Specialised Recon ADV & S-Works Recon: New gravel shoes for performance and adventure

S-Works Recon

Specialized's top model belongs, how could it be otherwise, to the S-Works family. It not only looks very similar to a racing shoe. The S-Works Recon stands for maximum performance. This is ensured by the carbon sole, among other things. The shoe is designed to create a similar feeling on gravel as a road bike shoe on a road bike pedal. The shoe comes with washers (available from Specialized Rider Care Team) so that riders can optimise the connection between shoe and pedal for maximum efficiency. This makes it possible to imitate a pedal platform familiar from road bikes. The forefoot and midfoot areas are reinforced and provide support. Specialized has also redesigned the BOA cable guide to ensure a secure fit, which also eliminates the need for a toe strap. The asymmetrically designed heel cap also ensures comfort and safety. It has a supportive effect on the inside, while material has been reduced on the outside to increase comfort. The fit of the shoe has been optimised using RETÜL data. The S-Works Recon uses a base plate that is four millimetres wider than the standard width and eight millimetres wider overall than the Recon MTB shoe. As a result, the shoe should fit more cyclists well.

For special cases such as leg length differences, Specialized offers inserts with a thickness of 3, 6 and 9 millimetres. These, as well as the washers for the cleats, are available from the Specialized Rider Care Team.

TOUR sees the S-Works Recon being used for fast gravel rides without demanding pushing sections. This could be, for example, one-day events such as the UCI Gravel Series including the Gravel World Championships.

• Weight: 280 grams (size 42)
• Price: 400 Euro

>> Gravel Events 2023

Specialised Recon ADV

The new Recon ADV gravel shoe has been developed for adventures on gravel bikes or MTBs. A shoe for the whole day, it should not only be sufficiently stiff when riding and transfer power efficiently, but also comfortable when it's time to hike-a-bike. When climbs are too steep to ride or the path is too rough, you get off and push. The so-called STRIDE technology with a flexible toe area ensures a natural running feel. According to the manufacturer, the upper sits snugly on the foot and is laser-perforated in favour of moisture management. TPU moulded parts are also attached to the shoe to protect against stone impacts. The edges of the sole profile are firm, which ensures a stable pedalling platform and a comfortable ride. And with the SlipNot pun, the manufacturer wants to say that the rubber tread areas have become larger and thus offer more grip on gravel.

• Price: 220 Euro

The shoe appeals to all those who like to spice up their routes with very rough sections. If you regularly want to tackle carrying and pushing sections or just want to take a comfortable stroll to the café, supermarket or hotel, you should opt for the Recon ADV from the two newly introduced Specialized gravel shoes.

>> TOUR test: Seven gravel shoes put to the test