Home / Fitness / Cycling

Specialized’s Best New Shoe Addresses One of Cycling’s Biggest Pain Points

Who said power and comfort had to be mutually exclusive?

Specialized S-Works Ares 2 road shoeSpecialized

By Jack Seemer

Published

·

Updated

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

From frames to saddles, S-Works represents the pinnacle of cycling performance. Shoes are no exception.

For years, Specialized’s pro-grade division has churned out cycling’s winningest footwear, fueling major victories at the highest level of the sport — including, for example, two Olympic golds in Paris courtesy of Remco Evenepoel, one of the brand’s top athletes.

Its newest model may be Specialized’s most impressive and versatile shoe yet. Assuming, of course, non-elite cyclists can look past its elite-tier price tag.

Specialized S-Works Ares 2 road shoe
The S-Works Ares 2 is available now for $600.
Specialized

When power met comfort

Available now, the Ares 2 is a refined take on the brand’s Ares shoe first released in 2021.

As with its sprint-focused predecessor, power is the name of the game, with Specialized promising a seven-watt power increase over the original Ares.

What’s more, that ramp up in power transfer doesn’t come at the expense of comfort but, chiefly, because of it.

Specialized S-Works Ares 2 road shoe
Specialized claims it scanned over 100,000 feet to develop a universal last that improves both speed and comfort — two qualities usually at odds with each other.
Specialized

Specialized scanned over 100,000 feet to develop the all-new Body Geometry Last, which reduces forefoot pressure by 44 percent compared to the conventional shoe last, the company claims.

It accomplishes this feat by doing the exact opposite of most high-end cycling shoes, which squeeze the forefoot tightly to ensure a secure connection to the bike, thus leading to the all-too-familiar (and dreaded) “hot foot.”

The Ares 2, by contrast, lifts and splays the foot’s metatarsal bones, while a patented Longitudinal Arch in the outsole provides rigid support, prompting it to act like a natural leaf spring.

Specialized S-Works Ares 2 road shoe
Unlike a traditional last, Specialized’s Body Geometry Last splays the toes for improved comfort.
Specialized

The result? “The most locked-in, efficient shoe that’s also incredibly comfortable,” says Rob Cook, Specialized’s Director of Footwear.

“The S-Works Ares 2 provides maximum connection between the rider and the bike. There’s no lag. If you sneeze, that power and movement will go straight to the pedals,” he adds.

“There’s no lag. If you sneeze, that power and movement will go straight to the pedals.”

Though Specialized calls the Ares a sprinter’s shoe, the combination of comfort and power here should appeal to a wide range of cyclists, including climbers or weekend warriors who want a little bit of everything — a point underscored by a redesigned upper.

Whereas the first Ares featured a sock-like collar, the Ares 2 features a more streamlined look that combines with metal Boa Li2 dials for an easy on and off.

Specialized S-Works Ares 2 road shoe
Improved comfort and a streamlined upper give the Ares 2 widespread appeal.
Specialized

Price and availability

The Ares 2 is available now in three colorways: white, black and Team White, which features the Specialized logo in black text.

If there is an obvious knock against the shoe, it’s that elite performance doesn’t come cheap. The Ares 2 costs $600 — an increase of $175 (41 percent) over the MSRP of the original Ares.

The good news, though, is that the first-generation Ares now drops to $300 in light of the new model. It’s available at Specialized and other retailers while supplies last.

Read More