Trying to decide between the Specialized Recon 2.0 and the ADV shoes for some gravel-oriented bikepacking. Both feel pretty comfortable for both walking and on the trainer, but not seeing a good head to head comparison (other than the obvious difference between BOA vs laces and a slightly different tread pattern). My riding skews a little bit more adventurous/singletrack, but I also spend long days in the saddle.
Anyone have experience with one/both of these?
by Dangerous-Way-563
4 Comments
I just had them for a while for testing. Both were good, the recon offers more stiffness, due to its BOA design. I think the one with the laces is just more flexible and one for all. On the other side when you cycle for hourse and can get anoying when the laces get lose, this can not happen so easy with boa. Another thing, when the laces get wet, they tend to mak your food als faster wet (if you are using the original laces).
I started with a simano shoe with laces and ended up with shimano XC902 and finally the canyon CFR.
I have had 2 cycling shoes with laces, and I always forget how annoying they are. With boas you can easily adjust, with laces you have to stop and relaces.
The ADV has a carbon sole, the Recon 2.0 doesn’t. I personally avoid cycling shoes without a carbon sole.
I’ve done some hard stuff with those spec boots so highly recommend. Good through a few days of mud and rain in the saddle and they are still great. They are really comfy to walk for me at least. Can’t say anything about the second pair sadly.