Alright, let me start this post by simply stating that these shoes are the bees knees. Those who may neglect the benefits of a carbon sole shoe have clearly not experienced the Ultra-light, asymmetric optimized Powerline carbon sole. This sole advertises a Stiffness Index of 13, and believe me you feel all that in the power transfer immediately as you step on the pedal. Not to mention, this shoe is crazy light. Through stress and pressure testing, Specialized has identified the areas which require reinforcement and those that do not. Ergo with the S-Works XC, they have designed a super light yet ridiculously stiff MTB Shoe.
In my opinion, the next best design feature of this shoe is the Two independent Boa® S2-Snap dials. These dials are easy to use, even when the bike is in motion. Moreover, they are more precise than the ratchet system utilized by other brands. As snug as this shoe fits, the forefoot does is comfortable. This is a feature that I always look for in a shoe.
In my experience, shoes either are not snug enough around the ankle and Achilles and power transfer is lost as a result such as that from heal lift. Or, nearly worse, the shoes are plenty snug yet knacker the forefoot. I don’t know about you, but with shoes that knacker the forefoot, this pain can become intense, therefore slowing you down, maybe even to where you need to stop and take off shoes for 5 minutes, no bueno. I ride the S-Works XC shoe for 100 miles, comfortable and snug the entire time. The Thermobonded, Adaptive Fit upper is designed especially well in this model. Not to mention that the shoe comes in multiple widths as well as half sizes, guaranteeing a perfect fit.
Specialized invests heavily each year in their research and development, specifically in their body geometry engineering. This investment becomes evermore apparent in the quality and fit of their products. With this shoe in particular, the sole and footbed are designed to optimize hip, knee, and foot alignment and therefore increase comfort and ultimate performance. Of course, these may be minor improvements that the novice cyclist may not notice, but advanced cyclists will recognize them. Nevertheless, cyclists at all levels will benefit from these advancements whether they are noticed or not.
I back this shoe 100%, keep doing what you do Specialized, we love it!
Watch the video of the features of this shoe, explained by the Specialized expert here.
Fulton Bikes 