2FO (read: Foot Out Flat Out) is the name given to Specialized’s gravity-focussed shoes available in both clipless and flat-pedal versions. Unsurprisingly for a Californian brand, the upper is well ventilated, with perforated panels on either side. There’s very little padding around the toe-box, which can feel a little chilly on cold UK rides though the raised inner ankle affords some protection without impinging on the airy feel.
The sole uses their proprietary rubber compound, dubbed SlipNot. The rubber is arranged in a honeycomb style lattice, which is tightly packed in the centre of the sole, but opens up at the front and back. They grip nicely when walking over muddy ground, but the tightly packed centre tread doesn’t provide much mechanical grip on pedals. The sole is noticeably stiff for a flat shoe too. It feels a too much like its clipless brother and the uncompliant sole cannot conform to the pedal as it should. Add in the shallow tread of the rubber on the sole, the 2FOs were noticeably keener to bounce around and slip on the pedals than the other shoes on test. In direct comparison, they were the only pair that left us wanting for a gripper pedal. The stiff sole does help a bit when putting the power down.
Weight 968g
Price 135$
