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Bicycling Members from across the U.S. logged hundreds of miles in Specialized’s Torch 1.0 Road Shoes. Here is what they had to say.

With the Torch 1.0, Specialized dispels a widely held assumption that reasonably priced clipless road shoes need to be basic, black, and bulky. Here, we have a $120 road shoe with the sleek lines of a higher-end model, available in six attractive colors.

The closure on this shoe is a combination of a micro-adjustable Boa dial and a single Velcro strap at the front. The nylon-composite sole has a vent/drain hole in the toebox and rubberized gripper on the heel, and accepts three-bolt road cleats. Although Specialized offers the Torch 1.0 in an impressive size range—36 to 49—it does not include half sizes. I’ve had my Torch 1.0 shoes for over a year. In that time, I’ve used them for everything from long rides over mountain passes near my home in Colorado to Zwift Sufferfests in the depths of winter. The Torch 1.0 continuously impressed me with its comfort, supportive fit, and good sole stiffness.

Testers agreed that the Torch 1.0 is a sleek and attractive shoe out of the box. Some even gave compliments on the looks, and many were surprised by the shoes’ light weight. There were differing opinions on the Torch’s fit, however. Like many cycling brands, Specialized is moving away from gendered product sizing. With limited available sizes and widths, I was not surprised that testers had contradictory thoughts on fit. Some said the shoe was too narrow, while others said the shoe was too wide. However, most of our testers gave the shoes good marks for fit and comfort, which indicates that Specialized hit the middle. Testers also noted that the Velcro strap at the base of the tongue (intended to fine-tune forefoot fit) was little more than decorative and had minimal effect on fit—an opinion with which I heartily agree.

Most surprising was the positive feedback from testers who were using high-end shoes prior to riding in the Torch 1.0. Those testers came away wholly impressed with these shoes. That alone says a lot about how much value you get for $120.

Quick Tip: To prevent staining light-colored shoes, never pair them with dark-colored winter or rain booties.

‣ Height: 6' ‣ Shoe Size: 45 ‣ Color: White ‣ Avg. Weekly Mileage: 100 ‣ How I Tested: I am somewhat of a shoe snob and consistently use four to five pairs between on- and off-road riding. When Matt said we were getting Specialized shoes, my brain jumped to S-Works. So, when the Torch 1.0 name was tossed out…I wasn’t exactly thinking these would be my cup of tea. I was wrong. From the moment I tried them on, I found the style, fit, and finish to be excellent. You get intimate with a shoe while putting cleats on them, and these felt like an expensive shoe.

The arch and ankle support were great for my average-sized feet. The Boa dialed nicely and popped off easily for quick removal—honestly, faster than some shoes that cost three to four times as much. There was no noticeable flex while riding, even when sprinting. I’m not a big numbers guy, so hitting 800 watts was a big deal.

‣ Height: 5'8" ‣ Shoe Size: 47 ‣ Color: Maroon ‣ Avg. Weekly Mileage: 90 ‣ How I Tested: The matte maroon that I received is amazing. This specific color is a very attractive feature. I was surprised by how cushy they felt, and I enjoyed the significant but comfortable arch support. It may be too stiff for some folks, but I’m a heavy rider and it’s nice to get that stiff reaction from the sole when you’re punishing the pedals. After one month of riding a few hundred miles, I would say that they have loosened up a bit, which is a good thing.

These shoes are very breathable. I found this out on a cold (about 50°F) morning, but as soon as I put toe covers on, I was set. Due to their breathability, these shoes are great for Zwift. I had some really good indoor rides with them, and my feet stayed cool throughout one- to two-hour workouts. I’ll look forward to riding my Torch 1.0 shoes in the summer, no doubt.

‣ Height: 5'3" ‣ Shoe Size: 38 ‣ Color: Oasis ‣ Avg. Weekly Mileage: 150 ‣ How I Tested: On my first ride with these shoes, all I could think of was, “Oh, the toebox!” These have so much room for my toes! I wore toe covers on the second ride, and the dye from the Pearl Izumi covers bled onto the seafoam green exterior of the shoe, so there looks to be a watermark on both shoes.

After 15 hours of riding, I felt some pain in my feet, so I opted to put an insert into the shoes. The shoe fit more snugly, and my heel was raised a bit without slipping. I also went to a bike fitter to help me with the positioning of the cleats. This turned out to be a good idea! I learned that Specialized shoes have a varus wedge in the front part, and that my feet are on the flatter side and would benefit from this wedge. The fitter shifted the cleats and raised my saddle. The bike and shoes felt great afterward.

‣ Height: 5'5" ‣ Shoe Size: 39 ‣ Color: Tropical Teal ‣ Avg. Weekly Mileage: 60 ‣ How I Tested: Right out of the box, these shoes surprised me by how light they are. The shoe appears very high-end, although I believe this is an “entry-level” shoe. I didn’t care for the teal color I was sent, but it gradually grew on me.

I have small feet and narrow heels. For this reason, I have only purchased Italian cycling shoes, but these are an excellent fit. The Boa works intuitively, and it nicely snugs the foot without any hot spots, something I have trouble with because of my bony feet. As I put more miles into these, they did stretch a little, and I needed to dial the Boa down a little more on each successive ride. Nevertheless, the fit remained excellent.

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