Fizik Vento Omna Wide shoe review: Yeti sneakers for those pedalling on a budget

Let’s start with some positives: the Omna Vento is Fizik’s least expensive shoe, and it’s available in a wide fitting, which is the version I’m reviewing here. With an RRP of £164.99/$169.99, it’s hardly cheap, but it compares favourably to the competition from other high-end brands, and it shares the same price as the regular Vento Omna. So, there’s no penalty for rocking pancake-sized feet, which is to be commended.

These shoes bear a remarkable resemblance to Fizik’s higher-tier Tempo Decos Carbon model. To all intents and purposes this is a cut-price version of the same shoe, so I’ll be exploring the key differences to help you decide which is the best buy for you.

A quick note about my own feet. I’ve been blessed with large – size 48 – feet that, depending on the brand, fall between regular and wide. With many brands, including Fizik, I’m comfortable in both regular and wide fittings but I tend to prefer wide for long, summer rides as my feet can swell in the heat.

Construction

The two primary differences between the Omna and the Decos are the outsole material, and the fabric used to construct the upper. Sizing appears to be the same - I cannot feel much difference in terms of fit or volume, and both shoes use identical insoles. Somewhat counterintuitively, the less stiff Omna falls within Fizik’s Vento racing line, while the Tempo Decos is marketed as a performance endurance shoe. I’d say the Omna is a comfortable all-rounder, so ignore Fizik’s marketing on this one.

The Omna features Fizik’s R5 nylon outsole, which the brand gives a stiffness rating of 6/10. Grabbing the shoe at heel and toe, I can easily flex the sole a few millimetres in my hands, though I found it very resistant to twisting. Movement was most evident at the centre and ends of the shoe, with the metatarsal area – where the cleat holes are – remaining reassuringly rigid.

Basic physics dictates that longer shoes, like my size 48s, will probably exhibit more flex than smaller sizes, so experiences will vary. By contrast, the super-stiff 10/10 carbon sole found on the Decos is impossible to budge by hand in any direction.

Venting is fairly basic, there’s a single, small port beneath the metatarsophalangeal joint (big toe joint) that feeds directly into the toe box. Unlike the Decos, there’s no channelled exhaust port.

Two, soft, rubberised tread blocks, one at the heel, the other at the toe, provide grip for short walks. It’s a shame the toe block doesn’t wrap around the front to form a modest protective bumper to save scuffing during toe-down moments. The Decos has this feature, and I miss it here.

In common with many lower-priced shoes, the three-bolt cleat position is fixed as opposed to being adjustable for fore and aft fine-tuning. I guess this is to differentiate it from the more expensive Decos, which is a shame because I hesitate to consider £164.99/$169.99 as entry-level. Fortunately, your cleats – Shimano or Look Keo – will allow some adjustment, and Fizik has placed the bolt holes in this relatively new shoe further back than used to be the norm. So, obtaining enough set-back for a comfortable, powerful pedal stroke shouldn’t be a problem.

The upper is made from fabric-backed, high-density polyurethane, which has a subtle faux-leather grain. It’s quite thick, but very soft and pliable. The tongue uses a heavier-weight, thicker, cushion-backed polyurethane that features an industrial-style diamond grid pattern and a generous number of perforations to aid breathability.

In contrast, the Decos’ upper is much lighter, made from a fine mesh that’s laminated with a very thin layer of polyurethane.

In keeping with Fizik’s signature aesthetic, this shoe has extremely clean lines with minimal stitching and no visible joins. The upper is made from a single piece of fabric with a dozen or so diagonal rows of perforations throughout the mid-foot.

The fabric cuff is soft and deep – externally, it’s significantly more prominent than the very subtle cuff on the Decos, but internally they are near identical.

Both shoes have a very similar closure system that comprises a single, side-mounted Boa that equally tensions both sides of a traditional central lace channel (slightly offset on the Decos). There are no fancy burrito-style wrap-over shenanigans in evidence here, and I believe both shoes are all the better for it. This is a simple shoe, with a simple, attractive aesthetic. Why complicate things?

The only obvious difference with the lacing is that the Omna uses fabric lace guides versus the plastic guides on the Decos. Arguably, fabric is better because it’s even less likely to bite into the foot, but the cable laces may not run as freely.

Just like its pricier cousin, the Omna benefits from premium, low-profile, micro-adjust Li2 Boas, which can both tighten and loosen on the fly. An impressive feature to find at this price point.

Claimed weight for the Omnas, size unspecified, is 240g per shoe, which is only 22g heavier than the claimed weight for the Decos. Actual weight for my size 48 Decos is 307g per shoe versus 346g for my Omnas, a 39g saving.

The Ride

The best way to ensure a shoe is going to fit correctly is to try a pair at your local stockist, rarely an option these days because many of us, for better or worse, purchase online. This was my experience too; the review pair was delivered by post.

Fortunately, Fizik provides a decent shoe fit chart on its website, together with detailed instructions for measuring your feet. For example, Fizik maintains that if your feet measure 270mm in length, then you’re a size 8 UK, 42 EU and 9 US. If your metatarsal width is less than 105mm then a regular size should be most suitable. If you measure up bigger, then opt for a wide fitting.

Fizik also says on its website that its wide fitting offers ‘slightly more generous sizing’, which I believe sums up its broader offering perfectly. Neither the Omna nor the Decos are built for extremes, it’s a matter of degree.

As a wholly unscientific test, I offered up an insole from a regular fit Fizik Mechanism PNS race shoe against the Omna wide, both size 48. At the metatarsal area, the Omna provided another 7mm of room at the widest point. I also compared the more leisure-oriented Fizik Tempo Beat and found barely any difference, perhaps a millimetre. This is, of course, size-dependent but it’s a useful comparison. Essentially, if you find Fizik race shoes a little too snug then the wide fitting will feel a little less so.

The wide-fitting Omnas and Decos feel much the same in terms of width and volume. Fizik doesn’t appear to have increased the heel cup widths much, if at all, so the back of my foot felt securely locked in wearing either shoe. If anything, the Omna felt like it had more volume, but the difference was so slight, this could just be my mind playing tricks on me. As expected, both shoes are measurably wider at the forefoot than the Mechanism PNS, but the heel cup feel isn’t dissimilar.

Stiffness is, of course, a different story. The nylon sole is more flexible, which is especially noticeable when doing the penguin walk to a café table. On the bike, the difference is undeniably there, but the cleat platform remains plenty stiff enough for it not to be a concern.

There is a trade-off here. Yes, it’s possible that a slightly less stiff shoe will hinder power transfer – the jury is still out on this one – but it will also better conform to the foot, minimising the likelihood of heel lift and reducing the risk of painful blisters. During my rides, I wasn’t troubled by a lack of torsional or lateral stiffness, whether cruising the distance, putting the hammer down or enjoying short, sharp but fun town sign sprints.

Remember, it’s not all about sole stiffness. The secure heel cup, excellent lace tensioning system and ‘stiff enough’ sole work in combination to provide the best footing for a comfortable, efficient ride.

I tested the Omna Wide throughout the early spring, when we were blessed with dry, sunny but chilly weather conditions in the UK. The mercury rarely rose above 15°C/60°C, with early morning lows down to 2°C/35°F. These shoes, with their relatively thick uppers, peppered with a modest number of perforations, kept my feet comfortable in the mid-to-upper temperature range but I’m concerned that they’re going to be a little warm for hot summers.

Value and Conclusions

There are lighter, stiffer, more vented shoes on the market – the Fizik Tempo Decos for a start – but you’ll have to pay top dollar for them. There are also plenty of budget shoes with nylon soles, but very few are available in a wide fitting. So, though I’d love the Omna Wides to be cheaper, I must concede that Fizik has pitched the price about right.

They have some worthy competition. Shimano’s SH-RC502 Wide is a single Boa shoe, with a carbon-reinforced midsole and adjustable cleat holes, retailing for £139/$170. The CX177 Wide from Lake, a brand with an enviable reputation for wide-fitting shoes, is another similarly specced single Boa shoe priced at £150/$179. Other brands, such as Bont and Specialized, do offer shoes with a wider fit, but not at this price point.

The Fizik Omna Wide successfully offers a wider, higher volume solution that doesn’t deviate too much from a snug race fit. Stiffness is more than good enough, if anything the nylon soles add versatility that carbon-soled shoes will struggle to match. The price may be high, but so is the quality.

Specs

• Colours: Black or White
• Sizes: 36 to 48. Half sizes from 37.5 to 46.5
• Perforated high-density PU upper
• Li2 BOA® Dial C Fit System
• R5 nylon outsole: Stiffness index 6
• Weight: 240 g claimed