Specialized Recon 3.0 Shoe review

Chipps reviews Specialized Recon 3.0 clip-in shoes. Can they be stiff AND comfortable at the same time?

• Brand: Specialized
• Product: Recon 3.0 shoes
• Price: £210.00
• From: Specialized
• Tested by: Chipps for 10 months

Pros

• Stiff, easy to get on and off
• Super adjustable
• Not made of mesh

Cons

• Heel lift when walking unless cranked tight
• Can get hot in the sun, not very ventilated
• Carbon instep can be slippery

If you want race shoe stiffness, efficiency and comfort, while still being able to walk around, the Recon 3.0s are well worth a look.

Touted as a gravel or mountain bike KOM-chaser shoe, the Specialized Recon 3.0 is a serious piece of kit without going to the pared-down minimalism of the S-Works model. The Recon 3.0s (there’s a 2.0 and 1.0 below them) feature a carbon sole with a stiffness rating of 10.0.

The gist of the Recon range is that there are two stiffnesses within the sole construction, allowing the toe to flex for walking, ‘cross run-ups and so on. This is more noticeable on the lower range shoes without stonking stiff carbon sole plates, but there is a little bit of give still.

Up top, we have a full, virtually seamless, welded upper with complete, golf-ball textured ‘pleather’ fabric across the whole upper, with only pinpricks of ventilation holes, which is great news for keeping water splashes out, and one of the major selling points over more meshy shoes. It seems that the more racey shoes are, the more mesh is used in their construction. Luckily, the Recon 3.0s buck this trend, which I think extends their use into the late autumn and early spring, and also makes them a good proposition for a bit of winter ‘cross racing.

The sole itself has moulded studs, featuring Specialized’s beautifully named ‘Slip Not’ rubber, which has proved to be grippy on wet rock. There’s also a narrow grip strip on the insole for those cyclocross dismounts. There are no replaceable sole parts, but after nearly a year of thrice-weekly use, they’re showing little wear, despite the exposed carbon sole having taken a pounding.

Back to the upper again and we find two BOA dual-dial Li2 knobs. These allow separate adjustment over the arch of the foot and the mid-foot area. Importantly (as we’ll find out in a minute) they allow micro-adjustments in both the tightening and loosening directions.

In use

The Recon 3.0s are super easy to slip on, as the long tongue and BOA laces allow easy on and off. The BOA dials allow quick and precise sizing and you’re quickly off and riding.

As is always the way, after ten minutes of riding, the shoes need a couple more clicks on the dials, and then perhaps a couple more for that big climb/sprint. It’s easy to do, though with a click here and click there, they can end up too tight. Fortunately, the dials are as easy to loosen by one click or two, rather than with regular BOAs where it’s a case of loosen all or nothing.

I (perversely?) really like the lack of big vents on the shoes, as the few moments my feet have been too hot are vastly outweighed by the chilly or wet autumn rides where the shoes have shrugged off the weather and remained a comfortable temperature.

Specialized is proud of its ‘Stride Technology’ which builds in some flexibility for walking, hike a bikes or ‘cross run ups. There is some flex in the toe of the Recon 3.0s but it’s not nearly as noticeable as it is on the nylon soled 1.0 shoes. There’s enough flex for, say, cross run-ups, but on long hike-a-bikes you’ll probably get annoyed with them. The shoes need cranking down to prevent heel lift on anything steep. However, for just walking around in, they’re acceptable, though they’re far from trainer levels of comfort and you’re always aware that you’re in stiff-soled shoes. If you love that road shoe efficient feel, though, and the only walking around you do on a ride is to order a coffee from the serving hatch, then you’ll be fine.

Given that these have been my main shoes for the last ten months, they’re in fantastic shape (which should be the case for £200 shoes, right?). The carbon soles show a load of gouges and scrapes, so I’ve obviously not been easy on them, but the uppers are unmarked, hardly even creased and the sole lugs are barely worn.

Whilst I personally may prefer slightly less stiff shoes, so I know that I’d be more at home with the Recon 2.0 shoes, with their stiffness rating of 6.0 rather than 10.0. But that’s just me. In terms of fit, I’m usually a 43.5 and I’ve been running these in a 44, which allows some thicker socks for comfort or warmth. I do love the ability to have different tensions over the foot with the two dials and being able to loosen them by just a few clicks makes longer rides far more enjoyable as I’m not feeling strapped to the pedals when I don’t need to be.

Overall

If you’re after some race-level shoes, with a more subtle look (though they do come in bright orange too…) and some great adjustability, then definitely check out the Recon 3.0s – and in fact, the whole range, depending on the level of comfort and stiffness you’re after.