Fizik shoes serve up a clean, yet bold aesthetic alongside that distinctive, punctuation-ridden logo. The X4 is a gravel shoe - not as stiff as a road shoe, but strong enough to pedal hard on hard-packed surfaces. A rubber/nylon sole with strategically placed tread patterns, a pair of X4's will cope with some walking, even the odd section of hike-a-bike. The two straps used to secure the shoe not only offer a secure, easily adjustable fit, but give the X4 a strong visual character too. It reminds us of an early 2000s Adidas Predator football boot, even or a pair of Copa Mundial's. Similarly, the asymmetric 'slices' in the shoe upper aren't just for style or function, again they're for both - each slit delivering welcome ventilation on warmer days. Overall, their styling means the shoes won't look out of place on a bridleway, B-road or bike lane.