Specialized is another company with a reputation for high performance footwear and the S-Works represents its latest and greatest. Fit is subjective, but we found during our long-term review the S-Works suited our feet well; they weren’t too narrow or too wide, provided good arch support and enveloped our whole foot without any hot spots.
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S-Works vs. Sidi Drako
The BOA retention system also performed well offering small precise adjustment, while still giving a secure and locked in feel.
The sole was stiff enough for even the most powerful riders and featured a wide generous tread making them easy to walk in, but more importantly, safe if you miss a pedal.
A word of caution to cyclocross riders though; in extremely wet conditions the smooth lugs don’t offer much grip, as one colleague's painful hip will attest to after slipping over in a race. They’re also not replaceable so can’t compete with the longevity of a shoe like the Sidi.
However, we used the S-Works in some truly miserable conditions and were impressed by the toughness and durability of the outer. They also come with a matt finish which always seems to hold up well to rock strikes and inevitable crashes.
Overall the Specialized S-Works offered a great fit, with feathery weight and relative durability, although they’re not without their faults. Make the tread replaceable with better grip and we suspect they’d get close to a perfect score.
