TESTED: Specialized S-Works Recon Shoes

For years Specialized have lead the way on fit and performance with their footwear, and not just on the top rung S-Works equipment. For over two decades, Specialized have used their Body Geometry fit system, which in a nutshell is fit based on body scan data. As such their shoe lasts and fit have been designed to fit the averages. But that said, I still find that with a 4E forefoot and a high arch, I get a great fit from Specialized footwear with their green (more support) innersoles. With the new S-Works Recon, Specialized have levelled up their top XC and gravel shoe with updated fit data, with over 100,000 foot scans from RETÜL fit data analysed to make a better fit for everyone. 

The look and design has been directly influenced by Specialized's top road shoes, with input from their multi-discipline athletes. The result of the redesign and with updated fit is a high performance, light weight shoe with a wider last to serve more foot shapes. The premium shoes will sell for $650, and the new Recon ADV lace up shoe will sell for $350. 

A closer look

The S-Works Recon carries all the learnings of Specialized's Body Geometry which has a number of known features to aid comfort and fit. They all add up to helping your foot stay in the best position for pedalling – maintaining a vertical plane and avoiding having your knees move in towards the top tube, and avoiding excessive movement which needs additional stabilisation through the pedal stroke. All this assists efficiency but can also help eliminate knee pain and hotspots – and injury. Specialized have 3 different inner soles for different arch support – it really makes a difference for those with flat feet or high arches. The S-Works Recon comes with very light inner soles, so I fitted my own green ones. These cost $55, and I think it would be nice to have them included in a $650 shoe, if there was a way to work with dealers and direct to consumer sales on this.

The upper is nearly seamless, with a reinforced toe bumper, plus an area of reinforcing just above the sole on the outer edge, and through the inner above the instep. This runs up to where the BOA laces loop around, to assist with a firm hold over the upper and onto the sole. Specialized have offset the BOA cables so they don't run straight across the top of your foot, but move on a slight angle from the inside to the outside. Some riders did find straight across was too restrictive, and this does feel like a far more natural fit. With the two BOA dials, Specialized have done away with the little velcro strap above the toes – and to me the fit doesn't suffer for it.

The upper has a plethora of small vent holes, and the heel cup is more pronounces on the inside and drops away to the outside, working to add stability but minimise weight. The same mentality goes to the carbon midsole and outer sole. The midsole has an I-beam design of sorts, with most of the material through the centre for rigidity with less weight. My EU44 test shoes weighed 300g each without cleats, but with the cleat plates. That's about 30g per shoe lighter than a Shimano XC903, which is also very light!

The rubber on the outsole is minimal. These are a high performance XC and gravel shoe, not something for hiking up to scope lines. There's a very open heel tread with 3 lugs if you have to scramble down a chute, two pontoons either side of the cleat creating the cleat pocket, and three lugs at the front under the toe. Save for a small section of inlaid rubber in the instep, the rest is carbon fibre. 

The shoes do come with a nice shoe bag for travel and one set of shims, or pontoon stackers. These can be fitted underneath the pontoons (or tread) either side of the cleat for a firmer interface with the pedal. Even if you like how the shoes and pedals work together now, after some wear on the rubber you can update this essential contact patch. Specialized even sell thicker shims to suit those who work with their physio on cleat shims for leg length differences. Very few shoe or pedal companies offer a way to tune the interface between the shoe and pedal, but many riders will find this is an essential part of their fit, and feedback with pedals. Crank Brothers have their cleat shims, as do Look, and these help tune how free the float is with your pedals, based on how firm the contact is with the shoe. Using these shims you should be able to have the contact feel firm like a road shoe and pedal, or with more free float like most cross-country setups.

I fitted my Shimano SPD cleats easily enough with the grid on the sole, and was ready to rock in the olive green shoes. They do also come in black, white 

On the trail and feet

I have mostly used Shimano and Specialized footwear for the past decade. I know that they fit my feet and I tend to get about 2-3 years use out of their top footwear, with a fairly heavy load on them in terms of hours of use. However, having a 4E wide foot does mean that I can get hotspots on long, hot days, especially when those days are back to back, like at a stage race. So the 4mm wider forefoot than most Specialized shoes was very much welcome. And they're a whopping 8mm wider than the previous Recon!

Given all the security in holding your foot, I really doubt anyone with a narrow foot would find these feel too roomy. If in doubt – visit your local Specialized dealer to try a pair on. For me, they fit like a normal Specialized shoe, but better.

TESTED: Fizik Terra Atlas Shoes

The S-Works Recon are very direct when on the pedals, as much as any top spec shoe like this one is. I'm not equipped to evaluate how stiff they are over other stuff carbon soled shoes – they feel just as stiff to me to shoes like the Shimano XC903 or Fizik Vento Ferox, however they are a bit lighter.

When off the bike, they are obviously not as sure-footed as a trail shoe – and no one looking at these shoes should expect them to be. The very tip of the toe has some flex built in, so if you're stuck with a section that needs some serious hike a bike, this will help. Obviously the sole gets scratched up pretty easily being bare carbon, but it has no impact on the performance of the shoe.

In my mind, one important aspect for a race-oriented shoe is how well it works day in, day out. They were the only shoes I used on XC and gravel rides for about 6 weeks, and they did not miss a beat. I did one muddy ride in death mud (I regret everything) in these shoes and given there is so little tread, plugging with mud to gum up clipping in just wasn't an issue. They also drained very quickly after any creek crossings, and dried quite quickly on my feet. Given the shoes got the inevitable jetwash after the death mud ride, I was impressed that I was able to use them the next day, after placing them in any sun available and having the innersoles removed. For anyone tackling stage races this is important – pulling on wet shoes the day after a miserable day on the bike does not feel like a good start to the day. The only real padding that can hold water is around the top of the cuff, and even that dried. Good stuff Specialized!

I found the pedal security excellent, but wanted to play with the pontoon shims. Visually, it is difficult to see the access, but once the innersoles are out, and you pull the tongue back, there are small cuts to access the tool head for a Philips head screwdriver. It's not the easiest task as you sort of do it blind, but it is not complex. The stacker sits very neatly under the tread lug, and the screws get tightened up again.

Our take

Specialized are the masters at offering continual refinement of their products, especially at the S-Works level where no stone is left unturned in the pursuit of greater performance. As a top tier gravel and cross-country shoe, the new S-Works Recon is incredible. At a glance it's a deceptively pared back shoe, which still packs some very useful features and a precise fit. If you like to leave nothing to chance and want the best equipment, you should go and try these on. Similarly, if you want more options at tuning the shoe and pedal interface, you should visit your Specialized dealer and try a pair on.

RRP: $600
From: Specialized.com/au/en

Hits:

• Super light, stiff and well-made
• Body Geometry at its best
• Customisable pedal interface
• Fast drying

Misses:

• High price
• Should include matching footbeds