Along with the new S-Works Power with Mirror saddle, Specialized also released the new S-Works 7 Vent. The new version of their all-around race shoe aims to increase ventilation for hot summer days of racing while keeping ergonomics and comfort a priority.
Innovation is something Specialized has been known for, and they are always asking the question, “what do our riders need?” That is what helped drive the development of the S-Works shoe over the years and the lightweight S-Works EXOS shoe for days in the high mountains.
“At the Vuelta, the Tour Down Under, and Qatar, we see our riders making their own modifications to shoes for ventilation. We wanted to offer them something better,” says Ashley Sult, who leads development for footwear. “The pros are looking for this, but we didn’t want to give up anything to deliver a cooler shoe.”
The S-Works 7 uses perforated panels across the toes and tongue for ventilation, but it isn’t quite enough for the hottest days. Starting at the bottom, they already had a sole for the new shoe. With the EXOS, it was all about reducing weight. The new FACT Powerline sole removed sections of the carbon sole to decrease weight, but also keep it stiff and responsive. The new sole dropped from Specialized’s highest stiffness rating of 15 down to 13, which is still incredibly stiff. It also opened up plenty of ventilation that is perfect for the new Vent.
Next, they looked at the uppers. Many brands have gone the knit route for ventilation, but there can be some challenges with controlling the amount of stretch and absorbing water. Instead, they turned to Dyneema, a material that they have used in the past on the S-Works shoes. It’s lightweight, durable, and comfortable around the foot, but doesn’t stretch. To add ventilation, they added Dyneema Mesh to keep the same characteristics of the S-Works 7, but add the ventilation riders were looking for.
“I showed the shoe to Stybar,” says Sult, “and he simply said, ‘I would wear that at the Vuelta,’ so that affirmed we were on the right track.”
From there, it was all about making sure the panels were in the right places to provide optimal ventilation without sacrificing comfort, stability, or performance. It wasn’t just about getting air in, but also getting moisture out. Product manager for the S-Works 7 Vent, Stephen Quay, got creative in testing by using stick-on baby thermometers on his feet. Wearing a S-Works 7 Vent prototype on one foot and a production S-Works 7 on the other, he rode the local climb, Henry Coe on a 100-degree day. In testing, they found that the Vent was 3-4 degrees cooler than the S-Works and humidity was at 10% across the shoe, compared to 30-60% for the S-Works 7.
So all of this ventilation is accomplished by mesh panels at various parts of the shoe. There are panels across the top of the toes, along the inside of the shoes, on the tongue, and even small vents in front of the toes. The Body Geometry insole is even perforated to allow air in through the sole to the bottom of the foot, but still retains the Metatarsal Button to promote blood flow in your foot.
The rest of the shoe is made up of their PadLock™ heel to keep your heel planted and Body Geometry Longitudinal Arch and Varus Wedge to keep your leg supported and aligned from your hip to foot. For retention, the S-Works 7 Vent uses the same machined alloy BOA® S3-Snap dials as the S-Works 7 that loop across the top of the foot, but are slightly offset to help reduce any pressure points on the foot. There is also velcro strap across the toes for additional adjustment. On the sole, the S-Works 7 Vent uses titanium cleat bolts to keep things light and allow 5mm of adjustment front to back.
When it comes to weight, there is virtually no difference between the S-Works 7 and the S-Works 7 Vent. Coming in at 223g per shoe in a size 42, it is 1g lighter than the 7. Compared to the EXOS though, it is 83g heavier.
If colors are also a consideration, the Vent is limited to white currently on Specialized’s website, though pictures of an all-black version were supplied to media as well. The EXOS is also limited to white and black versions, but the S-Works 7 is available in seven different colors at the time of publication.
Price is another point. The S-Works 7 starts at $400, with the Vent commanding a $25 premium. The EXOS on the other hand, is a steep $500 for the brand’s lightest shoe.
In the end, it is all about what you are looking for in a shoe. If you want an all-out race shoe that is as stiff as possible, yet offers ergonomic features and colors, then the S-Works 7 is the way to go. If you are looking for the lightweight shoe, and are willing to spare a little bit of stiffness and a larger chunk of your wallet, then the S-Works EXOS is your choice. For many though, especially those in warmer climates, the extra ventilation is a huge selling point, making the S-Works 7 Vent a shoe to watch when racing starts back up.
Heckling Editor, Image Taker, Crash Test Dummy, and Beard Master at Bikeworldnews.com
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