You’ve seen them on the feet of World Tour sprinters, and you’ve definitely seen the eye-watering price tag. The S-Works Ares 2 road shoe is one of those pieces of gear that triggers a lot of heated debate in the Saturday morning group ride. Is it a specialized tool for the 1,500-watt elite, or is it actually the most comfortable shoe Specialized has ever made for the rest of us? Honestly, it’s a bit of both, but the marketing hype often misses the actual reality of living with these things day-to-day.
Most people look at that triangulated closure system and think "stiff and painful." They assume that because it’s built for the chaos of a bunch sprint, it must feel like a medieval torture device for your arches. Actually, the S-Works Ares 2 road shoe is arguably a bigger leap in comfort than it is in pure speed.
Why the "Sprinter Shoe" Label is Only Half True
When Specialized launched the original Ares, it was branded as the "locked-in" monster for the likes of Sam Bennett. The sequel, the S-Works Ares 2 road shoe, doubles down on that security but fixes the one thing everyone complained about: the cramped, narrow feel of the original S-Works last.
Basically, Specialized used over 100,000 Retül foot scans to realize that high-performance shoes were historically too narrow. The new Body Geometry Last in the Ares 2 provides a significantly wider toe box. It’s a weird sensation at first. You feel totally clamped down across the midfoot—Specialized claims a 20% increase in contact surface area for the closure—but your toes can actually wiggle. This isn't just about feeling "roomy"; it’s about blood flow.
If you’ve ever finished a four-hour ride with numb toes, you know the struggle. By reducing forefoot pressure by a claimed 44%, this shoe solves the "hot spot" problem that plagued the older S-Works 7 and the original Ares.
Breaking Down the 7-Watt Claim
We have to talk about the "7-watt gain." It’s the number every reviewer loves to mock. Does putting on these shoes magically give you a 7-watt boost? Not exactly. That figure comes from a total system approach. It’s a combination of:
- The 1.5mm Varus Wedge (which tilts your foot to align the knee).
- The Metatarsal Button (which lifts the bones in your foot to prevent nerve pinching).
- The use of custom Body Geometry SL Footbeds.
If your alignment is already perfect and you're using high-end insoles, you might not see a "gain." But for the average rider whose knee wobbles like a drunk sailor under load, the stability of the Ares 2 heel cup and the arch support genuinely keeps your legs tracking straighter. That efficiency adds up when you’re on the limit.
The Real Cost of Peak Performance
Let's be real: $600 (or £479) is a staggering amount of money for footwear. For that price, you could buy a decent gravel frameset or a year's worth of nutrition and race entries. So, what are you actually paying for?
The materials are top-tier. We’re talking Dyneema-reinforced synthetic mesh that doesn't stretch even when you're pulling up on the pedals with everything you've got. The FACT Powerline carbon sole has a stiffness index of 15.0—which is essentially as stiff as physics allows before the shoe becomes a literal brick.
Living With the Ares 2
There are some quirks you won't find in the brochure. First off, getting them on is a workout. Because it’s a tongueless design with a "sock" construction, you can't just slide into them. You’ve gotta pull. Hard.
The new BOA Li2 dials are a massive upgrade, though. They’re aluminum, they look expensive, and they allow for micro-adjustments in both directions. In the heat of a ride, being able to click-click-click to tighten for a climb and then pop them back for the descent is a luxury that's hard to give up once you’ve had it.
👉 See also: Aaron Judge Topps Rookie Card 2017: Why the All-Rise Hype Still Holds Up
The Competition: Ares 2 vs. S-Works Torch
This is the question everyone asks. "Should I just get the Torch?"
The S-Works Torch is the all-rounder. It’s elegant, it’s slightly more traditional, and it’s a bit lighter (around 225g per shoe). The Ares 2 is heavier, coming in at roughly 263g for a size 44.
However, the Torch uses a more traditional tongue. If you have a high instep, you might find the Ares 2 more comfortable because the pressure is distributed across the top of the foot by those massive Dyneema straps rather than a single thin wire. The Ares 2 is for the rider who wants to feel "one" with the bike. The Torch is for the rider who wants a shoe that disappears.
Technical Reality Check
- Upper: Dyneema-reinforced synthetic mesh. It’s wipe-clean, which is great for the "Team White" colorway, but it does show scuffs on the toe box pretty quickly.
- Sole: FACT Powerline Carbon. It's ridiculously stiff. If you have sensitive feet, you must use the right footbed, or you'll feel every vibration from the road.
- Closure: Dual BOA Li2. Metal dials, bidirectional adjustment.
- Alignment: 1.5mm built-in Varus Wedge. This is a "love it or hate it" feature. Most riders benefit from it, but if you've been professionally fitted to a flat shoe, you'll need to account for this.
Is the S-Works Ares 2 Road Shoe Worth It?
If you are a crit racer, a sprinter, or someone who just loves the feeling of an ultra-secure fit, yes. The stability is unmatched. You can literally pull against the upper of the shoe during a maximal effort and feel zero "give."
If you're a casual weekend warrior who mostly cares about weight and aesthetics, the price might be a bridge too far. But don't dismiss the S-Works Ares 2 road shoe as just a "stiff" shoe. The real magic is in that 44% pressure reduction. It’s a race shoe that actually acknowledges feet have different shapes.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your current insoles: Before dropping $600, see if a $50 set of Specialized Body Geometry footbeds improves your current shoes.
- Try the "Heel Test": If your current shoes have any heel lift when you stand on your toes, you're losing power. The Ares 2 heel cup is designed specifically to kill that lift.
- Size Up? Because of the sock construction, many riders find they need to go up a half-size compared to brands like Shimano or Lake. Always try these on with your thickest cycling socks.