Specialized 2FO Roost Flat - Unisex Review

The 2FO Roost Flat quickly became one of our tester's favorites thanks to its grip, comfort, and breathability, all at a great price point. Specialized uses their new SlipNot™ ST (Super Tacky) rubber on the sole with hexagonal lugs that provide fantastic grip on the pedal. The suede, leather, and textile upper is incredibly comfortable and breathes fairly well. The EVA foam midsole absorbs the trail without being overly stiff. This shoe offers functionality for all types of riders on various adventures.

Performance Comparison

Grip

The SlipNot™ ST rubber on the outsole is one of the grippiest rubbers we have tested, inspiring confidence on various trails. Our pedal pins stuck into the shoe's soles and stayed even on the rockiest and rowdiest climbs and descents. Unlike other shoes tested, we could always maintain contact with our pedal.

The hexagonal-shaped tread pattern works well with our Chromag Scarab pedals. The edges of the tread knobs grab the pins, and they seem to fall mostly into recessed areas on the sole, providing a secure interface between our pedal's pins and the shoe's sole. The SlipNot™ ST rubber is supple enough to let the pedal pins sink in, and our foot never slipped on the pedal, as opposed to shoes with harder rubber soles where the pins would occasionally slip against rubber.

The only drawback to having such a good grip is that repositioning your foot on the pedal requires some thought, as your foot can slide off. A slight lift of the sole releases it from the pedal pins.

While scouting lines and sessioning sections of trail, the SlipNot™ ST rubber grips very well, especially on limestone and sandstone slick rock, even when the rock is covered in moon dust. While walking laps at the bike park, we found we had to weight our feet and dig in a little deeper to gain traction due to the shallow depth of the sole tread. The tread pattern, unfortunately, does not offer much grip when conditions are muddy.

Comfort and Protection

The 2FO Roost Flat is described as a relaxed fit and decent comfort. The uppers are constructed of textile and suede/leather, which becomes more supple as the shoe breaks in. Despite being a relaxed fit, we would describe the shoe's fit as medium volume. These shoes are a unisex model, and they are sold in European sizes 36-49 with half sizes between 38 and 47. Our female tester wears an 8.5 women's shoe, equivalent to an EU 39.5. We noticed this shoe runs a little small, so our main tester sized up to EU 40, which fit perfectly. As with most suede, there is some stretch over time as the upper loosens up. Initially, we had some pressure in the toe box because we laced the shoes a tad too tightly. With a looser lace, this went away, and after wearing the shoes for three rides, the suede began to stretch a bit and conform to our foot. This resulted in an incredibly comfortable fit for wide and narrow feet.

The inside of the shoe is lined with XPEL Airmesh, designed to absorb impact similar to padding, and it has a Body Geometry footbed. Our tester has relatively flat feet and found the footbed to be comfortable, with no issues with the feel or shape of the footbed. The heel cup is deep enough to ensure your heel stays in place, even on hike-a-bikes.

Looking at the shoe, one can see that it is more minimalistic in its design and lacks significant foot protection. Most of our testing was on very rocky trails, and on more than one occasion, we felt the impact of rock strikes on the foot. There is a bit of rubber above the toe box, which protects the front of the toes, but no additional materials aside from the XPEL Airmesh lining for protection. The tongue is padded but not bulky by any means and falls just forward enough of the ankle not to be uncomfortable or a distraction. In general, we feel the shoe offers enough protection for most riding, but those seeking true protection may want to look at some other models in our review.

One of the few downsides of this shoe is the incredibly long laces compared to the size of the shoe. We had to double-knot each shoe to take up the extra lace so that it was out of the way, even with an elastic lace retainer built into the shoe's tongue.

Rigidity and Power Transfer

The midsole of the 2FO Roost Flat offers a nice level of rigidity and power transfer which dampens all but the chunkiest of trail vibrations while remaining comfortable to pedal and walk in, a combination that is difficult to find. The shoe flexes for walking comfortably and is stiff enough to provide good power transfer to the pedals.

Throughout our testing, we powered up steep, chunky, technical sections of the trail with relative ease. The shoe's medium volume prevents the foot from sliding around, which aids in power transfer, especially on technical climbs. The heel pocket is deep enough to secure your heel in place.

There were a few occasions while descending extra chunky descents where we felt discomfort in our feet from the trail vibrations. However, it was not enough to make our feet sore or cause pain, and they quickly recovered once the descent was made. The sole flexes enough on the pedal for superb sensitivity, yet the shank and midsole are stiff enough to offer underfoot protection. During testing, we could feel just enough of the pedal and were never left searching for that perfect foot placement.

Breathability

The uppers of the 2FO Roost Flat combine textile and suede leather with perforations in front of the laces on the toe box and along both sides of the midfoot. These small perforations do a surprisingly good job of allowing airflow into the shoe. The airflow through the side perforations is very pronounced on windy days on wide-open trails. Even on 80-degree days in the desert, these shoes breathed well, and our socks were only marginally damp after riding.

The Xpel™ Airmesh lining is designed to decrease drying time, which is great for riding in wet conditions. It also helps moisture from your feet dry quickly after a ride and helps the shoe to dry overnight after a wet ride. Overall, breathability is good, and we recommend this shoe for warmer days on the trail.

Durability

Despite having a lightweight upper, the suede upper is incredibly durable. At first, we were skeptical of how well the suede uppers would hold up in dusty, rocky desert conditions with the occasional creek crossing. After years of use, they are still in great condition, despite being quite dirty. Over time the suede has bagged out, creating a looser fit through the toebox. However, the uppers, sole, and toe rand are well bonded, with no loose or fraying stitches.

The outsoles are starting to show wear with some scarring from the pedal pins, but no missing chunks of rubber. Overall, we are impressed with how well the soles are holding up.

Weight

The 2FO Roost Flat weighs 669 grams for a pair of size EU 40/US 7.5. It is a midweight shoe that feels lightweight. As a result, they are a great option for trail and all-mountain riders who don't require the most protective performance.

Should You Buy the Specialized 2FO Roost Flat?

The Specialized 2FO Roost Flat is a great pick for general trail riding and those with a wider forefoot. The suede uppers are comfortable and stretch over time, conforming to your foot. However, the suede uppers, while durable, tend to stretch out over time causing lateral movement in the forefoot. Additionally, you may want more midsole absorption if you live in an area with many high-speed rocky or rooty descents. We love the SlipNot™ ST outsole rubber, which has excellent grip on various pedals, and the EVA midsole absorbs the trail adequately, making them a good choice for most types of riding.

What Other Women's Flat Pedal Mountain Bike Shoes Should You Consider?

The Giro Latch Women's is another great pick for cross-country or trail riding. The Mute Foam midsole easily absorbs trail chatter, and the Tack Rubber outsole stays glued to the pedals yet allows for easy foot adjustments. If you're looking for a shoe similar to the 2FO Roost Flat that offers a different fit or more midsole absorption, we recommend looking at the Latch.