They were heavy and pliable and beginning to hold me back. It was time to get some new shoes and replace the old Cannondale MC610s I had been wearing for the past two years. So I set off to Spokes to see if I could find a new pair of shoes that would solve these problems.
I had seen a review in one of my cycling mags about the 2005 line of Specialized shoes a couple of months ago that was favorable. They also looked good so I had it in my mind that I would try Specialized first before others.
Spokes had most of the Specialized line so I was able to compare and contrast the Comp MTB 
against the higher-end Comp Carbon MTB and Pro Carbon MTB models. Each of these shoes looked good so they all passed the beauty contest. Next I looked at the prices:
- Comp MTB = 109.99
- Comp Carbon MTB - 159.99
- Pro Carbon MTB - 199.99
Not that I am loaded, but I am willing to pay more for something when the value is clearly noticeable. In this case, however, there were only minor differences between the shoes (as far as I could tell) causing me to zero in on the Comp MTB at the low-end of the price range.
The Comp MTBs are fairly light (796 grams), the soles are stiff, and yet they are comfortable. I have worn them for several rides now and have the following observations:
- It is much easier to clip in to my SPD pedals then with the Cannondale shoes. This is due to the fact that the sole of the shoe is very open and only has cleats or spikes around the perimeter of the shoe.
- I no longer feel like I have lead weights on my legs.
- My pedaling style has become more aggressive because my foot no longer bends under force. The sole stiffness does translate into better acceleration.
- The soccer style toe cleats do help bite into the ground when hiking up a steep hill.
- The ratcheting buckle insures a snug fit.
- I have ridden on several hot days and have not noticed any excessive feet sweating and the shoe remains very comfortable throughout the ride.
On the down side:
- The shoes have a profile more like road shoes than mountain bike shoes so walking is more difficult as the cleat protrudes from the sole farther than many flatter shoes.
- The inside rear end of the shoe is constructed with ballistic nylon type material instead of a more rigid plastic or carbon material. As a result, I have already torn some of the material against the front chain ring.
Overall, I would say that the Specialized Comp MTBs are a good value compared with many of the lightweight cross-country shoes on the market. One note, these shoes were redesigned in 2005. A quick review of the MTBReview forums shows that most of the user posts were based on the older 2004 model.
