Specialized's new gravel Recon shoes balance stiffness with flexibility for improved comfort in walking scenarios
Specialized’s new Recon 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 shoes are rumoured to offer better comfort, pedalling efficiency and off-bike walking confidence on all terrain types.
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So, what's new with Specialized's latest Recon gravel shoes? Well, these shoes feature the brand's proven ergonomic Body Geometry fit, not to mention an overall design that has been enhanced for off-road-walking comfort. Read on for all the details.
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Specialized Recon 3.0 gravel shoe, by Aaron Borrill
Endurance mountain bikers and gravel riders have challenged shoe designers to deliver new products that combine high-performance cycling shoes' power transfer with trail shoes' hike-a-bike confidence.
The further you go on a big gravel or endurance mountain bike ride, the greater the likelihood of encountering terrain challenges and possible detours that require a short walk or hike-a-bike portage. And doing that in a high-performance shoe with limited flexibility or sole tread grip isn’t comfortable.
With these new Recons, Specialized has created a shoe with low weight, good sole stiffness for power transfer, and a lot of flexibility for walking comfort.
The Recon range features a flexible outsole and upper to make it comfier for hike-a-biking up a short incline or navigating stairs to the coffee shop after a long ride. Specialized refers to these design principles as its ‘Stride’ technology. All three of the new Recons feature Specialized’s flexible outsole and upper, but each version has a different approach to fastening.
Specialized Recon 3.0 gravel shoe, by Aaron Borrill
The most affordable option, at £100, is Specialized’s Recon 1.0. It has a single L6 Boa closure and injected nylon sole plate and, in size 42, is set to weigh 291g. Preventing premature material wear from the Boa wiring, the entire Recon range uses Dyneema yarn that is much kinder to the uppers – especially for riders who wear their shoes with a snug fit.
At £165, the Recon 2.0 upgrades to a Li2 specification Boa dial, supported by a Velcro strap. The Recon 2.0s weigh 307g, says Specialized.
For riders who want to optimise their power transfer on an all-terrain ride, there’s the Recon 3.0, featuring a carbon-fibre sole plate and dual Li2 Boa dials. The Recon 3.0 also ventilates through laser-cut perforations in its upper. Priced at £210, the Recon 3.0 is claimed to weigh 345g per shoe.
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So, the most expensive shoes weigh the most?