Review
S-Works Recon EVO Shoes
If dancing shoes had dancing shoes, these would be the ones. This no-expense-spared option from Specialized’s racing department is the new S-WORKS Recon EVO. In terms of performance, the new Recon EVO shoe is based on the winning Ares 2 oad shoe. Stiff, direct and designed for the long haul, as long as that haul is done on the bike. The Recon EVO is designed for gravel and XC racers looking for maximum power transfer. When you are chasing the highest efficiency and lowest drag in your drivetrain and hubs, it makes no sense to pedal around in mushy shoes that sink into the pedals with each stroke.
Without a doubt, the new Recon EVOs are stiff as a riff.
It rarely gets more fancy than this. Carbon sole, dual BOA Li2 and the S-Works badge of credibility.
This is the talking point of the Recon EVO. The shoe last that allows for more toe wiggle room. While they look dorky for now, give it a few years, and most shoe makers will catch on because they are damned comfortable.
Stiff shoes generally aim to be lightweight. The Recon EVO is a light shoe coming in at 300 g / 10.6oz for a single shoe. That’s about 100 grams lighter than the Fox Union Boa, which is considered light and stiff for a gravity-focused shoe. The trickery of the Recon EVO is not just about how light and stiff it is. It is the Body Geometry wizardry at work, redefining how a good shoe fits human anatomy. The last of the Recon EVO is different than most of the players out there. While the common fast shoe can support a wide forefoot or toe box, the idea behind Specialized’s formula is to give the toes and the metatarsals the space they need for a 44% increase in comfort. Comfortable shoes are fast shoes, but I do not want my feet swimming around in a wide last, just in the name of comfort. The PowerHug BOA fastening is one of the slickest implementations I have experienced. The aluminum-esque BOA Li2 dials turn with the precision of Technics Audio volume knobs. The clicking of the dials reminds me of winding an expensive watch, except at my feet, ready to get muddy and grimy. I’ve also noticed that the PowerHug system works. You can tighten the bajeezus out of the BOA dials, and the shoes do not get uncomfortable. Impressed.
These shoes look expensive from every freaking angle, and they are.
650 CAD // 550 USD will get you this exclusive pair of shoes. You probably won’t be doing shuttle laps in them, but if you like pedalling hard and maybe racing XC events now and then, these are great options for your feet.
Plenty of room to move your cleats forward or backward. These are primarily my gravel shoes where I run my cleats more inline with my metatarsal for power transfer.
This one goes to 11 indeed. These BOA Li2 dials are a joy to use.
I use Time pedals and the cleats do not have the Q-Factor adjustment of Shimano and Crankbrother. I have slightly duck feet (my heels converging in a V and my feet not parallel), and I tend to adjust my cleats so they point towards my toes as much as possible. I also used a thin metal spacer under the cleats to prevent the cleats from digging directly into the carbon sole of the Recon EVO. At first, I found the pedaling position odd and too straight. The new organic last shape was fooling me, thinking I had my cleats positioned correctly. After a little more toe-out, I can now comfortably pedal in these fancy shoes.
The uppers are light and fabric-free. They are perforated for air flow, and if some water has gotten in, it will also come right out
There are a couple of points I am trying to get used to with the Recon EVOs. They walk like a penguin on land. The stiff sole pushes the articulation to your ankles, and hard surfaces become click-clack affairs I would not advise these shoes if you walk often during rides. The cleats are surrounded by replaceable rubber “pontoons,” but they do little to stop your cleats from touching the ground. On dirt, these work well. So If you were going to get off the bike for a whiz in the woods, these will do, but watch out for slippery marble floors at your coffee shop. Things might get exciting. While I haven’t worn these shoes in the height of summer heat, they seem to shed heat well in mid-20s Celsius. The bi-directional BOA Li2 is extremely quick for on-the-fly adjustments. Once you pull up on the dial, it fully releases the laces. These are by far the easiest shoes to get in and out of in my closet of manyd shoes.
If your toes are not pointy, neither should your shoes be. The Recon EVO has a point to blunt!
The insole is thin but supportive. The Recon EVO also takes all the Specialized Body Geometry foot bed systems to further enchance the fit
While I wouldn’t reach for these shoes when it’s cold or wet out, the non-fabric construction should shed water very well if you were to get caught in a downpour or encounter a puddle. The size 42 I received fits true to size. I think I can squeeze my feet in there with wool socks for the crispier months of riding.
650 Canadian Dollars is a lot of money for shoes you probably don’t need. There are other shoes in the Specialized line that will do just fine, but the fit and comfort of the Recon EVO is hard to argue with. Carbon does not fatigue and should last a long time. These might be one of those 10-year purchases that live in your shoe closet year after year cause they will not die. BOA is repairable, and Specialized takes care of its customers if something goes wrong.
Specialized Search helmet is a lower-priced, high-quality helmet and it plays nicely with the POC Devour Mid eyewear I recently reviewed.
Largest vents in its class( I imagine they mean price point) and excellent fitment
Specialized Search Helmet
In contrast to the elite model in the shoe department, the Search helmet offers modestly priced, highly ventilated protection. The Search is advertised as an all-road helmet. It can serve you on the road or on a gravel bike. If you wanted to get a little zesty on your XC bike, I reckon it’ll do just fine too. The Search is basic compared to some of the feature-rich helmets out there.
The Search offers the MIPS Evolve Core in its highly breathable shape. Specialized claims the biggest vents in the category, and compared to the POC Cularis Pure I recently tested, it is cooler and lighter. The POC is a more substantial helmet overall, and the Search is built for speed and comfort.
Excellent eyewear garage with rubber flaps to keep things secure
Good amount of padding and occipital adjustment
The Specialized Search borrows design and functionality cues from the S-WORKS series helmets, and the fit adjustment and eyewear garage reflect that. FS3 Fit system is an occipital base adjustment designed to keep the helmet on your head even when you are upside down. As I mentioned in previous reviews, I have a slim face, and the medium Search fits my head extremely well. The helmet sits higher on when compared to trail helmets in general. I have to get used to this if I’m looking in the mirror before a ride. The Search comes in Small, Medium and Large sizes, spanning 51 to 62cm heads.
Mips Evolve Core is the most common, shell in helmet design offering from MIPS. You can see the MIPS line up of products HERE
The Fit adjuster dial is small but easy to access, even with gloves.
I am sorry, but this is what I look like with a road helmet
MIPS badging is a seal of approval these days, even though the effect of it is always debated
Specialized badging is small and the helmet design is not loud overall.
Specialized seems to have colour coordinated the Search with their gravel and road bikes. A smart move to create a brand identity. I received an all-black sample, which I am not complaining about, but there are some highly visible colours available if you want to be seen on the roads or if you want to match your Diverge frame. The Search is reasonably priced at 190 USD // 180 CAD
I am not entirely sure why it is cheaper in Canada than in the States, but we’ll take it!