Specialised Recon ADV on test: Gravel shoes for the adventurous

In March 2023, Specialized presented two brand new gravel shoes. The Specialized Recon ADV is specifically designed for adventure and bikepacking, while the S-Works Recon is more geared towards racing and performance. This review is all about the gravel shoe for adventure: the Specialized Recon ADV.

>> The shoe presentation - two new gravel shoes from Specialized <<

About the Specialised gravel shoes

The Specialized Recon ADV gravel shoes have been specially developed for adventures on gravel bikes or MTBs. They combine stiffness with comfort. The cycling shoes are designed to cope well with a variety of situations - they offer comfort when riding and transfer power well to the pedals. On a hike-a-bike, when you have to push or even shoulder the bike, they still offer sufficient support. Thanks to the Stride technology and the flexible toe area, the Recon ADV provides a natural running feel. In addition, TPU moulded parts provide reliable protection against stone impacts and the improved rubber tread surface ensures increased grip on gravel paths. In contrast to many modern shoes that are closed with a Boa system, Specialised relies on the tried and tested lacing system for this adventure shoe.

The Specialised Recon ADV in figures

• Sizes: 36 - 49
• Weight: 562 grams (size 39.5)
• Price: 220 Euro >> available here

Endurance test with extreme loads

We tested two sizes of the Specialized Recon ADV: 39.5 and 42.5 and both pairs of shoes had to go through a lot with us.

Tours and bikepacking races with the gravel shoe

During her test phase, online editor and test author Sandra Schuberth put her gravel shoes to the test. She noticed that the shoe is comparatively warm and dries slowly. This can lead to unpleasant odours. But the most comfortable shoe - so far, which has not constricted the feet even on long distances.

Hardly any breaks with the Seven Serpents Quick Bite

The Seven Serpents Quick Bite is an unsupported bikepacking event from Ljubljana to Trieste. It doesn't take the direct route, but involves detours via Croatian islands. Sandra Schuberth took part in this race. It took her one day, 17 hours and one minute to cover the distance of 540 kilometres with 10,000 metres of ascent and she came 15th overall. Many good gravel paths were followed by rough terrain sections where the bike had to be pushed. The temperatures were summery during the day and a little cooler at night. This led to a few drops of sweat getting into the Specialised shoes. The Recon shoes were not taken off during the entire race, so they barely had time to dry.

4 days wet at the Bright Midnight - the Specialized gravel shoes can't dry...

A comparable event to the Seven Serpents Quick Bite is the Bright Midnight, which took place for the first time in 2023. This race was a circular course in Norway, covering a distance of 1040 kilometres and 16,000 metres in altitude. Summery temperatures prevailed at the start of the race, but the shoes sank into the mud on some of the sliding sections. Later, rain set in, which rarely let up - typical for Norway. In short: the shoes were more or less soaked through over a period of four days.

14-day bikepacking tour

Last but not least, there was a bikepacking tour that led from Munich to Milan, passing through the Aosta Valley, the Col du Grand Saint Bernard, Lausanne and finally Zurich, before ending in Lindau on Lake Constance. A total of 1200 kilometres with 10,000 metres of altitude were covered. The tour began in muddy and rainy conditions and ended in midsummer temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius.

The Specialised Recon ADV on the MTB

Marc Strucken, online editor and co-author of this test, also put his test pair of Specialized Recon ADVs through their paces. As gravel biking is not entirely dissimilar to cross country MTB, the shoes also had to be used for this type of cycling.

They are extremely comfortable to wear on relaxed laps or long tours, as your feet are not locked in. However, this is also their disadvantage: when it comes down to the last 10 watts on a gravel bike or MTB, you miss the firm hold in the shoe. Also, most MTB shoes don't have laces for a reason, as they can occasionally get caught in the undergrowth and come undone. Therefore, those who cycle off forest tracks and come into contact with vegetation should consider whether laces are the right choice.

The soles of the Specialized Recon ADV offer sufficient grip on narrow trails, both uphill and downhill, to keep you safe on the road. The two "studs" in the forefoot area in particular ensure good grip, even in muddy conditions. When mountain biking, it is unavoidable to put your feet down in tricky places, whether for a photo break or to eat something. Although the cleat channel is quite wide, it is still not big enough for the bars of the Eggbeater pedals, so you occasionally slip off the pedal. The result is that the carbon sole becomes heavily scuffed where there is no rubber coating. Stones also contribute to this during normal walking. Apart from that, the Specialized Recon ADV seem to be quite durable and robust after over 600 kilometres of testing. Our test verdict on the Specialized Recon ADV adventure gravel shoe

Fit and wearing comfort

The Specialized Recon ADV is a feel-good shoe. That's how all test subjects felt when they first slipped them on. When the lacing is neither too loose nor too tight, the shoe sits perfectly on our feet. The tongue neither presses on the instep nor slips to the side, which occasionally happens with many other shoes.

For me, the slipper among bike shoes - super comfortable on long tours and you don't immediately feel the need to loosen the straps in the (café) break. - Marc Strucken

To further improve the fit of the shoe, Sandra Schuberth tried out customised insoles and replaced the standard insoles. This enabled her to achieve an optimum fit.

I replaced the original insoles with Currex insoles. This allowed me to improve the fit even more - Sandra Schuberth

The shoe is not too tight at the heel, but not too loose either. Only if the lacing is too loose can there be slight slippage at the heel. There is sufficient toe room, but problems can occasionally occur over very long distances:

After bikepacking races, one or more toes are usually numb. It's no different with the Specialized Recon ADV - but a little better than with my previous shoe. - Sandra Schuberth

Function

The Specialized Recon ADV shoes leave nothing to be desired on the bike. The power transmission seems effective, the feet sit firmly and comfortably in the shoe and the lacing holds reliably. In the following, we describe the shoe and its functions in detail from top to bottom.

1. the lacing

The advantage of a lace-up shoe is that the laces can be easily replaced if something breaks. The laces also allow the shoe to be customised. However, there is also a disadvantage: if you pull too tightly when tying the laces, this can cause pressure points. This cannot be remedied while riding - you have to stop and dismount. Another point of criticism concerns the length of the laces, which could be a little shorter. As long as the small rubber loop that holds the laces securely in place retains its shape, everything is fine. However, should it wear out - which has not happened so far despite extreme use - it could lead to unpleasant or even dangerous situations, as dangling laces are an accident risk.

2. the upper material

The upper material of the Specialized Recon ADV is comfortable and robust. However, it lacks breathability. In hot temperatures, heat builds up in the shoe. This leads us to the next point: the shoe dries slowly. This favours the growth of bacteria, which in turn can lead to unpleasant odours. In addition, dust and dirt cannot be easily removed from the velvety surface. Here it is necessary to use a little water and a brush if it bothers you.

3. the sole

The sole offers sufficient grip and stability to safely master even demanding carrying passages with the shouldered bike - provided you are sure-footed. However, the cleats are mounted relatively far back on my bike. When walking, the Shimano cleats touch the ground, which sometimes leads to insecurity, especially on rough terrain. On the carbon sole, we can observe heavy scuffing from stones and pedals.

Advantages

• Easily adjustable thanks to lacing
• Good seat, comfort even on long journeys
• nevertheless relatively stable
• robust

Disadvantages

• Relatively warm
• Dries slowly (favours bacterial growth and therefore odour)
• Lacing sometimes awkward if you want to take the shoes off and put them on again quickly during a short break

Conclusion on the gravel shoes

The Specialised Recon ADV cycling shoe is perfect for those who want to tackle challenging routes as well as travelling comfortably on a daily basis. This gravel shoe offers excellent thermal insulation and is therefore particularly suitable for cooler days. For hot summer temperatures, however, another shoe with better ventilation is more suitable.