The Specialized 2FO Roost Clip Mountain Bike Shoes are a highly technical, pro-level shoe disguised in a casual, stylish design.
Brand: Specialized
Product: 2FO Roost Clip Mountain Bike Shoes
From: specialized.com
Price: £110.00
Tested: by Amanda for 2 months
Things I love:
- They look stylish on and off the bike
- They dry out really easily, even without a radiator
- Stiff footbed is supportive and great for pedal efficiency/power transfer
Things I would change:
- A tag at the back to help pull them on would be useful
- The cleats could sit deeper so I don’t sound like a tap dancer in the pub
- The inner ankle could be slightly taller for added protection and support
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Mountain bike shoes are almost impossible to get right. If waterproof, they’re often too warm to wear year round. Balancing a grippy sole with a stiff footbed can be tough. Laces can be fiddly and annoying when muddy, but great for longevity as you can replace them. Do you want a casual-looking shoe that potentially lacks the highest quality outer material, or do you not care about how they look off the bike? The Specialized 2FO Roost Clip MTB shoes are as close to ideal as I’ve found.
Specialized 2FO Roost fit and features
I have narrow feet and a high arch. The high arch is where my preference for a stiff sole comes from, as I need the support. The narrow shape of my feet makes certain brands of shoe uncomfortable, as any movement side-to-side is less than ideal when you’re trying to unclip.
Chunky protection and support 
Neat laces 
Casual looking
The Specialized 2FO Roost have a nice stiff design that feels supportive in all directions. The stiff outer means I have to loosen the laces off quite far down in order to get them on. Once they’re on and laced up, there really isn’t much flex in them. This is great on the bike, but if you buy them for the casual look for post-ride pints, be prepared. You will be keen to loosen the laces.
The cleat plate is 4mm longer than standard, giving a bit more range rearward. I have mine set toward the back as I find this the most supportive position, but I haven’t found the furthest back position to be suitable for me.
Whatever the weather
These shoes landed on my doormat in November. I live and ride in Todmorden, known for frequent flooding and temperatures several degrees lower than the surrounding areas. I also ride most consecutive days, though this isn’t a brag, it’s just a means of transport.
In the plus temperatures (we’ve had -3deg – 14deg during testing) these shoes are perfectly comfortable if you wear a breathable sock such as merino. Below zero and dry, I’ve not had cold toes. Below zero in heavy rain, it took around three hours for the cold to creep in. Below zero in heavy rain with a waterproof sock, however, I have gone all day without getting cold feet.
The Specialized 2FO Roost are such a close fit with a stiff, thick construction, so the only way water has been getting in is either soaking in via my socks, or when I’ve accidentally stood in ankle deep water. Rainfall doesn’t get in as easily as most shoes.
When they do get wet, I don’t have to wait days on end or rotate them on the radiator for them to dry out. It’s almost unbelievable how fast they dry out.
Overall
These aren’t sold as being all-season shoes specifically, but the fact I have had snowy and rainy rides without the discomfort of cold toes is impressive. Winter riding kit is hard to master, so having these shoes is one less thing to worry about. They’re a struggle to get on my feet in a hurry, but once they’re on, I’m quite happy wearing them all day long.
