Specialized S-Works 7 Vent Road shoes review - supremely comfortable: these are better than the original S-Works 7

It’s not just the ventilation that’s been excellently executed, the mesh panels give a huge comfort boost too

Image shows Specialized S-Works 7 Vent Road shoes.
(Image credit: Andy Turner)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

A great shoe that does everything the S-Works 7 did so well - but even better. The ventilation and vented panels on the upper are a great improvement and the powerline sole, although rated 13 rather than 15 on the stiffness index, feels as stiff as ever and great for sprints and sharp efforts. They score 4.5/5 and only lose 0.5 due to price, although good deals are available online currently - with 40 per cent off, they are a certified 5/5.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Lightweight

  • +

    Supremely comfortable

  • +

    Stiff

  • +

    Well ventilated

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Some of the ventilation is lost with an arch support fitted

  • -

    Expensive (at retail price)

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Specialized is a brand that has been at the forefront of cycling innovation for decades, having been set up in California 48 years ago. Their big ‘S’ and ‘S-Works’ monikers adorn the likes of Bora-Hansgrohe, SD Worx, and Alpha-Vinyl Quickstep in the World Tour. 

Having expanded from tyres to bikes, and to now making a full range of anything you could possibly want to set out on a ride, Specialized now has a line in the best bib shorts, best helmets and best cycling shoes - not to mention the best road and the best gravel bikes themselves.

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