Review of the new Specialized S-Works Ares shoes

“Innovate or die“: Mike Sinyard’s (Specialized’s boss) credo has never seemed more applicable than with the creation of the new S-Works Ares shoes, a concentrate of technologies totally at odds with everything that has been done so far in the field. The result is a pair of shoes that are both high-performance and very comfortable.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: @3bikes.fr / DR

Positioned at the very high end with a price of €419.90, the Specialized S-Works Ares shoes complete the American brand’s offering, without replacing another model. Launched almost four years ago, the S-Works 7 have been very successful with professional and amateur riders, and are still in the catalog. They have always been praised for their rigidity and durability, and it must be said, for their rather successful look. Since 2019, Specialized has also offered more exclusive models, which we think are more or less well-received, such as the very light S-Works Exos or the very airy S-Works Vent.

The Ares are thus the fourth option among S-Works shoes (a label synonymous with very high-end at Specialized, whether for bikes or accessories), and they demonstrate how intense the atmosphere is within the research and development offices of the Morgan Hill brand. The result is as aesthetically surprising as it is effective on the road. Specialized’s goal here is to provide high-performance shoes primarily for the world’s greatest sprinters, and consequently for all riders who do not want to lose a single watt during violent and sustained efforts. The S-Works Ares were developed in collaboration with Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-Quick Step), green jersey winner of the last Tour de France, and they will equip most contracted professional riders, including world champion Julian Alaphilippe, from the beginning of this 2021 season.

Like the Exos or the Vent, they in turn benefit from a totally extraordinary design that this time ensures phenomenal foot support in the shoes regardless of the power expressed, and a comfort previously unknown when wearing cycling shoes, except perhaps with some entry-level models with a padded and soft appearance.

Soles identical to the S-Works 7

The S-Works Ares benefit from the same soles as the S-Works 7, shoes that are already very stiff, designed from Fact Powerline carbon fibers with a stiffness index of 15 out of 15 according to Specialized standards. They are among the stiffest outsoles on the market. The brand adds the Body Geometry concept which offers what is considered an ideal alignment between the hip, knee and ankle joints to provide more pedaling power while reducing the risk of injury, with a 1.5 mm outward tilt to stabilize the forefoot.

A patented longitudinal arch support molded into the soles limits the risk of the foot collapsing in the shoe. This support can also be optimized by wearing one of the three types of insoles offered as an option by Specialized, or by installing custom insoles that take the imprint of the soles of the feet, as is the case for us. But the basic S-Works Ares insoles already provide what the brand calls the metatarsal button, a kind of bump positioned under the front of the foot and designed to reduce numbness by allowing the bones to spread slightly when maximum pressure is applied.

On this new model, we also find the same shell and the same shape at the heel as the S-Works-7. Finally, the weight is also at the same level as the brand’s iconic shoes, with 430 g per pair in size 39. As a reminder, the S-Works 7 weigh 432 g, the S-Works Vent 426 g, and the S-Works Exos 272 g, always for the same size.
Like slippersOne of the main originalities of the S-Works Ares lies in the tight-knit, padded and elastic inner bootie, into which the foot slides (carefully) and which acts almost like a second sock. This is similar to the concept already seen on many running shoes, but much more fitted. The advantage is that it completely eliminates the traditional tongue, or even the new wrap-around uppers seen in some competing brands. The first benefit concerns the almost transparency of the internal seams likely to cause pressure points when tightening. The foot is already glued to the shoe, but without feeling any edge on the sides.

The bootie goes up quite high at the ankle, which contributes to the somewhat surprising look of the Ares at first glance, at least when they are not worn. It is connected to an internal heel part that is narrower than on the S-Works 7, and with thicker padding, which has the effect of very firmly gripping the lower part of the ankle, but without any pressure points.

Foot movements are therefore already very limited in the shoe, even before any tightening is applied. But this remains surprisingly comfortable, especially since a small notch on the outer side of the shoe’s edge is provided to avoid pain just below the malleolus, which could happen with the S-Works 7, whose upper is very stiff in that area.

A completely redesigned closure system

The other novelty concerns the closure system, which has been completely redesigned to provide both exceptional support and very high comfort. Specialized thus states that in terms of closure pressure, the S-Works Ares provide a 20% increase in the contact surface between the foot and the shoe compared to traditional closure systems.

Over the bootie, the shoe’s upper is made of Dyneema fibers (a fabric that is up to 15 times stronger than steel, stretchable in only one direction) like the S-Works 7, but with a much more complex structure.

A kind of frame made of this fabric surrounds the Ares above the bootie, with thicker or thinner parts to ensure rigidity where necessary. Two two-part tongues, each topped by a Boa Li2 closure, provide progressive and very complete support, especially between the instep and the midfoot, thanks to a triangular path of the closure wire. The upper tongue starts almost at the malleolus level, which completely locks the upper part of the foot against the bottom of the shoe, against the heel, while eliminating the possibility of foot rotation during intense effort.

This closure on a very wide tongue applies pressure over a large surface, thus avoiding the appearance of any pressure points. At the front, the closure is also very effective (much more so than on the S-Works 7), even if it seems a little less useful to us and can even compress the foot a little.

The choice of Boa Li2 instead of the Boa S3-Snap of the S-Works 7 is explained by the possibility of completely releasing the closure (by pulling on the dial) and spreading the tongues to more easily put on or take off the shoe. The Li2 nevertheless ensures millimeter-precise tightening or loosening by simply rotating the dial for precise adjustment.

Fast and comfortable

Tested over a little more than 1000 km, the S-Works Ares first impress with their comfort. When slipping the foot into the shoe, we first have the impression of wearing a second pair of socks. The contact with the inner bootie is soft and laterally elastic, as many rotational movements are allowed when the closure is not locked, each time with the sensation that the foot is brought back into the axis of the shoe.

By turning the upper Boa dial, you gradually feel your foot lock laterally and longitudinally against your ankle. Even with narrow feet, there is enough margin to ensure a very firm closure, without feeling any pain. At the front, ideal support is more difficult to achieve, as the two parts of the tongue tend to bring the metatarsals closer together.

Once the correct pressure is applied, the perfect rigidity of the sole and the fact that the instep is completely integrated with the rest of the shoe are evident.

Once the correct pressure is applied, the perfect rigidity of the sole and the fact that the instep is completely integrated with the rest of the shoe are evident. On the ground, a slight flexion of the shoe is perceived in the middle, between the two stiffer tongues. Surprising. But in fact, when comparing them with any other model, it is easy to see that this same type of slight flexion is present, while being distributed over the entire upper. This helps prevent tendon injuries by offering a small angular freedom of the foot necessary when transitioning from a seated to an out-of-the-saddle position, for example.

When the shoes are clipped into the pedals, no foot slippage is perceived in the shoe, with the sensation of being completely glued to the heel and being completely one with the upper and the sole. While we could not precisely measure the gain obtained at maximum power, Specialized claims an advantage of one bike length at the end of a 300-meter sprint. Difficult to verify, but what we can say is that even climbers will find them beneficial: on steep climbs, aggressive accelerations show no loss of energy, with a very effective and stable heel lift. A sensation of support that is also found on longer climbs, with a softer gear, as long as you are used to pulling on the pedal after the bottom dead center of the pedaling cycle.

Even with a very firm closure, no pain or tingling appears after several hours in the saddle, at least on the top of the foot. When wearing shoe covers, it can be more complicated to find the right closure at the front, for the best balance between good support and comfortable toe spacing. As the S-Works Ares are rather well ventilated and the mesh part extends to the tips of the toes, they expose a little more to the cold than the S-Works 7. But without shoe covers, and even better in the confined space of an apartment on an indoor trainer, they appear very easy to adjust and offer both excellent ankle flexibility and excellent support. The distribution of the closure and the internal bootie suggest a very pleasant wear in mid-summer. At the heel, the internal padding with a bulge that pinches the lower part of the ankle is also very comfortable.

The finish is of excellent quality and promises excellent durability. But obviously, the mesh part of the bootie is exposed to dirt. Even if it cleans quite easily with a small soft brush immediately after a ride in wet conditions, it tends to turn a little gray. And it remains exposed to hydrocarbon stains.

Priced at €419.90, the S-Works Ares are expensive (€40 more than the S-Works 7) but compared to many models in this price range, they really seem to offer something in terms of support, performance and comfort. This new stylistic exercise from Specialized shows in any case that shoes are now an integral part of cycling equipment and that they can be much more than just clothing for those seeking ultimate performance.

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