Mavic Zxellium shoes.
When you think Mavic, you generally think wheels, right? Well, that's changing with the introduction of Mavic's clothing and shoe lines a couple years ago, and it provides yet another option in a sea of great shoe choices. The real question is, what sets the Zxellium apart from every other shoe out there? After riding them for more than a year, it's time to explore just what makes these shoes work, and what needs a little extra work.
A lot of fancy words
The carbon sole of the shoe is emblazoned with a slew of fancy sounding names, but what exactly are they all? Energy Full Carbon Outsole, Energy Frame, Energy Lock Carbon Heel, Ergo Fit 3D, Ergo Strap Custom SL, Ergo Tongue, Ergo Lite Upper and Ergo Lite Toe Caps are all features. Confused? So am I. So let's break it all down.
The Energy Full Carbon Outsole is a thin but extremely stiff sole developed specifically for power transfer. Mavic contends that the 5.5mm thickness and 7mm stack height put the foot closer to the pedal, improving power transfer. The Energy Frame and Energy Lock Carbon Heel are both injection molded parts of the upper shoe that are designed to cradle the foot and heel, locking it in place and preventing the foot sliding around in the shoe, leading to lost power. The Ergo Fit 3D insoles, along with the Ergo Strap Custom SL allow the uppers to adjust precisely to any foot size or shape. The Ergo Tongue is an overlapping tongue, designed for breathability and comfort. The Ergo Lite Upper and Ergo Lite Toe cap are both bonded parts of the upper, designed to be seam free, supportive and comfortable.
Whew…that's a mouthful of features, but how do they work?
In the real world
The first thing I noted about these shoes, and probably the thing that I love about them the most is the slipper-like design. The Ergo Tongue really is less of a tongue as it is a part of the shoe's structure itself. You don't so much as put the shoe on as slip into it, and it really does fit like a slipper. Once your foot is in, it's a simple tast to cinch up the Ergo Custom SL straps and snug down the “Ergo Lite Rachet” closure. Much like Sidi and many of the other shoe manufacturers, the Mavic buckle is a nice, simple and solid way of closing up your shoes.
On the bike, these shoes are really unnoticeable; bear in mind that's not a bad thing. All the Ergo gizmos and gadgets keep the foot stable, prevent sliding around and ensuring comfort. The sole is insanely stiff on these shoes, which certainly helps power transfer, but it also prevents foot pain related to flexing soles (which was actually my reason for seeking out stiff soled shoes in the first place.) Ventilation in the toe box is good, and turning the toes down increases it significantly. The Ergo Tongue softly cradles the top of the foot, preventing the painful squeeze some shoes can create.
On the flip side, nothing's perfect and neither are these. The insoles, Ergo Fit 3D or not, are garbage. Too little arch support, too thin, too hard. You're better off tossing them straight away and putting your favorite insoles in before you even try them on. Additionally, if you've got big old wide duck feet, you'll want to steer clear of these: they run narrow and squeezing your wide feet into these will be a difficult (and uncomfortable) proposition for you. The only complaint I have about the soles is the amount of cleat adjustment, which is quite small at only 5mm. Other complaints that I've heard (but not experienced) is that the toe box is oddly shaped compared to some other brands (Sidi and Specialized, I'm told) and the sole is actually a bit TOO stiff, which has caused some acquaintances to experience hot spots.
Overall impressions
The phrase “if the shoe fits” comes to mind here. If you sport narrower feet, these are an excellent pair of shoes worthy of a look when you're shopping. If comfort and performance are equal partners in your quest for the perfect footwear, you could do much worse than the Zxelliums. The extensive list of features, while sounding silly, come together to produce a solid product that delivers on most of its promises and keeps your dogs from barking.
