Specialised Recon ADV: Gravel shoes for adventure on test

In March 2023, Specialized presented two new gravel shoes. The Specialised Recon ADV for adventure and bikepacking and the S-Works Recon, which is made more for racing and performance.

>> The shoe presentation - two new gravel shoes from Specialized <<

About the Specialised gravel shoes

The Specialized Recon ADV gravel shoes have been developed for adventures on gravel bikes or MTBs. They offer a good combination of stiffness and comfort, both when riding and when hike-a-biking - if you ever have to push or even shoulder the bike. With Stride technology and a flexible toe area, the Recon ADV provides a natural ride. In addition, TPU moulded parts protect against stone impacts and the improved rubber tread provides more grip on gravel. While many modern shoes are fastened with a Boa system, Specialised relies on good old-fashioned lacing for this adventure shoe.

The Specialised Recon ADV in figures

• Sizes: 36 - 49
• Weight: 562 grams (size 39.5)
• Price: 220 Euro >> available here

Endurance test with extreme loads

We tested the Specialized Recon ADV in two sizes: 39.5 and 42.5 and both pairs of shoes had to put up with a lot.

Bikepacking tours and races with the adventure gravel shoe

Online editor and test author Sandra Schuberth put her test shoes through their paces. It was noticeable that the gravel shoe is relatively warm and dries slowly. This can lead to unpleasant odours.

Non-stop action at the Seven Serpents Quick Bite

The Seven Serpents Quick Bite is an unsupported bikepacking event that leads from Ljubljana to Trieste - not directly, but with detours via Croatian islands. Sandra Schuberth was at the start. It took her one day, 17 hours and one minute to cover the 540 kilometres and 10,000 metres in altitude, finishing in 15th place overall. Many good gravel paths were followed by rough terrain with some sections where the bike had to be pushed. The temperatures were summery during the day and a little cooler at night. This meant that a few drops of sweat flowed into the Specialised shoes. The Recon were not taken off during the entire race, so they barely had time to dry.

4 days of wetness at the Bright Midnight - the Specialized gravel shoes can't dry ...

A similar event to the Seven Serpents Quick Bite is the Bright Midnight, which took place for the first time in 2023. The race covered a circuit in Norway: 1040 kilometres and 16,000 metres in altitude. It started with summery temperatures, and the shoes sank into the mud on the sliding sections. Later, the rain came and rarely stopped, just like in Norway. In short: the shoes were more or less soaking wet for four days in a row.

14-day bikepacking tour

Last but not least, there was also a bikepacking tour. This took us from Munich to Milan, into the Aosta Valley, over the Col du Grand Saint Bernard to Lausanne and finally via Zurich to Lindau on Lake Constance. A total of 1200 kilometres and 10,000 metres of altitude were covered. It started with mud and rain and ended with midsummer temperatures of 40 degrees and more.

The Specialised Recon ADV on the MTB

Marc Strucken, online editor and co-author of this test, also put his test pair of the Specialized Recon ADV through its paces.

In the end, gravel is not far removed from cross-country MTB, so the shoes had to be used for that too. They are very comfortable to wear on relaxed laps or quiet long tours because your feet are not stuck in them like concrete. But that is of course also their shortcoming: when it comes down to the last 10 watts - on gravel or MTB - you miss a bit of support in the shoe. Also, most MTB shoes don't have laces for a good reason: they sometimes get caught in the undergrowth and come undone. So if you come into contact with flora on your bike away from forest tracks, you should consider whether "shoe laces" are the right choice.

In addition, the soles also have enough grip on narrow trails, both uphill and downhill, to be able to walk safely. In particular, the two "studs" in the forefoot area grip well, even in mud. When riding MTBs, it is important to put your feet down in tricky places, to take a photo break or to eat. Although the cleat channel (here with Crankbrothers cleats) is quite wide, it is still too narrow for the bars of the Eggbeater pedals, which means you occasionally slip over the pedal. The result: the carbon sole scuffs badly where there is no rubber coating. Stones do the same during normal walking. Otherwise, the Specialized Recon ADV seem to be quite durable and robust after a good 600 kilometres of testing.

Our test verdict on the Specialized Recon ADV adventure gravel shoe

The Specialised Recon ADV retains heat well inside the shoe. It is therefore more suitable for cooler days than for high summer temperatures.

Fit and wearing comfort

A shoe to feel good in - that's the feeling all test subjects had when they first slipped them on. If the lacing is not too loose and not too tight, the shoe sits well on our feet all round. The tongue doesn't press on the instep and doesn't slip to the side, as has happened with many other shoes.

For me, the slipper among bike shoes - super comfortable on long tours and you don't immediately feel the need to loosen the straps in the (café) break. - Marc Strucken

The fit can be improved with customised insoles - Sandra Schuberth tried this out and replaced the standard insoles with her old insoles.

I replaced the original insoles with Currex insoles. This allowed me to improve the fit even more - Sandra Schuberth

The shoe is not super tight at the heel, but not too loose either. Heel slip only occurs when the lacing is extremely loose. Toe clearance is given, only on very long distances are there problems:

After bikepacking races, one or more toes are usually numb. It's no different with the Specialized Recon ADV - but a little better than with my previous shoe. - Sandra Schuberth

Function

The shoes leave little to be desired on the bike. The power transmission seems good, the feet sit well in the shoe, the lacing holds. We describe the shoe and its functions in detail from top to bottom.

1. the lacing

The advantage of a laced shoe is that if something breaks on the way, the laces can be easily replaced. The laces also allow you to customise the shoe. But, of course, there is a but: if you pull too tight when tying the laces, it can pinch. This can't be remedied while riding, you have to stop. Another point of criticism is the length of the laces. They could be a little shorter. As long as the small rubber loop, with which the laces can be securely fastened, retains its shape, everything is fine. If it wears out, which hasn't happened yet despite extreme use, it could be unpleasant because dangling laces pose a risk of accidents.

2. the upper material

The upper material of the Specialized Recon ADV is comfortable and stable. It lacks breathability. On warm or hot days, heat and sweat build up in the shoe. This leads to the next point: if the shoe is wet, it dries slowly. This favours the growth of bacteria, which in turn can lead to smelly shoes. Dust and dirt are not so easy to remove from the velvety surface. A little water and a brush are needed - or a long drive in the rain.

3. the sole

The sole offers sufficient grip and stability to safely master even demanding carrying passages with the shouldered bike - provided you are sure-footed. However, the cleats are mounted relatively far back on my bike. When walking, the Shimano cleats touch the ground, which sometimes leads to insecurity, especially on rough terrain. Heavy scuffing from stones and pedals.

Advantages

• Easily adjustable thanks to lacing
• Good seat, comfort even on long journeys
• nevertheless relatively stable
• robust

Disadvantages

• Relatively warm
• Dries slowly (favours bacterial growth and thus odour)
• Lacing sometimes awkward if you want to quickly take the shoes off and put them on again during a short break

Conclusion on the gravel shoes

The Specialised Recon ADV cycling shoe is ideal for anyone who wants to tackle rough terrain or be comfortable on their daily commute. If you are looking for a well-ventilated shoe for the height of summer, you are better off with a different shoe.