Specialized S Works EXOS EVO clipless XC shoes £400

At 516g for a pair (size 44), these are around 100g lighter than Specialized’s similarly race-focused S-Works Recon shoes. Weight is saved in the upper, which is constructed from Dyneema – a super-light, flexible fabric. This doesn’t stretch, but moulds well to the midfoot. It’s also tough, shrugging off brambles, and well-vented. Toe protection is good, but weight is saved with minimal side-offoot and heel reinforcement. The single BOA dial provides a reasonable amount of fit adjustment, but only through the upper part of the midfoot. This leaves the toe box very airy; some riders may want a more secure-feeling fit lower down the foot. We also found we had to retension the cable early in our rides once our feet had settled into the shoes. The carbon fibre sole is exceptionally stiff, so power delivery is direct. We find Specialized’s Body Geometry insoles excellent, noticeably helping to prevent our toes from scrunching under prolonged efforts. Tread lugs on the bottom of the sole provide off-bike grip and there are toe-studs, too. Getting the shoes on is a struggle; the BOA cable’s short span prevents you from easily opening the tongue wide and the heel section collapses when pushing your foot in. There’s a little tab at the back to help, but one of ours ripped off. The price, fit and functionality won’t suit all, but the EXOS EVOS are among the most performancedriven shoes we’ve tested. Tom www.specialized.com