First impression was underwhelming from some slop over the top of the foot. After several rides I figured out the problem: the overlapping flap structure is tricky with narrow feet. If you just put them on and tighten the dials, the flaps catch and an insecure fit results, regardless of how much you tighten the Boas. The trick is to manually press the lower flap against the top of your foot, then while holding it in place, snugly apply and hold the top flap while turning the dial. It's a little like wrapping a gift and trying to tie the bow while holding the ribbon with one hand. An extra step compared to typical S-Works shoes, but the result is excellent: solid, stiff connection to the pedals, and all-day comfort.

Hi, great there are instructions to measure feet to confirm shoe size. Problem arises when a half size (44. 5) is recommended but there are no half sized shoes offered!!

These are incredible. Sock upper means you need a shoe horn to get on but who cares—that is a very small price to pay for the perfect fit in the stretchy sock. No hot spots whatsoever. My only gripe is that Specialized still makes their lasts for people with dainty feet—just a few more mm in the toe area would be super helpful for a non-cramped, natural small toe position.

Recommended by LBS owner, went a half size smaller in these, and even with Specialized green insoles, they work perfectly and make road rides more efficient overall, sprints, climbs, high cadence, walking around, etc. Tight to get into the first few weeks but, they loosen up, these are high performance, stiff shoes, if that's not your jam, you may want to go down a few notches in shoe selection. If you can legit pull 1,000-1,400W for a 20-25sec. sprint, then give these a try. As a former racer (tri & XC mtb) who just rides now to burn some beer or pizza off, these were pricey but worth it.

Bad design beginning to end. Requires a shoe horn to get heel past the pointless high top sock cuff. Bifurcated internal heel bolster digs into heel tissue in some effort to better hold the heel in place during the 1000 watt sprint almost no one can do. Toe is too roomy, BOAs struggle to cinch down ridiculously stiff uppers. Foot can either be sloppy inside this shoe or completely numb. There is no middle ground.

A+

The sole of the shoe fell off within two months of use

S-Works Ares is my first pair of Specialized road shoes. My previous shoes were Shot 40.5 & the sizing is similar. The length is the same, while the toe box is roomier. I really like the Team White colorway & the light weight of the shoes. I would prefer a shoe upper made from a synthetic glossy white material, instead of the stretchy mesh material.

Loving the S-Works Ares road shoes. By far the most comfortable road shoe I’ve owned. The carbon sole is nice and stiff and the dual boa system helps me to dial in the shoe perfectly. Nice and light, nothing but good things to say about the shoes.

These shoes are difficult to get on and off. Plus, the Boa system isn’t great. The upper tongue comes undone and alters the fit. Perhaps I bought the wrong size but it still feels like bad construction. Specialized is a great company and I don’t want to leave a negative review. But I wouldn’t recommend these shoes in particular vs. their other amazing products. Caveat emptor.

Little hard to get in, after that it is great

The best shoes that I had tried, such as Fizik, Shimano, Rapha, Bont, Giro and Gaerne. Very comfortable such that I can wear it for 5 hours and longer. It has very good power transfer.

Nice fitting shoe once I get it on. However, the extra time it takes to fit over my foot does, in my opinion, help with support and keeping my foot cool. I really like the color and new BOA fasteners. I hope it holds out better than my MTB S-Works shoes that are shot after 4-5 months of use.

With the bootie & design of the boa closure these really hug the foot and translate into better power delivery. My fav s-works shoes for sure

I have tried a fair number of bike shoes, including the S-Works 7, the Torch 2 and 3, and several by other manufacturers. The Ares is still my hands down favorite. Adjustable, COMFORTABLE, and tough. I picked up an extra pair (because...sale...) so I would have a backup in case it goes out of production and my main pair wears out (which it has shown no sign of doing)

I initially tried these shoes on and thought it was uncomfortable and difficult to put on and eventually ended up purchasing the Torch model. When they went on sale I couldn't help myself and ordered a pair. It turned out that there is a method to putting your feet into these shoes and after they are on they are totally comfortable. I rode the trainer for several days before taking them outdoors and they are fabulous! I had no way of knowing since I rejected them on the initial attempt in the store.

Fit the feet like a bootee. Best shoes ever worn.

I was amazed how locked in my feet feel in sprints. The sole's rigidity and the shoe's lateral stability are fantastic. The shoe is somehow comfortable on century rides while remaining ready for full-gas efforts. Sizing is correct. No signs of wear after several thousand miles. Hands down the best road shoe I've ever had.

Love the shoe

A little difficult to get on and off.

I wear a EU 44 shoe in both my Road 6 and Road 7 and the fit is perfect - both length and width. Length of these are also perfect but unfortunately the width are narrower at the ball of my foot and I had to return them. I was nervous about the “built-in sock” style but I’ll never find out now! Very stylish shoe - hope your fit is better than mine.

Innovative, great fit top tier road shoe.

Most comfortable shoe ever.

I ordered both the regular and wide versions of the Ares in my size. Both are built on the same last, the wide version is no wider than the regular version. The wide version does appear to have more material in the upper, making it a “high volume” version, but Specialized shouldn’t claim that a shoe is wider when it’s not. The regular last does not come close to being wide enough for me.

Sole stiffness is great and really noticeable when climbing but feeling some hot spots---only ridden in them one time so maybe that gets better

My foot is too narrow for this shoe but it seemed pretty good. Worth a try because specialized has great cs and easy return policy. I just returned them but will probably try a torch.

Very Comfortable shoes and I love the lacing system.

I recently bought a pair of Ares 49 Wide. They're wide enough in the forefoot, & narrow enough in the heel and ankle for me. Too much toe spring (which is completely redundant even if it is a sprinter's shoe, as the 'sock' and unconventional boa arrangement firmly plant your heel regardless), but bearable just about. Also despite using a midfoot adapter plate, thus moving the cleat back, they're badly lacking stiffness in the forefoot - it flexes a lot ... I assume they do not thicken and reinforce the carbon sole in the largest sizes, despite larger forces and levers. They're highly imperfect for the above mentioned reasons, but still better than anything else I've tried. The unique sock & boa arrangement, combined with the very soft upper make them both very secure and very comfortable in the heel / top of foot area. When these get refreshed, I hope they move to a flatter forefoot and stiffen it significantly in the largest sizes. Also, please add a metal mesh grille to the vent.

Absolutly love this Shoes! They feel Great and look even better! Would keep on buying them!

To start the shoes look great and on one foot I could tell would feel great in a bigger size. My feet can be between sizes slightly wider and one bigger than the other…not ideal! Although I could get both on any swelling from heat on a ride and I could imagine numbness and I tried on with thin cycling socks not normal cycling socks. The closure definitely feels like it will hold your foot securely with no lift, a problem I’ve been having with some other shoes. Will look to go up a size and buy again. They run smaller than my older sworks shoes

Excellent fit and comfort. I bought the white ones and love them!

These shoes feel great, they fit perfect and with the carbon bottom you can really put the power down

These are one of the best Sprinting shoes out there. However, they are made with short lived materials. The strength of the shoe becomes the weakness - the inner sock. It will start tearing apart after roughly 4 months of normal usage and by the sixth month the shoes will be rendered useless.

Phenomenal shoes. I feel like Goldilocks and Cinderella The shoes are just right and fit like a glove. Amazing

In terms of length, fit was true to size. Purchased size 42.5 (US 9.3). I wear 9.5 shoes. Regarding width, the fit was perfect for me. My foot is on the narrow side. With socks, my foot is 4 inches wide at the widest point and 3 inches wide between the midsole and heel. The toe box is roomy. The shoe tapers down quite a bit as it approaches the heel, which some reviewers have said is too tight, but for my foot it was perfect. Unlike other reviewers, I did not find the shoe tedious to put on and didn't need a shoe horn. I just used my finger as a shoe horn. On rides the shoe feels very connected to my Speedplay pedals and delivers power efficiently particularly standing up on the pedals. Not surprisingly, the shoes are much lighter and better than my DMT carbon sole shoes that are seven years old. Highly recommend this shoe.

Comfortable, looks great, feel secure in clipped in. The "sock" portion of mine ~1.5 years of use has started degrading with little holes through out. Mostly where I grab to slip it on since it's pretty tight. Don't think it has too much life left in it.

Best shoe. Wide toebox, narrow heel, no need to cinch them tight. Power numbers go up just by wearing this shoe

I got a pair of these while they were on sale. I wear 10.5-11 and got a 44.5. Sizing seems....accurate-ish! the length is fine, the toe box is ok for narrower feet but the mid section is pretty cramped. The sock type ankle area is nice but quite tight which makes them very difficult to put on. I suggest using a shoe horn. They're stiff and great looking, but time will tell if they remain a favorite or an expensive mistake.

Amazing shoes!

Fit great, love them, light, stiff and fast. Might order a second pair just to have a back up!

They are a challenge to get on, but once on they are indeed comfortable. The upper is supple and the BOA fasteners are fantastic! Probably the best I've seen on any shoe. The shoe is aesthetically pleasing and well built, (though time will tell). My only issue, and it's a kind of a big one, is the toe box. I have narrow to average width feet and these are quite tight on the toes! Borderline uncomfortable but...not quite. They are not bad enough to return them, but something to keep in mind when ordering. Sizing seems accurate; I don't believe going a size up would help that issue. Very nice cycling shoe but on the expensive side! These are a pretty recent purchase so I'm curious to see if they will stretch out a bit as leather shoes sometimes do. Specialized did a lot of R & D on this shoe, and it is quite noticeable!

I wanted a comfortable and performing shoe and went by review and price point. The shoe runs true to European sizing (used my regular shoe size and match was good). I took the larger width version and that sizes a bit small so if you are hesitant between width size, I would err on larger. The tightening system works well. The shoe is a bit hard to get into, and is facilités by using a shoe horn (not essential). I used a special discount at 320 but would not pay full regular price. As comfortable as advertised but have yet to test on long putting

Comfortable and performs well.

Bought a few sizes under my Sidi road 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.

Excellent shoes, they fit very well and power transfer is amazing.

Asethetic: 4/5 Fit: 5/5 Ease of wearing: 1/5 Durability: 4/5 Ventilation: 4/5 Asethetic - Polarising for some. Form follows function. Fit - S-works body geometry fits me like a glove. The toe box is roomier than road 7. Initially, the width felt very very tight. The hold on my mid foot is exceptional compared to the road 7. Inner sock looks high but it doesnt rub against the ankle Ease of wearing: Incredibly hard to wear compared to road 7 until i used a shoe horn. It was like the inner sock was going to tear. Durability: Rubberised toe guard is a positive over road 7. This will prevent scraping off the Dyneema on the toe area with wheel rub. Boa Li2 dials is non metal. Ventilation: Improved Summary: Exceptional footwear. The hold on the foot is nothing short of amazing, even coming from the pro level S-works Road 7. Look beyond the asethetic (form follows function), high price tag and shoe horn requirement and you will be duly rewarded on your rides. Hope this review helps

I really like this shoe! I i enjoy the fact that the socks allows you to enjoy a more chill ride without having to tighten up the laces, all while still feeling secure. Although i don’t have any issues taking the shoes on or off, i can see why others say it’s tad bit difficult due to the sock being so narrow. I also enjoy the ventilation the shoe offers. Most importantly, once you tighten those boas up the power transfer is elite!

Did just what I wanted them to. They stopped my knee hurting so well worth it

I consider my feet on the wider side (though I don’t typically wear wide sized shoes) — these shoes feel very roomy in the toe box but also tight in all the right areas for me. May feel uncomfortable the first few rides if you’re not used to snugness everywhere but the toes. Can also depend on how much you tighten them. Feels great 1-2 weeks in. As far as stiffness, I found it fine. Works for me. Ventilation is fine, the hole underneath the toe box is nice. Overall A- , only complaint is the wires feel kinda flimsy/cheap.

Excellent shoes. This is like my 4th pair of Ares. I hope they continue making this shoe and with more colors.

I previously had a pair of nice LG road shoes. They were great but I bought them on sale, they were 1/2 size too small, and their color is "neon yellow". Needless to say....they didn't go with any of my outfits / bike (total 1st world problem). Regardless - I bought the S-Work Ares shoes because I liked the idea of the addtional ankle support, which means the stretchy...taller part where you slide your feet in. In addition, Boa system was a must (the only way to go in my mind). Love the stiffness - but more importantly, I love the form and fit. The additional ankle support / fit makes me feel more connected to my pedling. Enjoy.

Great fitting product! Just worried about the material and durability over time. I would recommend this product because it is super comfortable and you can feel the power transfer instantly.

The heel lockdown on these just isn’t an secure as it needs to be. There is too much slippage. Other Specialized shoes have worked better for me.

Too warm for warmer climates with double wrap closure system and sock insert.

Great shoe fits nicely

Excellent shoe. like the speed lacing. ability to dial-in how snug for your foot.

Great for wide feet, though hard to get one’s foot into the shoes.

Love the fit and performance Only negative is the challenge to put them on due to tight fitting sick

I love the S works shoes but this model runs extremely small. I would recommend trying on before purchasing.

Unfortunately these run pretty tight with the inner sock. I know others that love them. Maybe if you have a narrow foot. Everything on them seemed great except how tight they were.

Sent it back just because it didn’t quite match my team kit color. But the shoe is light and fits very nicely. have a diff color that works well.

Very confortable but get damage very fast

Hi, if you are a size 48 in Giro and most other brands these will run long in to toe area. I sent them back for the SW7. The Sw7 offered a better fit all around. In addition, my heel lifted out of these and not out of the S7s.

I got these from my local shop KLM Bike and Fitness in Rochester, MI - these are my first Sworks shoes ever - and I normally ride Giro's. The 'bootie' style is nice - it takes more care to slip on but feels great and isn't noticeable when on. The toe strap goes over my foot just the right spot to the point where I run it looser than normal! The two way boas are SWEET. Toe box is wider than normal and the heel cup is firm......I love em and would recommend them. Only point for awareness is that these aren't the best for very thick socks. The bootie would make it hard to get on something thicker than a roadie sock

The Ares are light weight, comfortable, and easily adjustable while riding from very snug to wiggle your toes roomy. They feel super stable and give you confidence no matter how hard you stomp on the pedals. I love these shoes! As others have noted, they're a bit difficult to get on the first few times, but become easier as they wear in.

Immensely comfortable with zero pressure points on the foot. Been riding fast, shorter rides (35 miles) and on zwift cos of the weather. For sure these feel planted on high wattage runs and climbs. Like the other reviewers, they just feel right and hard to explain until you wear them I action. Hopefully they last. Tip: buy a shoe horn or two

I bought these alongside the S-WORKS7 shoe to try both side-by-side. This shoe is so incredibly comfortable! My only concern is regarding my own foot shape and nothing more. The forefoot of this shoe is just a little wider than it was on the 7 and I felt like my foot would be moving around more than I would like. I ended up going with the 7 which is still eons better than my Torch 3.0. ""Runs Big"" is only regarding the width at my forefoot, the length is spot on. Jeez I really wanted these to work.

While a bit difficult to get on at first, they fit like a glove. No hot spots, good ventilation and the most comfortable shoe I have ever owned, biking or non-biking. I wear a 46.5 and am 79 but I ride as hard as I can and these shoes help me push hard.

Great shoe. The star of the show is the front strap the holds the front of your foot nicely without cutting off blood supply, allowing the rider to maximize the up part of the rotation. All of the other great features are included as well. Super stiff, great feel. A very comfortable shoe. BRING DA POWER. These shoes can handle it. I hope Specialized continues to make them. I bought the last pair in my size.

Literally fits the feet like gloves, no excess volume or fabric anywhere. A bit tight to get on the first few times, once worn for several rides, they' just right.

AMAZING!!!!...The Ares is the best cycling shoe ever made flanked with Dyneema;)..ive tried them all and the fit of thise and weight (thanks to Dyneema) is simply just AMAZING;)

I was on the fence about these shoes but they are my new favorites. They are a bit hard to get on, but once on they are the best. I think after I have had them longer they will be easier to get on since I will know how to do it better. Since I live in Florida I have worn them without socks. I do use Specialized footbed inserts (blue). Lots of toe box room which I need, yet they fit perfectly. I am a size 38.

The comfort of this shoe with the creative BOA design is a game changer. I really believe the power transfer is more than a 1% improvement. If you're on the fence, spend the money and get these shoes. You won't regret it.

These shoes are super comfy for cycling shoes. They are a bit hard to get on but once on they fit like a dream. Roomy toe box. No socks needed. The only complaint is they are pricey.

Excellent fit! A little bit of a struggle to get on but once your foot is in they are very comfortable. When you tighten the boa's it feels like you have a compression sock on in the sense that the tightening pressure is distributed evenly around the foot- excellent. Best cycling shoes I have owned.

These shoes are a game changer. They are the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned! I used to get hot spots on longer rides in previous shoes but the Ares have completely eliminated that. I like them so much, I bought a second pair recently! Only difficult thing is getting your foot into the shoe when they are brand new. The sock liner will become more pliable and easier to navigate after a few wears but when brand new, it's a little difficult to get your foot into (worth noting, I have fat feet so that could be the variable here).

I only had to try on one shoe to know that they would not work for my hammer toes. The toe box is to low and the sock liner presses against the tops of my toes. Great looking shoes, really like the boa closure and wider toe box, but the height was an issue for me, regretfully I had to return them. Still looking, maybe the S-Works 8 will be the ones!

As far as fit and comfort, this shoe is out of this world. I had been on the hunt for a replace some older Specialized Expert road shoes that had been a dream fit for me. I had recently tried the Giro Empire E70 (knit), Shimano S-Phyre, Specialized Torch 3.0, and Specialized S-Works 7. The Empire E70 was very close to a perfect fit but the others were uncomfortable for me. Luckily the bike fit/shoe guy at my local shop told me to ignore all of the press about this being a sprinter's shoe and had me try this on and I was blown away. My only caveat is that I haven't tried these in hot weather yet. In any case, specialized should stop billing these as a sprinter's shoe because I think that they could be a great choice for a much wider audience. If Specialized is listening... the dream shoe would be to mix the Vent and the Ares. The vented carbon sole and some more venting up top mixed with the ""hug"" of the Ares would be the best thing ever. I wear a size 46 casual shoe and ended up with a size 47 for the Ares.

TL;DR Those are the best shoes Specialized (or anyone?) makes right now in almost every aspect. The only reason not to buy them is a) Prior Specialized models didn't fit you well or b) You live in a hot place: Then buy the vent. General notes This is the most comfortable bike shoe I've ever worn paired with first class power transfer. The most noticeable difference to other shoes is the lack of a tongue and the sock-like fit. If you've worn Nike flyknit you know the experience. The major difference to Nike though is that flyknit have very little support and structural integrity while the Ares has a lot of it thanks to the Dyneema material. The result of the sock-fit but also (supposedly) the boa layout is that these shoes have literally no pressure points. Nowhere. It's crazy. Every other shoe I've worn before had at least slight pressure points somewhere. The first few miles wearing the Ares I accidentally pulled the boa so tight that my feet got a little numb - because the pressure distribution is so even. After loosening it my circulation came back but the shoes didn't feel loose at all. Besides the comfort the sock-fit/boa-layout also created a fit where your foot doesn't move at all. I've always had some micro movement in my cycling shoes - no matter how tight I pull them - especially when pulling up. Not here. None. Without any discomfort or tightness. I don't know how they do this. Speaking of pulling up: It's hard to verify the power transfer claims coming from the S-Works 7. I got a PR today by 10s on a 20 minute climb but I was on a lighter bike and HR and Power numbers were virtually identical. What I can say though is that when pulling up the motion and power transfer feel smoother and better. The last thing I wanted to applaud Specialized for is getting rid of the little velcro strap in the front. It never worked well for me on any shoe model. It was either too tight or too loose. The sizing and general fit is identical with the S-Works 7 for me.

I rode in Shimano shoes for a number of years until I realized that their size 48 (Shimano's largest size) was too small for my feet. Specialized makes a size 49 and I got a pair of S Works 7s about a year ago. The improvement was dramatic for me and I have not only loved riding in them, but have loved the long term impact on my feet! My original intent was to get a second pair so I could rotate shoes. When I saw the new Ares, I went for them instead. The weight of the S Works and Ares shoes is identical, but the fit is not. The Ares has a smaller toe box, but for me that has not been a problem. In fact, the fit is much more secure for me, without being constricting in any way. This also may be due to the fact that the Ares also has eliminated the Velcro strap over the toe and moved one of the BOA straps closer to the toes. The BOA closures on the S Works 7's are a ""ratchet in/ratchet out"" style, while on the Ares, they ratchet in, and then when you pull up on the wheel, they freely open. I like the style on the Ares. Although I have yet to ride in the Ares for a significant ride yet (due to cold weather) my experience inside on the trainer has led me to feel that the lack of foot movement in the toe box in the Ares will make every ride all the more special. They really make me feel much more positively connected to the pedals. (I show they run ""True to Size"", but they are smaller than the S Works 7s) I am somewhat surprised, but I now like the Ares over the S Works 7s.

Okay, most road & MTB shoes hurt my feet...even past specialized shoe purchases. I usually ride hilly roads and my Kickr 5 in the pain cave and I lay down plenty of watts in a sprint. My feet are higher arched not narrow 44s. These shoes fit like a glove and once I tuned my cleats they are amazing. Can I buy a MTB shoe that fits like this? Thanks Specialized, I have a S-works Tarmac road bike and a S-works Chamber 29er MTB and couldn't think of anything that I'd rather have for training or racing!

These shoes are great! Super comfortable and can wear for hours I highly recommend.

This shoes is a game changer! Fits and Hugs your foot. The most comfortable shoes I have ever felt! Had to have a second pair!!

I love these shoes. They are amazingly comfortable, sleek and light. I recommend specialized in general to all my friends who ride but these are great. I would buy these over and over just to change up the colors. I bought a different pair two years ago. I only bought these because I wanted a new pair. Not because my previous pair were worn. I feel these would last forever

Unfortunately I had to return the pair I got. They were roomy enough in the toe for my feet and extremely comfortable. The only downside was that it was too narrow for my midfoot. When I stood on them, it felt like I was standing on some edge in the shoe and was uncomfortable for the lateral side of my feet. Even on the bike I just couldn't get along with them. If it weren't for the narrowness, I would definitely have loved them otherwise. Hope you make a wide version!

Such an aggressive and powerful name for a shoe that holds your foot so nicely. I have really liked the S-Works shoes in the past, I enjoyed the S-Works 6, and Sub6 lace up version particularly. The S-Works 7 may be the industry standard for a race/performance shoe. The Ares despite it's somewhat polarizing looks is more of an evolution than a revolution of these shoes. The shoe is not super easy/quick to get into, the inner sock/bootie is snug and hugs the ankle. You may not appreciate this snugness initially, however once you do slide your foot in you notice how comfortable the shoe really is. The bootie holds the ankle nicely, but no solid material to rub IMO makes it more comfortable than the S-Works 7. I am picky, so I take time to line up the Boas and the material underneath to ensure everything lays flat as designed. What I was most surprised with, and happy about with this shoe was how tight I can crank down the Boa dials with no sense of discomfort or feel of hot spots on the instep or losing circulation. This was what really sold me on this shoe. I hate to leave Boa's looser than I would prefer to ""make"" a shoe comfortable. This has been branded as a ""Sprinter"" shoe, I would label it more as an opportunist shoe, think Jualian Alaphillipes 2020 campaign. The shoe really shines under hard efforts out of the saddle whether that be going after a local KOM, Rainbow Stripes, or a Tour de France field sprint. I have a medium arch foot, and the insoles provided worked great for me. Overall I can confidently recommend these shoes as an overall extremely high-end well crafted road performance/race shoe. These are now my go to road shoe, and overall personal favorite.

In my mind, the best indicator of a product's true merit is how often it features in use from a professional rider who is sponsored by a competitor. Next time you're watching a road race, pay close attention; you'll see plenty of riders sponsored by other brands rocking S-Works kicks. Over the past couple of years, the S-Works 7 has been the primary choice of Specialized-sponsored riders, and highly-coveted forbidden fruit among others. The combination of impressively low weight, ridiculous stiffness, and an obsessive focus on comfort make them a true zero-compromise option. With this in mind, rumors of a new sprinter-optimized shoe to accompany the S-Works 7 and S-Works EXOS climbing shoe surprised me. I didn't think that they needed to release a new top-end offering. If Specialized were more pragmatic, they probably could have coasted on their success with the 7 for another 2 or 3 seasons. I'm very glad that they didn't. To their credit, Specialized is wise enough to know when they've made a hit; the Ares represents an evolution on the 7 rather than a complete revolution. The sole remains unchanged, and the fit will be familiar to current S-Works 7 owners. The primary departure from the 7 series comes in the upper; the traditional tongue design had been replaced with a mesh inner sock, and is secured by two wrap-over flaps. In addition to more evenly spreading tension across the top of the foot, it allows for a level of ventilation similar to the current S-Works 7 Vent shoe. As cyclists go, I'm on the big side, and as such, stiffness is as important a consideration as weight in my mind. The Ares are exactly as stiff underfoot as the granite-esq 7-series, but with a more secure hold on the upper. My foot feels completely locked in place during strenuous efforts, and the difference is discernable. They really are absolutely phenomenal shoes. Specialized dropped the mic... again.