S-Works MTB Shoe
Pumped up Kicks
When Specialized sets out to win a World Championship, their focus isn’t
just on the bike; Specialized puts a lot of time and effort into their components
to ensure their athletes are riding gear as advanced as their bikes. Their
World Championship-winning S-Works MTB shoes are no exception. If you are a
cross-country racer, pay close attention to the $360 S-Works MTB shoes.
Tech features: The heart of any high-performance shoe is its sole. Specialized pulled
out all the stops, giving their S-Works MTB shoe the same FACT carbon they use
in many of their S-Works mountain bikes. The tread lugs on the sole are
replaceable and include optional toe spikes. On top of the light and stiff sole
sits their “Body Geometry” footbed, which is designed to provide adequate arch
sup- port and stability. The foot is secured by two BOA S1-M enclosure dials
and a Velcro strap at the forefoot. These BOA dials allow for easy fine-tuning
and can be rotated clockwise to tighten the fit and counterclockwise to loosen it
for on-the-fly adjustments. If you do take a nasty spill, the BOA enclosures
are replaceable. The shoe is heavily ventilated and should keep your feet cool
on hot days. Our pair (size 42), mounted up with Crankbrothers cleats, weighed
a scant 1.6 pounds.
Field test results: From the moment we slid our feet into these kicks,
we knew one thing for certain—these shoes felt fast. The stiff soles are
evident on—and off—the bike. These shoes are not made for walking. Specialized
clearly focused on pedaling performance when choosing this sole. The BOA S1-M
reminded us of a modern take on the old Rebook Pump sneakers from back in the
day. The enclosure system was easy to use and made dialing in the fit a breeze.
The ability to fine-tune the compression was awesome—definitely an improvement
over previous BOA systems. The space in the forefoot compartment is relatively
wide and will cater to the foot types of many Americans— unlike super-narrow
Euro shoes. Putting the power down, we couldn’t quite get over how stiff these
shoes were. The Body Geometry footbed is awesome and kept our feet well supported
and comfortable. Hike-a-bike sections required some finesse since the soles are
so stiff. The shoes are more ideal for racing than adventure-style trail
riding. If you find yourself hitting a lot of hike-a-bike sections but still
want something that is light and stiff, consider the S-Works MTB Evo model. On
really long rides, we found ourselves fiddling with the BOA dials, often
tightening them up a click or two, which made us wonder if they might slacken
up a bit under constant hard riding. This isn’t a deal breaker, however, as
adjustments are so simple to make. These are remarkable high-end race shoes
that certainly aren’t cheap and are not intended for everyone. If you are a
serious racer (even if you don’t ride a Specialized), these shoes are just as
serious as you are.
Reprinted from our February 2012 issue. Like us on Facebook