Specialized relaunches its flat shoe lineup with bonkers Renaissance style photos

A selection of shoes and fruit on a table

Specialized's 2FO shoes have built a reputation for being some of the best MTB flat pedal shoes around. Today the brand is releasing an updated version of their 2FO Roost Flat shoe and introducing a new street/park style model, the 2FO Method. They've clearly had some fun with the Renaissance-style photoshoot for the new shoes too.

Specialized has definitely raised the bar as far as randomly themed gear launches go. More of this type of thing please bike industry! (Image credit: Specialized)

As well as the new footwear options, Specialized's chemical conjurers have been stirring the rubber compound cauldron and reformulating their SlipNot rubber, with the aim of making it grippier and improving vibration absorption.

The new shoes are just part of a flurry of Specialized gear announced today. The US brand has also just revealed its new Epic World Cup XC bikes, Dissident 2 full-face helmet, and a redesigned Purgatory tire range.

Expect to see Elizabethan style lace riding cuffs properly taking off in 2023. Oh and that's the Roost Flat Synthetic shoe BTW (Image credit: Specialized)

2FO Roost Flat Synthetic

Specialized has tweaked the existing 2FO Roost Flat shoes and rebranded them as 2FO Roost Flat Synthetic. The brand says the upgraded shoes are now lighter, faster drying, more protective, more durable and, as you'd expect from the name, fully synthetic.

Other tweaks come in the form of reinforced eyelets on the upper two pairs of lace holes and a foam core midsole to increase comfort. And while the Roost sports the new SlipNot rubber compound, the tread pattern looks exactly the same as the previous versions which worked very well.

They're available in two colors – Black and Dark Moss Green (pictured here) and come in sizes 5.5 to 14.5 US / 3.5 to 13.5 UK / 36 to 49 EU. Pricing is $120 US, £110 in the UK and the shoes are available right now. EU pricing TBC.

Ruffs and lace cuffs for the rough stuff? (Yep, that's the new 2FO Method) (Image credit: Specialized)

2FO Method

The new 2FO Method is by far the most casual-looking shoe in Specialized's MTB shoe lineup, but its street/skate/park looks belie a number of technical features.

Like the new Roost, it comes with a SlipNot outsole made using the latest rubber compound for maximum pedal grip. The canvas upper is designed to be breathable and prevent overheating, while a foam core midsole aims to combat vibration and better cushion the feet.

The Method comes in a wide range of colors – Black/Gum, Birch/White Mountains, and Black as standard, plus extra options direct from Specialized online and in its stores coming in White Sage/Forest Green and Birch/Taupe Spray.

The shoes cost $100 US, £79 in the UK and are available now in sizes 5.5 to 14.5 US / 3.5 to 13.5 UK / 36 to 49 EU. EU pricing TBC.