Specialized S-Works 6

These S-Works 6 shoes from Specialized, the latest in a long line of top-end carbon fibre-soled race models, are among the best performing and most comfortable I've ever tested. They're very light, very stiff and, I repeat, really rather comfortable. They're not cheap, but if you can find the money, they're among the very best performance/race shoes currently available.

The shoes feature a new FACT Powerline one-piece carbon fibre sole, completely redesigned from the previous S-Works shoes. The profile is lower, so less stack height, and the rear section is tapered in a way that sees it providing better support for the back of the foot, with a new moulded heel cup that Specialized calls the PadLock heel. It really does work, they cup and support the back of the foot extremely well. There's no heel lift at all.

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As well as the redesigned sole, there's the all-new upper. Specialized has used a fabric called Dyneema Cubic Light. A fancy name, and apparently it's the same stuff used by NASA for its space shuttle parachutes. Certainly an impressive factoid for the club ride.

The benefit of this fabric, and the reason Specialized has used it, is that it has very little stretch, and this helps power transfer. It's not used over the entire shoe, mainly just the midsection to provide extra support. It's combined with a regular synthetic microfibre material, which does have a bit of stretch. Essentially, the shoe is rock solid where it needs to be for pedalling efficiency, with stretch where needed.

Closure is via a pair of Boa S2 dials and one short Velcro strap, a carryover from the previous S-Works shoe, which distributes pressure across the top of the shoe extremely well. The fit is so good, though, that you don't need to cinch the dials up that tightly for regular riding. The dials are easy to operate; rotate one way to tighten, the opposite to loosen.

The sole is drilled for regular three-bolt cleats, with titanium inserts to save weight and boost durability. Alignment markers help you get the cleat position exactly right across both shoes. There's a small, and to my mind rather pointless, vent at the front of the foot. More usefully, there's a rubber toe bumper and heel pad for easier walking, and to save damaging the carbon sole.

The combination of the new carbon sole and the revised upper means power transfer is noticeably improved over the previous S-Works shoes. The upper hugs the foot much more securely, with no tightness or pressure hotspots, and no heel lift. The carbon sole perhaps isn't the outright stiffest on the market, but it certainly doesn't lack stiffness when you launch a sprint or give it the full beans up a climb.

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Fit is obviously a personal thing, but these shoes fitted my feet exceptionally well. At this sort of price you might expect some level of heat mouldable customisation, but the fit and comfort of these shoes is so good that it's really not needed. In fact, I found them more comfortable than some mouldable shoes I've previously tested. It's like they've been shrunk onto my feet. Comfort for even the longest rides is outstanding.

At 476g for the size 45s tested, they're right up there with the lightest shoes this sort of money can buy. You really do notice that (lack of) weight when riding: pedalling feels about as effortless as it's possible to get.

Verdict

Light, stiff and insanely comfortable