Over the last ten years, Specialized has become one of the premier cycling shoe manufacturers globally. Its deep and varied shoe portfolio includes 39 models, ranging from the boutique-priced S-Works models to more budget-friendly versions. Specialized offers everything from flat pedal shoes for shredding the bikepark to road shoes raced to Pro Tour wins to shoes perfect for commuting.
We’ve reviewed the S-Works 7 Lace, Recon Vent, and Recon models. All of these shoes are a variation on a theme. Specialized took either the S-Works 7 road shoe (launched in 2018) or the S-Works Recon mountain bike shoe (2019) as its starting point and varied uppers or closure systems to suit riders' preferences or usage needs. Given that the S-Works 7 had been around for four years (and Specialized-sponsored road teams were spotted wearing a new shoe in the last few months), we knew that a new generation S-Works shoe was forthcoming.
So What’s New?
At first glance, the new shoe looks very similar to the old one. Unless you’re constantly looking at different models of cycling shoes and have their closure layouts memorized, you probably wouldn’t notice the missing Velcro strap from the toe area of this shoe. Honestly, I don’t think anyone will miss this weird little strap, and I have not met anyone that uses it.
Removing the Velcro strap became possible due to an entirely reworked shoe upper. Specialized has shifted down and angled the lower BOA dial to allow the dial to pull up and over instead of just straight across the foot. This arrangement creates a better wrap and hold towards the front of the shoe, eliminating the need for an extra strap. The new upper also ditches Dyneema fabric in favor of an in-house material that uses sandwiched layers of material in different zones to create an upper that is more supple in places that need it while being more supportive in others.
Specialized also reworked the carbon baseplate, shedding 20 grams while maintaining the same level of sole stiffness. This new baseplate is also subtly wider but keeps the same length as the previous version used on the S-Works 7 shoe. Finally, Specialized also introduced an asymmetric heel cup. This design provides more room for the Achilles while still providing a locked-in feel. So, more comfort without sacrificing the engaged ride quality for which S-Works shoes are known.
The new S-Works Torch is available in three colors to start. We tested these shoes in white. Riders who don’t feel like constantly cleaning their shoes can buy them in black or oak (a bit of a green to black fade). Specialized will release a deep marine and a vivid coral version later in the year, along with a “team white” version that features larger-size Specialized logos for the riders that prefer that kind of look.
How Do They Ride?
Specialized provided our gear team with several pairs to evaluate. First are my impressions of the shoe, followed by notes from three other Test Team members with various foot shapes, riding styles, and shoe preferences.
In the past, I have not had great experiences with S-Works shoes (with the Vent models being the notable exception as they use different padding). I even made a video about how to break in the shoes’ notoriously stiff uppers. All of the updates that went into the new S-Works Torch shoe have seemingly solved these issues for me. The new shoe was comfortable from day 1, no longer digging in around my ankle. The tongue provided ample padding and wrapped around to protect the top of my feet from any Boa wire-related hot spots. The hold was secure without feeling constraining, especially in the toe box, which felt very roomy.
Stiffness and pedaling efficiency felt on par with what I would expect from a top-tier racing shoe, which is to say the S-Works Torch feels incredibly rigid.
From an aesthetic point of view, I appreciated the very low-key branding on the shoe. It fits nicely into the shoe's overall sleek look and should be attractive to many riders who prefer less branding. The white finish was easy to clean. After about a month of living with the shoes, they stayed white with simple post-ride wipe downs.
When I spoke to my colleague Matt Phillips about his experience with the S-Works Torch, he prefaced our discussion by noting that he doesn’t typically like shoes that use Boa dials. “I prefer shoes with laces, or Velcro straps, as most shoes with dials or ratchets tend to put my feet to sleep. But having said that, I found the S-Works Torch to be very good and far more comfortable than the S-Works 7.”
Matt continued, “The overall fit feels a bit middle of the road, which is a good thing, as it should work well for many riders. Specialized has made shoes like this for a while, but the Torch feels much more refined, with excellent heel retention and a very supportive upper that wraps the footwell without any bunching or hotspots. I’m also happy to see the little Velcro strap go. It never seemed to do much except bunch up the front of the shoe.”
Trevor Raab appreciated the clean and minimal look of the S-Works Torch. Still, he noted that behind that very minimalistic exterior was a well-executed, top-of-the-line performance road shoe. “The thing that I noticed first was how effective the vent in the baseplate was at funneling air into the shoe. After more miles, I found the shoes to strike the right balance of being stiff enough for racing without feeling unforgiving on longer rides. I did wish the Boa dials Specialized opted to use had the option of doing a full release rather than just the micro-adjustments back and forth. The toe box felt almost too wide, but it didn’t prove to be an issue after getting used to the Torch's feel.
Rosael Torres-Davis also really liked the aesthetics of the new S-Works Torch but had trouble getting the new wider fit to work with her narrow feet. “I really like the overall shape of the shoe, and there was no need to break them in, and I experienced no hotspots or discomfort during my first few rides. But I found the shoe too wide at the toe box for my narrow feet.”
For reference, Rosael tested the Torch in size 41.5, and her preferred shoe is a Giro Empire lace-up in size 42 due to its narrower shoe. Trevor tried the Torch in size 42, and he typically wears the same size in Giro and Fizik shoes. Matt tested the Torch in size 41. His favorite shoe is the discontinued Giro Prolight SLX, but amongst current shoes, he likes the Fizik Powerstrap R1/R2 and the Giro Regime. His size is consistent among these models. I tested the Torch in 43.5 and found it comfortable, but I have used Fizik shoes in 42.5 and Giro shoes in 43.
We all tested the regular fit, but Specialized plans to offer the new S-Works Torch in wide and narrow-fit versions. The wide-fit version adds another 4mm width to the baseplate, while the narrow-fit will use the standard baseplate paired with a reduced volume upper. According to a Specialized representative, these variants will be available in the American market at a later date and in the black color option.
Final Thoughts
It’s impossible to write about a new S-Works product without talking about its price. These new shoes are a whopping $450 at retail. Is that worth it? Maybe? Compared to high-end shoes from other brands, the price feels in line with similar offerings from Giro (Imperial $425), Bontrager (XXX $420), Shimano (S-Phyre RC902T $430), and Sidi (Shot 2 $580). But that doesn’t mean you can't buy great road shoes for less money. I’ve recently tried some Fizik Tempo Decos, which were excellent, and retail for under $300. Matt noted that one of his favorite Boa shoes was the Giro Regime at $240.
While Specialized would not comment on future product offerings for the S-Works Torch, I fully expect to see various iterations of it in the future. Currently, Specialized offers the S-Works 7 in a Vent and Lace version, so we’ll likely see these in the Torch’s future.
My main concern with the Torch (which was raised by Rosael) is that the new shoe might not work well for riders with narrow feet. Specialized made the new shoe's baseplate 4mm wider than its previous high-end road shoe. The narrow-fit version will still use this new baseplate but combined with a reduced volume upper. I hope you like black shoes, though, as that will be the only color option offered.
Setting aside the question of whether S-Works Torch will work for your feet—which can be tough to answer without physically trying on the shoe—these shoes are an improvement over the model it replaces. It’s much more comfortable than S-Works 7, weighs less, but maintains the S-Works shoes' excellent power transfer. If previous S-Works shoes did not work for you, this new shoe has likely addressed those issues. So if you’re in the market for a premium-level road shoe, then these should be on your list of shoes to try.
Test Editor Dan Chabanov got his start in cycling as a New York City bike messenger but quickly found his way into road and cyclocross racing, competing in professional cyclocross races from 2009 to 2019 and winning a Master’s National Championship title in 2018. Prior to joining Bicycling in 2021, Dan worked as part of the race organization for the Red Hook Crit, as a coach with EnduranceWERX, as well as a freelance writer and photographer.
