How well can I walk in them?

It depends on the model, and Specialized publishes the stiffness index that tells you. The Recon 1.0 and 2.0 are at 6.0 with Stride toe-flex, easy to walk in; the Recon 3.0 is at 10.0 with a carbon Stride sole that still flexes at the toes; the S-Works Recon Lace is at 13.0, a race plate. All use a SlipNot rubber tread and the two-bolt MTB cleat. If your rides end with a hike-a-bike or a café, the lower numbers are the honest choice.

What does Body Geometry actually do?

It is Specialized's name for three patented features in the sole: a Varus Wedge that tilts the foot 1.5 mm outward to keep foot, knee and hip in line, a Longitudinal Arch that stops the arch collapsing under load, and a Metatarsal Button that lifts the bones under the ball of the foot to prevent numbness. Specialized states the result is a 7-watt power improvement, validated by its own testing. Treat the number as the brand's claim; the alignment and comfort effects are the part riders notice.

My feet go numb on long rides. Will these help?

That numbness — “hot foot” — usually comes from over-tightening the forefoot, which compresses the nerves and arteries running between the metatarsal bones. Specialized's answer is the Metatarsal Button, a raised area under the ball of the foot that lifts and separates those bones instead of squeezing them. Two things matter as much: don't crank the forefoot dial (a two-dial shoe lets you keep the forefoot loose and hold the midfoot), and match the insole to your arch height.

Can I change the insoles?

Yes, and Specialized designs the shoes expecting you to. The Body Geometry SL Footbeds Gen 2 fit every Body Geometry shoe and come in three arch heights: red for low, blue for medium, green for high. The outsole's Longitudinal Arch and the insole work as a pair, so matching the height to your own arch is what makes the system do its job. If you have never had your arch measured, that is the single cheapest upgrade to any of these shoes.

SPECIALIZED Recon 3.0 Gravel MTB Cycling Shoes

Deep Orange

€249,00

~~€249,00~~ €249,00

Tax Included
EU Destination Selected (Spain)

+3 units in stock

The essentials

Best for

Gravel racing
Fast gravel
XC

SPECIALIZED Recon 3.0 Gravel MTB Cycling Shoes - Deep Orange

Technologies

Specifications

Claimed weight	approx. 345 g (EU 42, per shoe)
Sole	Carbon Stride toe-flex
Stiffness index	10.0
Closure	2 × BOA Li2 (Dual-Dial)
Body Geometry	Varus Wedge + Longitudinal Arch + Metatarsal Button
Compatible footbeds	Body Geometry SL Footbeds Gen 2
Cleat pattern	2-bolt, fits all major MTB pedals

Carbon sole

The sole plate is made of carbon fibre rather than nylon or carbon-reinforced nylon. Carbon is stiffer and lighter, so less of your effort is lost to flex; the brand’s stiffness index is in the spec table.

Varus Wedge

A 1.5 mm outward tilt built into the outsole. Specialized's reasoning is that the human body evolved to walk rather than pedal, so the foot tends to roll inward under load; the wedge tilts it back so foot, knee and hip stay in line. It is one of three patented Body Geometry elements, and it is the one riders notice first — the forefoot sits at a slight angle.

Longitudinal Arch

A patented arch support moulded into the outsole. Specialized's argument is that the foot has to act as a rigid lever to transfer power, and that an arch collapsing under load bleeds watts; the built-in support holds it. It works with the insole, which is why Specialized sells the Body Geometry SL footbeds in three arch heights rather than one.

Metatarsal Button

A raised button under the ball of the foot. Specialized's explanation is that riders chasing a secure fit tend to over-tighten the forefoot, which compresses the nerves and arteries running between the metatarsal bones and produces the numbness and burning known as hot foot. The button lifts and separates those bones instead.

Stride toe-flex

Specialized's answer to the gravel shoe problem: stiff enough to pedal, flexible enough to walk. The sole and upper flex around the toe box while the cleat pocket stays rigid, so the shoe bends where your foot does when you walk and stays stiff under the pedal. The Recon 3.0 uses a carbon version at stiffness index 10.0; the Recon 1.0 and 2.0 an injected version at 6.0.

BOA Fit System

Specialized uses three BOA dials across its shoes. S3 (S-Works Torch) and Li2 (Torch 2.0 and 3.0, Recon 2.0; as a dual-dial set on the Ares 2, Recon 3.0 and Recon EVO) work both ways: tighten or loosen a click at a time while riding. L6 (Torch 1.0, Recon 1.0) tightens in micro-steps and releases by pulling the dial out. Dials replace without tools and are covered by BOA's guarantee.

SPECIALIZED Recon 3.0 Gravel MTB Cycling Shoes - Deep Orange

Compare with

	SPECIALIZED Recon 3.0 Gravel MTB Cycling Shoes - Deep OrangeSpecialized calls the Recon 3.0 a not-so-distant relative of the S-Works Recon, and it takes three things straight from it: the lace routing, the BOA dial placement and the carbon plate	SPECIALIZED Sworks Recon SL MTB Gravel Cycling Shoes - Black Choose it for racing gravel or XC: I-Beam carbon plate, about 280 g per shoe in size 44, and tunable pontoons for a road-like pedal platform.	SPECIALIZED Recon 2.0 Gravel MTB Cycling Shoes - Black Choose it for mixed gravel and trail: one Li2 dial with Dyneema soft lace, a forefoot strap to set toe volume, and a walkable 6.0 sole.
Regular price	€249,00	€389,00	€199,00
Safety rating	—	—	—
Claimed weight	approx. 345 g (EU 42, per shoe)	approx. 280 g (EU 44, per shoe)	approx. 307 g (EU 42, per shoe)
Sole	Carbon Stride toe-flex	Carbon with internal I-Beam	Injection Stride toe-flex
Stiffness index	10.0	—	6.0
Closure	2 × BOA Li2 (Dual-Dial)	BOA	BOA Li2 + Dyneema soft lace
Body Geometry	Varus Wedge + Longitudinal Arch + Metatarsal Button	Varus Wedge + Longitudinal Arch + Metatarsal Button	Varus Wedge + Longitudinal Arch + Metatarsal Button
Compatible footbeds	Body Geometry SL Footbeds Gen 2	Body Geometry SL Footbeds Gen 2	Body Geometry SL Footbeds Gen 2
Cleat pattern	2-bolt, fits all major MTB pedals	2-bolt, fits all major MTB pedals	2-bolt, fits all major MTB pedals

Spare parts & accessories

SPECIALIZED Body Geometry SL Footbed Gen 2 - Red+ €27,99
SPECIALIZED Body Geometry SL Footbeds Gen 2 - Blue++ €30,00
SPECIALIZED Body Geometry SL Footbeds Gen 2 - Green+++ €30,00

SPECIALIZED Recon 3.0 Gravel MTB Cycling Shoes - Deep Orange

Size guide

EU	US	UK	Foot length (cm)	Foot length (in)
35	3.5	2.5	22.5	8.9
36	4.25	3.25	23	9.1
37	5	4	23.5	9.3
38	5.75	4.75	24.5	9.6
38.5	6	5	24.75	9.7
39	6.5	5.5	25	9.8
39.5	7.25	6.25	25.25	9.9
40	7.5	6.5	25.5	10.0
40.5	7.75	6.75	25.75	10.1
41	8	7	26	10.2
41.5	8.5	7.5	26.5	10.4
42	9	8	27	10.6
42.5	9.3	8.3	27.3	10.7
43	9.6	8.6	27.5	10.8
43.5	10.25	9.25	27.9	11.0
44	10.6	9.6	28.3	11.1
44.5	11	10	28.6	11.3
45	11.5	10.5	29	11.4
45.5	11.75	10.75	29.3	11.5
46	12.25	11.25	29.5	11.6
46.5	12.6	11.6	29.9	11.8
47	13	12	30.2	11.9
48	13.75	12.75	30.9	12.2
49	14.5	13.5	31.6	12.4
50	15.5	14.5	32.3	12.7

Specialized notes that customers report a roomy fit on this shoe, and suggests choosing one size down and checking the size chart.

How to measure

Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall, mark the tip of your longest toe and measure the distance in centimetres. Measure both feet and go by the longer one.

Find your size with a shoe you already own

Tell us a cycling shoe that fits you well and the size you wear in it. We compare the brands’ official foot-length charts.

Brand of the shoe you own Size you wear (EU)

An estimate from each brand’s official size chart. Width, volume and the last also change the fit — if in doubt, ask us.

Description

Specialized calls the Recon 3.0 a not-so-distant relative of the S-Works Recon, and it takes three things straight from it: the lace routing, the BOA dial placement and the carbon plate. Where it differs is Stride toe-flex — a carbon sole at stiffness index 10.0 that still lets the toes bend when you walk. Specialized quotes 345 g per shoe in size 42, 10 g lighter than the previous generation.

Lace routing, BOA dial placement and carbon plate taken directly from the S-Works Recon
Carbon Stride toe-flex: stiff for pedalling, natural toe movement off the bike (stiffness index 10.0)
BOA Dual-Dial Li2 for micro-adjustable, multi-directional fit, over a fully welded upper with fewer seams
SlipNot rubber tread and two-bolt MTB cleat; 345 g per shoe in size 42, 10 g lighter than before

Available sizes