Specialized 2FO Cliplite Shoe Review
April 6th, 2016
By Andrew Dodd in Reviews
Product Full Name | Specialized 2FO Cliplite
Retail Price | £130
Available From | Specialized UK
2FO Cliplite – a serious MTB trail shoe from Specialized
This is the Specialized 2FO Cliplite – the dedicated performance trail shoe from Specialized that’s aimed at the all mountain and Enduro market.
Whereas the 2FO Clip shoe is a little burlier and has that downhill feel about it, the Cliplite is a narrower and stiffer shoe – for better performance on the trail and when off the bike hiking.
The Details
Although they share the same name, the 2FO Cliplite really is vastly different from the other 2FO models.
Weighing around 80grams lighter than the 2FO Clip, the 2FO Cliplite is a noticeably narrower design and uses a twin Boa retention system instead of laces – and a single Velcro strap.
The upper is a smooth thermobonded design that keeps the muck out substantially better than the 2FO Clip, and although the tongue is exposed the tougher material keeps the weather out far better than the porous design on the lace up 2FO Clip.
The 2FO Cliplite has a solid toe box, and a very supportive heel cup, which given the slim line fit and minimal padding feel very protective.
The sole is also quite different on the Cliplite – it has a grippy tread design, and is fairly narrow given how robust the shoe design is. This means you can keep the shoe close to your cranks for comfortable pedalling on extended rides.
The cleat recess has nice long slots – 4mm longer than the traditional slots seen on shoes like the Giro Chamber. This will please the gravity biased riders out there.
Out on the Trail
From the second you slip in to the 2FO Cliplite, it becomes very clear that it’s a well thought out shoe. The fit is excellent, and the Body Geometry insole design supports your foot really well.
Although we’re not the biggest fan of the Boa system, Specialized have used it really well on the 2FO Cliplite. It’s possible to have the shoe immensely tight for pedalling efficiency – with no pinching or constriction of the foot.
The ultra secure fit works harmoniously with the sole, which feels stiffer than the regular 2FO model and has a great connection with the pedal. Though we tried the Cliplite with Crank Brother Mallet pedals, it really works best with the Shimano SPD system – the shoe contacts the pedal properly and there is no rock or wobble.
The long cleat recess helps you locate the pedal very well, and even in quagmire we could still clip in.
In poor weather conditions, the tougher upper material kept our feet drier for longer – but if dry feet is your priority you should look for a winter biased shoe. The Cliplite works admirably though and thanks to thin padding on the upper, dries fast and doesn’t develop that damp funk that most riding shoes earn in a few rides.
And it’s also much, much better off the bike than the 2FO Clip.
It’s not up there with aggressive soled XC shoes, but the shoe is more than capable of scrambling up banks in mucky conditions.
Despite reservations of the Boa system, I can only praise it so far. I did knock one of the units hard enough for it to come undone, but it wasn’t damaged. Specialized offer the Boa units as an aftermarket, and they happen to come in a variety of colours – should you want to go crazy bright or match your shoes to your steed.
We Say
Right now, the Specialized 2FO Cliplite is my favourite shoe for serious trail riding. It feel excellent on the bike – light weight, comfortable, efficient and tough. And it’s good off the bike too – the slightly wider heel that traditional SPD shoes makes for sure-footed walking.
The Specialized designers have done an excellent job with this shoe – the fact it works so well in a variety of conditions and with different clipless pedal systems pays testament to that.
If we manage to knacker a Boa, we’ll let you know how long it took – but until then we’ve been riding these non-stop. They’ve not even been cleaned since they turned up yet!