4.1
64 Reviews
On gravel, style is a state of mind. The new S-Works Recon Lace will put a smile…
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Oak Green
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The riders have spoken. We are proud to announce that Specialized took top honors 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.
On gravel, style is a state of mind. The new S-Works Recon Lace will put a smile on your face and style in your pace every time you head out the door. A timeless look combined with tried and true Body Geometry features and the performance and durability that have become hallmarks of S-Works Recon shoes. Plus, you’ll leave everyone in the group asking, “What shoes are those?”
Built with Purpose. Backed by Science. Our Body Geometry trio of the Longitudinal Arch, Metatarsal Button, and Varus Wedge work together to increase efficiency, optimize hip, knee, and foot alignment, and reduce injury risks.
Our stiffest and lightest XC FACT carbon plate maximizes power transfer: Stiffness Index 13.0.
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.
4.1
64 Reviews
I used this for Offroad Finnmark 700km, 93 hours non stop race. My plan was to use other softer shoes, but these was really great. All the power get into the pedals, and it fits my feet perfectly. Stiff shoes, but that make my small muscles in my feet to relax.
These shoes fit me wonderfully. The cleats are a really comfortable depth for walking in mud, the solid soles make them really responsive, and the laces allow for different types of socks, depending on the weather. I do have narrow feet, so I'm not sure they'd be great for wider feet. I'm going on a long bike tour and am even thinking about wearing them for multiple weeks in a row - I may do a multi-day test ride first, though, to make sure they're comfortable over long periods. So far, so good!
Some pros: Lightweight, very stiff, great lace-up adjustment, and no-stretch upper. But I did feel some uncomfortable “lumpiness” under the ball of one foot, right at the shoe’s cleat pocket. I might have been able to get them to work, but after a few rides, the front-portion of the outsole completely fell off one of the shoes. Specialized was not too helpful when I contacted them about the problem, essentially explaining that damage could not be warrantied, even though the only visible damage was that the sole had delaminated. My local dealer was able to help out in the end.
I thought my Sidi Drakos or DMT KR mtb shoes couldn't be beat, but these Recons are absolutely the best shoes ever, for me. Fit was perfect right from first time putting them on. And then the ride...made pedaling all the more effortless. Have already ordered a second pair...Super Cyling Shoes !!!
My previouse review I stated that these shoes hurt. They just require a large break in period. After suffering for about a month on them they now feel fine, and I like the shoe. But the break in period is for real!
Good shoes for me. They feel great on the bike. I’m coming from a 2.0 and these feel much stiffer and more responsive. I notice it really in the heel cup. I also use Specialized body geometry footbeds. I ordered these after reading comments about the heel/ankle bone issues others mentioned and expected that I might need to return them. I didn’t experience these issues—and so think probably a lot depends on the rider’s foot/ankle profile. With a decent return policy I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase.
The collar is tight around the ankle, but any minor discomfort went away during first use. Absolutely no discomfort during subsequent use. The description of the fit is accurate. No movement in the heel and a comfortable amount of room in the toe box. Definitley the best fitting shoe I’ve ever worn for mtb/gravel.
Used these shoes to find out that after a few hours the force of the opening around the ankle is so severe that it will cause intense bruising and im a late 30s avid rider (+10hr/wk). I normally use the S-works road shoe and assumed this would be a similar fit. Unfortunately you can't tell initially that the pressure will lead to intense pain. Hopefully this is a break in period, but its more likely that my feet are going to get broken in first. As a side note, I dislike that s-works shoes come with terrible insoles. Be prepared to have to buy other insoles.
Cuts into the ankle and runs slightly big. I fear the next size down by .5 would be too small as I have tried that before. I did purchase the body glove insoles from a local shop which helped elevate my foot and wore thicker socks. Also, may try the original insoles with the new insoles to see if they feel better after a 60mile gravel ride. When I tried both insoles initially the shoe was too tight.
I have been using Recon shoe 3.0 but decided to upgrade to the SWorks Recon. Ordered the same size. The sides of the shoe are so stiff that it digs into the outside ankle bone on both feet so that when I walk it digs into the bone causing lots of pain. Once on the bike, the platform is good and my heal is higher (slightly) so the sides don’t dig. I am unfortunately not going to use them anymore as my ancles are sore after rides just from walking around in my garage and at the trailhead. The shoe is beautiful and a good pedal platform, but my foot is not the right shape for these shoes, which is strange because the Recon 3 from last year is great.
Nice shoe, for agressive transfer of foot/leg power to the pedal. I have narrow feet, & it fits tight. IMHO, it is true to normal sizing. Extremely tight heel counter, w/minimal padding. Very thin insole. Really nice & super stiff outer sole, easy shoe to walk in. Elastic lace retention loop, shoe laces, is in the wrong position on the tongue, it needs to be placed “between” the lace eyelets.
Great shoe period. Sworks are very comfortable . On sale make even better
I purchased these on sale. They are supposedly built with the same sizing model for the upper as the lower Recon 2.0, which I own. Based on this I presumed similar sizing. Both in a 47, the Recon 2.0 is slightly smaller than the S-Works, which is every so slightly longer. The heel box in the S-Works is where there are significant differences. Very high, rigid sides. Once the shoe is secure, they dig into the underside and front of my heel. You may think it doesn't matter, but wait until you're into hour three, four, or five, and can't stand out of the saddle for fear of pain, or the next day when you have bruises... They are very light and stiff shoes. The cleat can be moved very far underneath your foot. I actually like the laces, which I was trepidatious about. I simply don't want to wear them because they hurt my feet on and off the bike. Perhaps they will fit you better.
These shoes could have been perfect, but as many other reviewers have observed they come in contact with ankle bones. It was painful just trying them on, so I cannot imagine what it would have been like trying to ride with them on. Otherwise they were a great fit and seemed comfortable to the extent that I could evaluate in less than a couple of minutes.
I'd expect nothing less from an s-works branded shoe. My main issue feels more like a me issue, as an Asian male. The toe box has all the space you could ever need. My main issue is the arch. They are aggressively raised and b/c of the carbon stiffness, I don't believe they will break in. I went to buy some low arc inserts and it makes the shoes feel "ok". The rim around of what is holding your ankle can be a bit softer/ thinner as I find it pressing into my ankle if I don't have my ankle pressed all the way back into heel. They aren't "comfortable" shoes for me, but they are everything you want in a performance shoe. I feel like if you have a more narrow running foot, this would be a perfect shoe for you. For context I find the adidas gravels shoes to run narrow in the toe box, but softer around the arches.
My god, these are amazing shoes. I experienced the ankle issue the first couple days while using them as slippers around the house to break them in. Rode them today for the first time and no ankle pain. I think they just need to be broken in a bit. They are very stiff
I thought these ran a little small, but since I wear the Ares in the same size, at least they are in sync across the product line. Having said that, these feel fantastic and offer excellent power transfer. The sole is about as stiff as it gets and the upper fits like a glove. What’s not to love?
Light, all that carbon stiffness and comfortable. What else can you ask for? This shoe performs excellent and looks good too!
These are outstanding shoes. Due to weather I have not ridden with them yet but the construction is top notch, the look is awesome. I originally ordered a 45 which is my typical size but these were too small, I reordered a 46 and that fit is fine especially when you are riding for a bit and your fit swell. They also match my titanium Moots gravel bike!
I have the BOA S-Works shoe and wanted to try the laced variant for gravel riding. It was on sale so I had to get a pair. Very happy with them, if you like the fit and construction of the BOA type you will love the laced ones. Very light and stiff for power transfer, which is expected from a Specialized shoe. The collar fits my heel perfectly. Would recommend this shoe within a heartbeat.
Super comfy, great quality shoes. I use them for road, gravel, and mtb and they’ve held up very nicely.
Excellent shoe, lightweight, stiff and yet super comfy. only problem was my right shoe out of the box had slightly deformed upper over the toes. no problem getting these exchanged for a new pair and these are perfect
These shoes are everything that I expect from Specialized - stiff, comfortable and stylish. Been wearing Specialized shoes since 1993 and will keep wearing them.
They are super light, and very stiff while comfortable, the collar can be very uncomfortable at first but it will get better! I plan to use these on every ride from now on!
Boa dials are better, but if on a budget and you find these on sale, they are worth it. You're getting SWORKS level stiffness and lightweight. Takes a week or two to break in, but the shoes feel fine once fitted. Ankles are stubborn, but no more stubborn than other SWORKS shoes.
Beautiful shoe! Aesthetically gorgeous, and an amazing performer.The carbon sole is Very stiff, great on the cyclocross run ups, the upper is comfortable, and there super light. There going to be my go to, off the pavement, cycling shoe.
I have 5 pairs of various Specalized shoes, both Road and Mtn. Really wanted a pair of lace up shoes for gravel and trips to Europe, but these didn't cut it for me. Two issues: 1. There is a odd bump in the insole (not the removable insole, the actual inside of the shoe) just ahead of the cleat mounting point that puts excessive pressure on the bottom of my feet. My feet go numb after 45 mins -1 hour. Then they are sore the next day, so much so, I cannot ride again in these shoes. 2. As other reviewers mentioned, the outside ankle cut is very high. I addressed this by placing heal lifts in each shoe and don't notice this when riding. Walking around, just a bit. But issue #1 prevents me from walking much so... Specalized Rider care has been tremendous working thru this issue with me. They sent me another pair of shoes, but unfortunately, same issue. I was told that the "bump" is there by design, not sure why, obviously works for others just not me! So back these go to Specialized!
White version of an off-road shoe: check Old school lace-up for us 50+ riders: check Super light and stiff enough: check Since cycling trends change too fast once I find something that really works for me, I bought an additional pair of these because I love them that much. Well done S-Works... please don't ever retire this model!
I know it's hard to trust a review on something as personal as a shoe but don't listen to these other reviews complaining about fit/stiffness. If you've had S-Works shoes before, you'll know what to expect. They fit and feel pretty much like the last several I've had. Great power transfer, snug fit. Sure the cleat gets a little more contact with the ground than I'd prefer but this is a performance oriented cycling shoe, you shouldn't be doing much walking anyway.
Sides of the shoe dig into my ankles. Def a different fit compared ti my s works recon shoes. May consider the s works sl
Going to laces was a leap of faith. These shoes have proven to be terrific overall. My foot is held securely and comfortably for 8+ hour gravel rides. About my feet: wide forefoot and high arch. I must use a custom insole for arch support. Otherwise, zero issues with plenty of room in toe box. It took a couple weeks of riding as a break-in period to get them to where I forget about them. I’m using Crank Brothers Egg Beater pedals and there are no issues there. I’ve now had these for several months and am totally pleased.
Great shoe. No boa system is the cats pajamas. Nice and stuff and true to size.
I used the Retul sizing program and bought the recommend insoles as well. The whole thing took about 5 minutes and has led to some very well fitting shoes. At first I was worried that the shoes would be too long since Retul told me to go up a size to fit my foot width. However, after a few hundred miles of using these shoes I have no complaints. I don't have the ankle cutting issue people are experiencing. The cleat position is also really good - I like to push my cleats as far back as I can (as close to the middle of my foot as I can get) and I was a bit worried a too big shoe would position the clear too far forward. That is not the case. The cleat sits behind the ball of my foot and further back that my Shimano gravel shoes. I was a tad worried about getting laces instead of BOA but I haven't had any discomfort with the longest ride in these being 6 hours at the moment. All in all, a great shoe.
A very uncomfortable shoe. Made my feet numb within an hour of riding. When the cleats are installed they stick out just far enough from the rubber that it’s very slippery to walk with. Specialized this is a poor design I’m very sad you put out such poor shoe. I typically love your stuff but this was a waste of money and because I wore them once they won’t let me return them so they’ll just sit in my closet till I decide to throw them away
Amazing
I love the look of these cycling shoes but they are incredibly uncomfortable after 30 miles of cycling. This is the first time I’ve had problems with cycling shoes. Outside of r/hand foot near little toe and around front of left ankle. I will persevere for there looks alone!.
The ankle area on both shoes I have purchased from you rub the bone/ankle /skin area. I had to find insoles to raise my feet up to make it better.
Best SPF shoe I've ever owned
Very comfortable shoe!
True to fit Super stiff sole Very comfortable on the bike
The length and width fit fine but the cut out around the ankle is too high which causes the edge of the shoe upper to rub against the lower part of my ankle. Plus the shoe upper material is quite rigid in that area, so I can't see it softening up enough over time. It seems I'm not the only one who has reviewed these shoes and experienced the same thing. It's a shame because it's a great looking shoe.
runs about half a EU size big, other than that it's a great, light shoe. I use for XC racing
Overall very good shoe, but the heel cup seems like it's going to take some time to break in, it really puts a fair amount of pressure around the sides of my achilles. The little elastic band on the tongue to hold the laces down is too high, it should be further toward the toe to be in the optimal area to hold the laces. White laces are going to be impossible to keep clean, I'll likely swap those for another color.
Great Shoes.... another great specialized product! I have been using the boa system shoes for years and decided to jump on the lace wagon. Took a minute to adjust the laces for my foot, yet when dialed (laced) in.....Awesome true to size fit!!
Great looking shoe, real café gravel feel in style and very comfortable. Not a winter shoe but a dry summer shoe to be seen in and that turns heads.
First S-Works shoe, but not my first Specialized shoe( I use Recon 1.0 as my daily commute shoe) Looking forward to putting many miles on these shoes
Quality shoe for the money, I now have 2 pairs!
Returned them due to not enough room in the toe box. Otherwise they seemed ok.
These shoes are the business. If you are after light and compact shoes, these fit the bill. I choose the lace up model for simplicity and durability. I ride bike-packing and need equipment that meets these requirements. The soles have decent tread for short hike a bike sections, but with the ridged soles, I won’t want to be doing too much walking. My shoe covers slip directly over the shoes easily. Another plus. I slipped Specialized sole pads into the shoes for added foot support and comfort. Thank you Specialized, for a great shoe and running them on a recent promotion making them affordable.
Snagged these half price in winter sale and delighted with them so far. Comfortable right out of the box for all-day riding, look great and can take a serious beating. After reading reviews I expected them to be harder to walk in, but it's no bother at all. Definitely not winter shoes as they offer zero insulation and have vented uppers, but I've been wearing them with thick wool socks and toe covers which is fine. My size 11 (UK) feet are on the wide side, I order the size 46 and 47 to try both pairs and opted for the 46. Nice and roomy in the toe box!
Very light. Good fit. Very stiff.
Shoes arrived quickly. I used the sizing chart and have found that the shoes are a little bit too tight. I would have preferred 43.5 over a 43 but they do t seem to offer that size. Other than the shoe size not being right for me they are good shoes.
The biggest complaint is these shoes run 1 full size to 1/2 size larger than previous s-works models. I have always worn s-works 44 shoes and in these shoes I could wear a 43 -43.5 the 44's were huge! So keep that in mind when ordering. The shoes themselves are super light and stiff.
Best cycling shoes ever. I’d use these for a gravel or trail race. Laces are just better than boa. I’ve had so many boa break over the years and end a good day of whatever sport I was doing. The shoes have solid support, but the rubber on the soles is oddly soft and doesn’t last. Even my five ten rubber which is a lot softer lasts longer. It’s an odd issue but I’m sure the next gen will get fixed. Specialized covered mine and got me a new pair. Great company.
Beautiful construction, impressively light, very happy with these!
Excellent shoe. Fits my narrow-ish foot very, very well. The cleat position is very adjustable toward the heel of the shoe, which is a nice departure from a lot of other shoes that keep cleats toward the toe (and pedaling in the calf). Supremely comfortable. Perfect stiffness, but I wouldn't want to do much hike-a-bike in them.
Good quality. Very stiff, some rubbing near my ankle, but expect this to subside after initial use.
These shoes are very nice but they were much too stiff for my feet. They cut into my ankle and also irritated my bunion. If you don’t have sensitive feet and don’t mind a stiff shoe, they would be great.
Very stiff shoe. Feels like a road shoe. Laces let you get the fit just how you want. I would say runs a bit on narrow side.
These are awesome! first ride in them was 25 mtb miles- no sore spots. I am glad I bought them!
I've been cycling for over 30 years and these are by far the most comfortable shoes that I've ever worn! There's room for my toes to wiggle around, the laces are amazing for dialing in the fit, the heal is 100% locked in and the shoes just plain look badass! My feet are a tad on the wide side so all cycling shoes (Sidi and Giro) I've ever worn have been just a little tight at the front. Not a problem usually for shorter rides but I found they would start getting uncomfortable around mile 50 or so. I tried the mega's but they were way too wide. The collar is a little stiff and tall on the inside towards the front, which is something I had read about in other reviews but with some targeted manual "break in" they have been fine after the first couple rides. The soles are super stiff so every ounce of pedal force goes straight into the bike but they are still very comfortable. If you have even a slightly wider foot give these a try and your toes (and your whole foot) will love you for it.
First off, I am a huge fan of Specialized S-Works shoes. I have had a pair of their gen 6 for 5 years and they are still going strong and are still my favorite shoe. Tight heel fit and wide toebox is perfect for my foot. So how does this Recon Lace compare? They are wider from toe to heel. Slightly, but you can still feel it. The sole is fantastic: super stiff like the S-Works 6. But the heel is too wide for me unless I wear a thicker sock, and even then, they don't grab like my road shoe. It's not bad, just not a 10/10 like I was expecting. The toebox is actually too roomy. The worst part though is the height of the inside and outside of the ankle. It's higher than the S-Works 6, and yes, I used the exact same insole. It was very painful when I first put them on. Rubbing on both shoes on the bottom of my Fibula and Tibia. After buying a Superfeet Carbon insole, that problem is solved. But it should not have been a problem. Come on Specialized. You can do better. You have in the past.
First things first they are a Gravel Race shoe, stiff sole and light weight. They are similar to the S-Works Recon but they fit a tad wider. I am US 11.5 Wide, Specialized shoes I wear 45.5 Wide but I am able to make these work in a 45.5 I think the Laces give a little bit more room to work with. I agree the plastic toe cleats need to be swapped to metal asap as per another review stated. The shoe needs some time to break in, about 10-20 hours cycling roughly like anything well made they will start feeling better and better as the tongue can be a little stiff and rub but tends to break in. If you want a great Gravel race shoe or just an everyday stiff shoe these are really great.
So far the shoes are OK. Very light, very stiff, which is great. The wide toe box is great for those who have issues with European style shoes which are too pointy for their feet. The shoes run a bit big, you may need to go down a half size or more vs. Fizik, Giro etc. One problem I have is that the opening around the ankles is not contoured enough to be comfortable... I only have about 10 hours riding time, so I am hoping the material will soften a bit around the ankle opening and become more comfortable. Of course, as with any very stiff/efficient shoe, walking is just OK, so if your riding includes long hike a bikes you will probably want something different. But for fast rides, and racing, and even long days in the mountains, I am very happy with the efficiency one gets with the high stiffness of these.
