4.4
69 Reviews
Finding the perfect cross country race shoes can be tough going, but with the S-Works…
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The riders have spoken. We are proud to announce that Specialized took top honours for best brand in road and gravel shoes at the 2022 Gran Fondo Best Brand Awards. When we focus on what our riders want the most, it makes sense that our shoes are loved year after year. Featuring our proven Body Geometry technology, we continue to lead the way in comfort and performance.
Finding the perfect cross country race shoes can be tough going, but with the S-Works Recon shoes, we've made the choice simple. Exceptional power transfer? Check. Gram-counter approved? Check. Undeniable style? You got it. With the S-Works Recon you get XC-focused mountain bikes shoes that truly have no compromises.
We took a no-holds-barred approach to transferring every bit of your power to the pedals. The sole utilizes a rubber toe and heel for superior off-the-bike traction, while the pontoons are made of a harder TPU to provide excellent stability and power transfer to the pedal. A completely refined Padlock™ Heel, meanwhile, packs in more comfort with the same exceptional heel hold that you found in the previous iteration. And finally, the space-grade Dyneema™ material used in the upper doesn't stretch when pulled on, making sure that your foot stays where it's supposed to. With all of these features combined, you can be sure that we've kept in line with the motto "every watt is sacred."
In the comfort arena, we kept all of the Body Geometry features you know and love, like the Longitudinal Arch, Varus Wedge, and Metatarsal Button. Each one of these features have been ergonomically designed and scientifically tested to not only boost power, but also to increase efficiency and reduce the risk of injury. We also took luxury into account by designing the S-Works Recon to have form that complements its function, so you'll find seams that are bonded together, rather than sewn, cleaning up the lines and contouring to your foot with slipper-like comfort. The custom CNC'd alloy Boa® dials add some panache, but they also feature durable spring clutch internals and precise, one-millimeter micro-adjustments that let you perfectly dial-in your fit.
The S-Works Recon embodies everything we know about footwear, compacted into one shoe with no compromises, no shortcuts—just explosive speed and superior comfort.
Body Geometry sole and footbed are ergonomically designed and scientifically tested to boost power, increase efficiency, and reduce the chance of injury by optimizing hip, knee, and foot alignment.
Our stiffest and lightest XC FACT carbon plate maximizes power transfer: Stiffness Index 13.0
Dyneema® Mesh is trapped between layers of four-way stretch mesh and TPU to create no-stretch zones for the ultimate connection and comfort.
Independent alloy BOA® S3-Snap dials for on-the-fly micro-adjustment, backed by the BOA® Lifetime Guarantee.
PadLock™ heel construction cradles the heel and is proven to improve acceleration.
Titanium alloy cleat nut.
SlipNot™ rubber heel and toe tread for confident traction on all terrain with removable toe studs.
Form Fit last with a roomy toe box for the ultimate in connectivity and comfort.
Two-bolt cleat pattern fits all major MTB pedals.
Approximate weight: 300g for a 1/2 pair, size 44
4.4
69 Reviews
To use for gravel, shoes are super stiff and lightweight enough. Power transfer is efficient for climbing those tough terrains.
Super comfy and strong at climbing, light weight, durable. Carbon soles is wow!!! Boa tension is super it’s stylish as well
I have had a pair of S-works MTB shoes since the end of September 2022, a little over a year. One of the boa closures failed about a month ago. Today, the second one has failed. It gets stuck after a muddy gravel ride and there is no way of giving it some maintenance to clear it from dirt that is bound to get in. So I have to replace the Boa. The shoe itself is fine. Relative to my 2018 S-works shoe, there is less material around the foot — the sole is the same width but the 2018 has more slack in the toe box, which is something I like and fail to understand why the newer shoes (at least until last year) where made narrower in the toe box. But the problem with the stuck Boa is maddening beyond anything that can be written in a review.
I have an older version of these without the giant S-WORKS on the side. I absolutely love them! They have been through many endurance races including one last weekend. I bought a pair of the new ones with the giant S-WORKS on the side around two years ago that I simply can't use due to a bad fit around the ankles. I tried stretching them out with hammer gel jugs and glass jars for weeks but within an hour or two of wearing them I'm in pain and want to take them off. I was checking back to see if something had changed, but I see very recent complaints about this same thing still being posted, so no way am I going to buy another pair. My old ones are simply too stinky now, they went through a lot of water crossings in the last race and they stink BAD, but I still love them. I replaced the velcro and the boa straps and reduced the stink a few times, but it's really bad now and I just want a new pair of shoes. Time to go Italian I think :)
Lite shoes, strong materiasl nice shape
Pressure / hot spots on my anterior tibialis riding and walking. If I have to walk the edge of the shoe also digs into the tendons on the lateral side of my ankle.
Save yourself the disappointment and money - avoid the SWorks Recon shoe. After receiving the shoes, we went for a greenway ride to break them in. After about 5 miles, the tops of my feet below my ankles felt like the part of the shoe above the BOA was pressing into the tendons on top of my feet, causing severe pain. Apparently, it’s due to a poor design that many others are experiencing. Now I can’t return these expensive shoes because they’ve been worn and specialized is only willing to give me a 15% discount to buy a new pair. Terrible design and poor support. Thanks Specialized! Extremely disappointed with they claim to be the best… definitely the most expensive!
A great and comfortable performance cycling shoe!
great shoes!
I am in this shoe daily; from a 1 hour recovery ride, to 8 hours at The Leadville 100 and everything in-between. The S Works Recon delivers the fit and performance that require day in and day out.
The best fitting and best supporting performance MTB shoe you can get.
I’ve had trouble over the years finding a shoe that actually wrapped my foot. These work great, especially with the heat moldable custom insoles.
This shoe is light and stiff made me much faster
Bought a few sizes under my Sidi MTB shoes based on the sizing chart but still running big with too much room in the toe box (my opinion). Still tweaking cleat position to remove “hot” spots. These are nice and light and the BOAs work well. Bottom Line: will rate a yes with caveats on sizing and toe box.
Love love love these shoes. Here is what I love the most: - Toe box is roomy, but not too roomy. - My arch feels nicely supported without loosing blood flow in toes - Heel is hugged without having to overly tighten top boa dial - Very light shoe with great quality. I've had light shoes before where the shoe tread doesn't last long because of it Overall, a great all around shoes. I like them better than many high end competing shoes. The insoles are pretty sweet too. No complaints.
Spent a long time breaking these in. Similar to other reviewers I had discomfort due to the placement of the upper boa hook. The material around the hook is pretty stiff and tends to dig into the top of the foot/ankle. Been riding them for >1yr now, and they are tolerable but still do not have a supple fit in this area. Additionally, the tread on either side of the pedal cleat has worn away prematurely. Both shoes seem to be affected equally. I don't get off to walk much, but when I do the pedal cleat is definitely the first thing to strike the ground in this area, such is the extent of the wear on the tread. Otherwise, the shoes look awesome and are super stiff. They may give a 5W boost for cool factor.
I have a 2018 S-Works pair of road shoes that has more volume in the toe box, allowing for good toe splay. I was a bit disappointed the newer S-Works have a narrower toe box than the old ones.
Outstanding shoe,brilliant design and fit.
Just a really well made, quality, performance shoe. It is light, but not at the expense of durability. Great for xc and trail mountain biking, excellent for gravel, decent even for road. Big toe box, slim middle, tight heal cup.
Love the color. Boas get full of dirt though, but still continue to work.
These shoes fit like a glove. When I tried them at the store, they were the only pair I wanted. Love wearing them. I am thinking of buying another pair in a different color because of how perfectly they fit. Definitely recommend them.
Finally a mountain bike shoe that fits and feels comfortable. I ordered the wide and I am very happy with how they feel while riding. Plus the soles are super stiff. No flex while pedaling.
What are the finest cycling shoes I’ve ever worn!
Great colors! Fit is awesome!
Best clipless boots i've ever worn thus far in my 36 years.
The shoes are incredible. They fit well but hurt at the top of the "R" on left shoe and middle of "W" on right shoe. From research many have had same issue but claim it breaks in. I use a piece of foam there now until that happens. They are super light and super stiff but walking in them is not a problem.
I have now had 4 pair of these shoes. They tend to fit me really well. I have narrow feet, and I've talked with people who don't like these shoes, but I know they had wide feet. They are light, stiff, and the toe box is awesome, so my toes never rub the front or sides of the shoe during long descents. I've ridden several 5 and 6 hour rides in these shoes, and my feet always feel fine (you know it's good when you don't think about your feet). My feet have always been sensitive to hot spots and rubbing, but not with these shoes. I did have a pair of the lace-up version, and it did rub just below my outside ankle bones, but I have not had that problem with the boa versions. I keep buying these shoes because they just work. I have never had any issues with the quality of the shoe itself. Although, the boa knobs can be flimsy. But this is true for any boa (not specific to Specialized).
Very stiff yet still comfortable shoe. Not much ventilation will cause your feet to sweat considerably on warm days. BOA dials have very tight indexing to allow perfect adjustment. Did have some rubbing on the tongue and sides which broke in after a few miles. Overall great shoes. .
Pros: exactly what you would expect from a higher end double BOA shoe. Super stiff carbon sole and the special dials are very nice. Super easy to slip on and off and toebox is generous for my feet. Cons: I'm fortunate enough that the tongue doesn't cut into my feet like it does for other ppl. But when I am walking I do notice it and I can see how this can be a huge issue for some people. The space between the cleat and the rubber parts also is quite tight so clipping in takes an adjustment depending on the shoe you are coming from. I would recommend this shoe, but I would definitely try it on first. This could very potentially be a horrible shoe for the wrong foot.
Really like these shoes. I typically wear size 12 US and the size 46 fit perfectly. Shoes are very light. They’re appropriately stiff and I'm finding them easy on my knees due, I think, to improved foot/knee alignment. Also the security of the heal is better than any other shoe I’ve used. High marks!
These are hands-down the best cycling shoes around. I have several pairs and use them for MTB, gravel, and road cycling. Their stiffness really helps with power transfer. The soles are durable and very grippy for any sections of trail you may need to walk (unlike a lot of XC race shoes). The shoes are well ventilated, durable, easy to clean, and dry quickly. Like any stiff race shoes, they did take a couple of rides to break in but after that they fit perfectly. I recommend wearing them around the house for a bit to help with this.
Really love the quality of this shoe. The boa buckles are the best I've ever used. Sole is stiff and the design aesthetics are outstanding. Only complaint is lack of comfort around the shoe opening, especially in the tongue area. Unlike other shoes I have, you can feel the shoe opening through the tongue. The result is a couple of pain points.
After a few rides, I'm very pleased with them. They are very comfortable and stiff souls for excellent power transfer. I wear a wide, but my old pair was very tight around my toes. The new pair is also a wide and signficantly much more comfortable due to having a wider toe box.
The best of the best. Great toe box, the heel cup is just right. I've tried so many different brands but have been sold on S-works. I've got two pairs of S-Works 7 road shoes and two pairs of S-Works Recon. I would recommend using the European sizing to get the best fit, their US conversion is off.
I purchased these shoes I tried to break them in for a week and at the top front part of the shoe was hurting my foot after a couple rides I had a pretty serious cut mark Front part of the foot ankle level so that made it very hard to walk with them. I love the performance of the shoe Specially when walking on rocks the shoe performs very well,other than it being too hard around the edge if that problem or what I consider a problem gets updated I will definitely repurchase these shoes.
This shoe comes from years of experience with pro riders and a top notch factory. A tailored fit, you'll want to get the right size. SPD cleat placement is exact. Every time I put these shoes on, I'm excited to ride. Derived from a pro road shoe platform, this shoe is light, minimal and all about speed. Short of a new bike, this is the best equipment purchase I've made in the last year.
Great looking shoe and well built. If your looking for a super stiff racing shoe for XC or CX then you will love the Recon. It is not an overbuilt, enduro type shoe so keep that in mind if your looking to spend a lot of time hiking and bashing rocks... I have another pair of SW Mt bike shoes that were getting near the end of their life so I decided buy these. I wish I could have kept them but I ended up returning them due to the toe box being too wide for my foot. Specialized obviously changed the shape slightly as my last pair was slightly narrower. That being said, I have a narrow foot so if you have a slightly wider foot or prefer lots of wiggle room these shoes will be most likely fit fine.
I've had this for over a year now, bought them from my local shop. They have been great, haven't had any issues with them from a durability standpoint. They seem bullet proof. As for people complaining about fit, I guess it is a personal choice. But for me these shoes fit amazingly well. Love the stiffness and power transfer I feel. Great product.
The shoes are amazing but as soon as I tried them with my inserts i could barely tighten them over the tongue. My lace up recons work perfectly so I thought these would be fine. Unfortunately they weren't.
First ride impressions were bad. Same pain in my upper top foot area from the laces that other reviewers talked about. Almost returned them. Figured out I was outside the return window (was using old shoes in the 'mud' season.) Then I figured it out. Cross the darn laces. 💥 BAM 💥 Problem solved. Fantastic shoes now. Here's my theory. They were designed to have the laces crossed and then the marketing guys got a hold of them and didn't cross them, took nice photos, and everyone's feet suffered and bled as a result. ...Along comes this review, everyone's problem is solved, everyone's feet heal and all the MTBers lives happily-ever-after. *Mic-Drop, walks away.😜
Have put 6000km onto these shoes now, Brilliant, like being in slippers , great all day marathon shoe.
I really wanted to like these shoes, but as others have mentioned there is a major design flaw that makes them unrideable. The top boa closure hook is too high and has no padding, so it digs into your tendon and metatarsal bones even when not tightened down. This is super painful, particularly when you drop your heels on a descent. I've been on more than 15 rides with them, and they are not breaking in or getting any better or more comfortable.
I have been using S-Works MTB shoes for years. And I got to say they were always amazing. Incredibly light and stiff while really comfortable. Now the Recon is a great disappointment: I believe the upper strap is fixed too high up and hence puts undue pressure to the foot tendon. It is also to be said that my foot tendon is not particularly high. So big downgrade from last model due to a error of engineering in my view.
While on the search for my gravel shoes I found the SWorks Recon...search over. I really like these shoes, first and foremost, the sole transfers every bit of effort. I have about a thousand miles in them now, and the parts that should, still feel like new. Heel hold is fantastic, the boa adjustment is rock solid and offers for precision tuning. One thing I've learned is to adjust the Velcro first and work my way back, this prevents the dreaded tongue bulge at the toes. Also a note about usage, I could walk a mile in these if I had to, but I wear these for long gravel rides, not jaunts to the cafe. These are serious cycling shoes for your serious rides.
I love rigidity in cycling shoes. These are probably the stiffest I've ever owned. I'm primarily a road rider but I wanted to level up my cyclocross and gravel shoe game but didn't want to spend the $400+ on any offroad shoe that was bound to take a good amount of abuse. Seeing as we're in the middle of this pandemic and a CX season is unlikely, my Recons will likely see less frequent use. But first impressions on a 30 mile gravel adventure were mixed. Performance-wise, these shoes are outstanding. The stiffness and power transfer are unmatched in my experience. The Boa system is flawless. The fit is superior..I almost forget I have them on. My one gripe is the stiffness and relative harness of the ankle edges of the shoe. They tend to dig a bit into my ankle bone. However, the stock footbed is also super thin. So my next step is to invest in some BG footbeds in hopes of giving my foot a tiny big of a rise up from the footbed to take the pressure off my ankles. On a smaller scale, the front ankle area tended to feel a bit harsh as well. I was able to help that by backing off on the upper Boa tension a bit. I also am hoping after some use these will ""break in"" a bit. But considering the materials and construction, I'm not counting on it. Again, I have one ride in these so time will tell. But so far, just from the sheer improvement in pedaling efficiency over my previous pair of mtb shoes, these are winners.
I'm a road rider but I like SPD cleats so I decided to dish out the cash for a top notch shoe. So glad I did! I have Torch 2.0 but I really wanted the SPD and a carbon sole. These fit true to size - I wear 45's in the Torch and these are the same fit. Carbon sole with a rubberized arch is genius!
Put the S Works Recon to the test during a single day, 200 mile mountain bike ride, resulting in nearly 12 hours of saddle time. Normally I would employ the services of a shoe that did not have a stiffness rating of 13 for this type of ride, however the S Works Recon did not disappoint. The S Works Recon proves that you can have one shoe for XCO, XCM, and Ultra-Distance riding, without sacrificing performance and/or comfort...
I bought these to replace some very well used Giro Code MTB shoes which I used to death. To this point Giro was my favorite shoe brand, however their quality has deteriorated and I won't buy them again. I've had these Recon shoes for nearly a year and oh my, I'm impressed. Great fit, and a very secure closure with the alloy BOA closures. I've used these for several thousand miles and the only downside has been BOA failures. When they get packed with dirt they wont fully open. On the plus side BOA replaces them immediately without hassle. I also bought the S-Works footbeds but frankly I like the shoes better without them. Overall I'm extremely pleased and I would buy them again.
Have worn several pair of S works MTB shoes, these do not stack up. The toe box is very tall and wide which makes the tongue and top of toe box crease. Very uncomfortable from start of ride, and does not improve with wear.
My foot is a little wider and I've struggled with poor fitting cycling shoes for years. After doing some extensive research, I decided to give the S-Works Recon a try. Hands-down these are the most comfortable MTB shoes I've ever worn! I purchased the ""wide"" version, which we're just perfect for me - not too wide. I'm also really impressed with the Recon's stiffness and support. These are a great climbing shoe that fit like a glove. Lastly, the BOA system is simple, wonderful and incredibly easy to use. No levers to pull while you're trying to turn a dial. Great shoes Specialized!
Love the light weight and the looks of these shoes, the fit is perfect for me for a size 45.
I previously used the XC 6 and they were great. Initially, the Recon seemed to be an upgrade. They are a bit wider in the toe box. Lots of new features. Unfortunately, after extended riding I've found the new upper has a sharp edge that digs into the front of my ankle. Nothing has been able to improve this. The XC 6 has a padded edge but Recon is stiff with a bare edge. Nothing unusual about my ankles so I think this issue is going to be very common.
Previous shoe experience was with S-Works 6 road shoe, my all-time favorite piece of cycling equipment. Light, stiff, clean design. Fit was perfect with thin socks like Defeet Aireators. Could ride several hours comfortably. Got the same size in the Recons, and at first thought I bought the wrong size because there was too much room. Rode them anyway with my usual socks and within a couple of hours developed a fair bit of discomfort in my right foot where the top edge of the shoe pushes on the tongue. Switching to thick wool socks helped with the fit and with the discomfort, but it's still a problem when the ride stretches past the 2 hour mark. Loosening the top Boa for a few miles helps, but a loose fit is not the point of stiff carbon-soled shoes. Really hoping the fit will improve with break-in; like the S-Works 6, they're a very polished and well-designed item. Anyway, roadies should be aware that if you want to wear summer socks, you might need to size down.
Headline says it all. Best XC shoes, hands down. Light, stiff, very comfortable, and the S3 BOA dials are unbeatable.
Awesome shoes. Worth every penny. Super lightweight and fit like a glove
This is really hard to write, because I have owned dozens of Specialized shoes, not to mention dozens of bikes, helmets, gear, etc, but this shoe is horrible. It hurt from day one and despite all kinds of modifications to try and alleviate the problems, they still hurt and still pinch. I wish I could have ridden them before buying them, just to see how they feel on the bike and not just the shop, because just like many reviews I've read since buying them, the tongue pinches and the ankle pocket digs into my ankle. I can deal with it for an hour or two, but that's about it. And the really sad thing is, this isn't the worst Specialized shoe I've owned. The other was another S-Works mtb shoe from a few years ago. That shoe gave me blisters. So as the saying goes...fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I won't buy another Specialized shoe...which bums me out.
Great road shoe-like stiffness and comfort feel with soft supple uppers and lightweight!
These shoes are the best gravel shoes out there! Lightweight, stiff, and fits like a glove. The dual BOA system has small incremental adjustments so you can find the perfect tension on the dials. The shoe in its entirety comfortably wraps around your foot, so super smooth. The toebox has room for your feet to breathe and feel good in for long days in the saddle. Since purchasing these shoes, my others have been sitting on the shelf untouched. Definitely a must!
These are my ""go to"" gravel + adventure shoes and their fantastic for that purpose. Lightweight, breathable, adjustable when I find myself climbing extensively at high elevations in the mountains, and nimble enough to enjoy for a quick after-work spin on the farm roads. They are stiffer than other shoes in this catagory, but their also super-lightweight. Something to consider if you have tender feet!
Overall great pair of shoes. The heel design is slightly uncomfortable, at least for now. Tightening the boa closest to my heel helps, and it actually becomes less noticeable the longer I ride. Hopefully just takes some breaking in. Having two boas is great because I can loosen them independently as my feet swell on longer rides, which eliminated the foot numbness that I was having with my previous shoes.
This is the best shoe I have ever had. I absolutely love this shoe and use it on my mt bike as well as my gravel bike. Highly recommend this shoe.
The heal cup feels like somebody is grabbing the back of your foot and holding it in place, accompanied by the dual BOA system, your foot feels super secure while also extremely comfortable. The shoe is nice and stiff and you can still hike a bike in them! I have a pair of S7's and I am the same size in my Recons. Love these kicks
Great shoe very stiff and responsive. Great upgrade to my older S-works shoe
I have never had any footwear that brought me happiness like these do. First ride was 4 hours, and no hot spots. the dual Boas secure your foot in the shoe, even with generous room in the toe box. The Dyneema upper conforms to your foot nicely and the heel cup keeps everything where it should be. Soles are crazy stiff, but still don't feel like you've strapped a 2x4 to your feet like some other shoes. Blending elite-level performance with all-day comfort is a very rare and difficult thing. Specialized achieved it with the S-Works Recon And that's all the intel you need.
Crazy comfortable, stiff, light and look nice. The revamped s-works 7 boas are definitely better than their predessesors. Assuming the road and recon 7 series have similar fit, the 7 line are significantly narrower than the 6's, so much so that although I have s-works road shoes in reg width that fit perfectly, I had to upsize the the wide version in the 7 Recons... never worn ""wide"" versions of any shoe in my life.
I use these shoes specifically for mountain bike racing. They are so comfortable I could probably run a 5k in them and be just fine. I have never worn a cycling shoe that fit or felt better. I have found absolutely nothing wrong with this product and am excited to put some long awesome rides in while wearing these shoes!
World class shoe. I have been a loyal Sidi customer for 17 years. Both road and mountain. Someone from my LBS recommended these shoes to me. I had a little confusion with the sizing. I'm a 44.5 in Sidi, but needed a 45 in the Recons. I've had these shoes for a few weeks now and my initial impression is they are every bit as good, if not better than my Sidi shots.
After wearing the S-works 6 shoes for 2 years, I wasn't sure they could get much better. Lots of little changes, and these shoes are definitely a step up. Boa's feel better and more durable, the new upper is great, and the toe box is just roomy enough to make descending comfortable while still providing a secure fit and pedaling platform. They did take a few rides to break in, since the upper is a little stiff around the ankle, but since then they've been fantastic.
First try this evening on my Diverge Gravel Bike. Exceptional stiffness, and very comfortable at the same time. Did 50ks right out of the box, and they fitted my foot perfectly. They are so stiff you should look into specific insoles to get he best experience. I ride the Specialized ""Green"" insole, and this is a great and very affordable upgrade to any shoe really. Now Ill go ride it some more :)