Highly regarded for its attention to customised fit, Lake’s CX333 road shoes are a slight revision of the CX332s, which, alongside much continuity, now offer an alternative microfibre upper material, Carbitex arch support and updated Boa dials.
With almost a dozen road specific shoes to choose from in different fit profiles, selecting a Lake shoe is complicated, but the technical attributes, slimmer shape and ride feel of the CX333s demarcate them as something of a compromise between all-out performance and rideable comfort.
They aren’t cheap, nor are they light, but they do offer a number of impressive features, customisations, and width sizing options that give riders every chance of achieving good power transfer in a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing design.
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Big shoe in a big lake
Sitting just below the CX403, Lake’s most high-end road shoes, at £395 the CX333s are still one of the most expensive shoes on the market and feature the brand’s premium features. That includes the custom mouldable heel that aims to create a secure fit, a choice of either kangaroo leather or microfibre upper – with the latter supposedly offering better temperature regulation – and the Lake-patented double-suspended fibreglass sole system. Customisation is available here with either a 3-hole cleat pattern or a 4-bolt Speedplay sole – plus, the TPU heel pads are replaceable.
The CX333s incorporate an arch support panel made from third-party Carbitex, a form of flexible carbon composite fabric that purports to add strength in areas other than the sole. These work alongside a pair of Boa Li2 dials and an asymmetrical tongue panel to help with fit.
They are designed with the CX/TX Race Last fit, which dictates a narrower toe box and a tighter heel to create a grippy fit. This shape is a middle ground between Lake’s Sport fit and Competition fit, which are designed for longer distances and very high-power riding respectively.
5 Minutes at 90 degrees
Included on a minority of Lake shoes is the heat mouldable internal Thermaform Carbon Fibre heel counter – both a mouthful to say and a medium length recipe to execute in the kitchen. Following the video instructions on Lake’s website, this involves baking each shoe at 90 degrees for 4/5 minutes, getting the shoe onto your foot without deforming the fragile toe area, and then stamping down to permanently imprint the sole and massaging the heel panels into place. If it doesn’t come out perfectly, Lake encourages you to try again, and even channel your inner baker by kneading out any imperfections by hand.
This process was less unnerving than it sounded. Leaving cleats on and insoles in, you mould the shoes with your fingers, one-by-one, as they come out of the oven. This is easy to execute, and you can really feel the panels flexing under pressure. I followed the instructions to the letter and was able to achieve a reasonable mould onto my heel, but I think I could have left them in for slightly longer (not recommended in the instructions) to really soften up the material.
The most obvious comparison is with the Sidi Shot 2S shoes I reviewed recently. They include a heel retention system that pressures the Achilles using a U-shaped clamp and two adjustable screws.
The difference in the Lakes, due to the position of the two wide, mouldable panels lower on the heel, is a more diffuse feeling of support around the base and mid area of the heel, rather than just one strip at the base of the Achilles, as the Sidis do. The Sidi Shot 2S achieve a tighter overall feeling at the heel, because of the nature of the screw dial system, but the evenness and location of the Lake’s heel support was more to my liking and translated to comfort when pedalling.
One sole good, two soles better
Removing the highly arched inner sole reveals the translucent fibreglass layer that sits on top of the outer carbon fibre sole. Lake claims that this allows for some flexibility at the ball of the foot, minimising the possibility of numbness and discomfort, and gives licence to make the outer sole extra rigid without affecting comfort.
The result of these interconnected soles is both a very comfortable and a stiff pair of shoes. I wore the CX333s on rides of up to four hours and the sole was unnoticeable – in a positive sense. The stiffness wasn’t as palpable as on the Fizik Vento Powerstrap Aeroweave Carbon shoes I tested recently, but I was very happy with the combination of rigidity and support offered from beneath.
What you gain in comfort and stiffness from this double-soled system does contribute to the CX333s being heavier than some of their direct competitors. 660g (EU 44.5) for a pair is considerably heavier than the incredibly light Fizik Vento Powerstrap Aeroweave shoes (482g in EU 45), and around 10% heavier than Van Rysel’s RCR shoes (612g in EU 45) or the Sidi Shot 2S shoes (602g in EU 44).
Changes at the top
In an update to the CX332s, Lake offers the CX333 shoes in both kangaroo leather and microfibre. Lake claims the former offers suppleness, natural breathability and microbial properties. My test shoes were made with microfibre and an Outlast lining, a fabric designed with temperature management in mind. Lake warns that the microfibre material will provide a tighter and smaller fit, with less flexibility – but is claimed to be 30% lighter than leather and durable. Unfortunately, I had a slight rub on my crank arm and the microfibre has already scuffed.
Despite most of the external ventilation holes being blocked by lining material, I rode the CX333s in 30-degree heat and my feet didn’t overheat. Equally, the level of ventilation is suitable for the majority of my UK riding where brisk mornings are expected. I’d be confident layering them up with thermal socks for the off-season too.
The microfibre has a matt appearance but does replicate leather in its cracked texture. There is padding on the outer and inner of the wraparound tongue to complement a tight fit, and – as is my preference – the dials are located well down the side of the foot to minimise pressure on the upper side. The fabric lace straps run down to the toe area, meaning riders can dial a constant pressure level throughout the foot. This contrasts with shoe like the Van Rysel RCRs, which position their dials high up the foot, localising pressure in one area.
The CX333s include medial side support made from Carbitex CX6 carbon fibre on the foot arch, which Lake says stabilises the foot and limits stretch. Carbitex is a form of pliable carbon composite fabric that Lake uses here to provide lateral strength and it really does seem to work. Unlike some other shoes I’ve tested recently, the combination of the highly arched inner sole and this panel meant I could always feel contact and support from the shoe. Given my high foot arch, I found this surprising. Rather than just being wrapped in across the top of the foot, with the CX333s the wrapping begins down where the Carbitex panel meets the sole. This adds to comfort both on and off the bike and is not dissimilar from the setup used on the Fizik Vento Infinito Carbon 2 shoes I reviewed recently.
Dive straight in
The Lake CX333 road shoes are comprehensively capable in most ways and are only held back by a slightly bulky weight. Every rider’s foot is different, so while I find them a monumentally comfortable shoe, others may not. The sheer range of tweaks and customisation available in size and fit – to the extent that you can even bake your shoes onto your feet in the oven – is impressive. Nor are these just comfy sofas for your feet. Stiffness is comparable to other shoes at this price point and I felt very efficient while pedalling. Sure, they aren’t cheap, but I don’t think many will be disappointed in the investment.
- Buy the Lake CX333 shoes now from Lake Shoes (£395)
Lake CX333 shoes specs
- Model: Lake CX333
- Weight: 660g (EU44.5 pair)
- Price: £394.99
- Sizes available: 39-50 (half sizes & narrow/regular/wide)
- Colours available: Black/Silver, White/Black, White/Black, White/White
