range Vittoria Ikons are very good road shoes that combine stiff outsoles with heat-mouldable inner soles and supple uppers.

The unidirectional carbon-fibre outsoles don't flex at all in use, not even when you get out of the saddle and stamp on a big gear. We say this so often regarding high-end shoes these days that it's hardly notable. Manufacturers have sussed how to make stiff, lightweight soles.

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These soles feature four sizeable mesh-covered holes that add breathability, and small heel and toe pieces that both provide protection for the carbon-fibre and stop you slipping when you walk to and from your bike. I've not had any dicey moments when loaded up with coffee at the post-ride cafe stop, and that has to be a good thing (for me, at least).

The uppers are made from a flexible microfibre that conforms well to the contours of your feet and doesn't stretch. You can probably make out from the photos that the material is peppered with little holes. These laser-cut perforations don't let as much air through as a mesh panel but, on the other hand, they do cover most areas of the shoe (it's just the toe and a section of the heel that are hole-free) so your feet stay pretty cool and sweat-free on hot days.

Closure is taken care of by Vittoria's new SSP system. You get two laces per shoe, each tightened by a clicky dial. It's very easy to reach down and adjust the tension in either direction while you're on the move. I found that they held the shoes in place firmly without any discomfort.

The dials themselves don't feel quite as sturdy and reassuring as some I've used from other manufacturers, but I've been using these shoes for a couple of months and they've worked just fine throughout.

There are very few seams to bother you and the tongue protects you from any pressure from the laces, so I found the uppers really comfortable. The insoles are comfy too. They're heat mouldable – or, rather, the arch supports are heat mouldable. You bake them in the oven for a couple of minutes at 90°C, refit them, and then put the shoes on for three minutes. The arch supports mould to the shape of your feet and stay that way once they've cooled. It's a very easy process and I did find that it made a small improvement to the fit, although, as you might expect, not as much difference as fully heat moulded shoes (where the uppers are moulded too).

One other feature that's worth noting is the anti-slip fabric (some people call it a cat's tongue fabric) inside the heel. Although it's a fairly small panel, it really does help to prevent heel lift when you're going full gas.

I found the sizing of the Vittorias to be just a smidge generous (an Italian brand with generous sizing? There's a first!). As ever, try before you buy if at all possible to make sure you get the best fit.

Verdict

Stiff soled and reasonably lightweight road shoes with a good amount of comfort