Pearl Izumi X-Alp Summit Review: Colorado Trail-Worthy Shoes
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- Опубликовано: 8 июл 2024
- Over the last three months, Neil has thrown a little bit of everything at the Pearl Izumi X-Alp Summit Shoes. They've endured simple day rides, the 530 mile Colorado Trail, and everything in between. I this video review, Neil details their characteristics, pedaling performance, hike-ability, and their overall durability after 200+ hours of use...
Outline
Intro: 0:00
Support & subscribe: 0:39
What's in a bikepacking shoe: 1:05
Sizing: 2:05
Anatomy: 2:31
Pedaling: 3:41
Walking: 4:42
Durability/Structure: 6:44
What would I change: 7:53
Pricing and availability: 8:30
Mentioned Links:
PEARL IZUMI X-ALP LAUNCH SPD REVIEW - bikepacking.com/gear/pearl-iz...
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Thank you for this review. Got my pair yesterday. I’ve been avoiding clipless because my feet are big and flat and I never have enough room in the foot box. These are perfect. Taking them on the Appalachian Gravel Growler.
Ordered this week before I watched the video. Feel better about the purchase after watching the review. Thanks.
Have had these for 6 months and they have been perfect for my weekend bikepacking trips, as well as general trail mountain biking.
very thorough and very helpful as to what to look out for in a shoe. Thank you
LOVE these videos and finally joined Bikepacking Collective tonight to support. Well done - keep up the great work.
BO, we love you! thanks for the support, it truly means the world.
Sold! Thanks for a stellar review!🇨🇦
Intéressant ce test ! Merci :)
Thank you. Great review.
Perfect timing. This video popped up on my feed tonight as I was searching for a new pair of shoes. The X-Alp Summits were top on my list, and after watching this video I am ordering a pair (they are also on sale now as well at Pearl Izumi)
You will love them, interesting on the sale, I hope they are not discontinuing them.
I picked up a pair of these when I did the Gila River Ramble in AZ. Defiantly my favorite clipless shoe so far and comfortable out of the box.
Yeah, thats a good point that I did not mention, because it was not a concern. These shoes have zero brake in period, the fell wonderful right away. Thanks Craig!
Hi Craig! I'm the guy who rode with y'all in the morning on day 1 of the GRR, I think I'm going to buy these shoes too.
Appreciate the review. Pretty much made the decision for me.
Rocking the Magnum PI look Neil - keep up the great work! :)
I hope to find some better shirts down the road.
Had the same experience with these on the CTR. Held up extremely well. If you are willing to pony up an extra $50 you can get half sizes in the x-alp elevate model. Only real difference I noticed was the color change and addition of a second BOA.
Good point, I was wondering if they are any more stiff. Perhaps I need to try them.
Got these shoes because they were reviewed so highly. They were falling apart on me by day 3 of the AZT this year (vibram sole flaking off, boa snapped, toe box separating, 3/4 shank popping through the bottom of the sole). I was shocked and relieved they got me to the end of the ride! I wasn't the only person who's x alps completely fell apart. I wonder if the quality deteriorated recently with the Shimano selling Pearl Izumi? Also they have terrible customer service and they are actively removing/ not posting low reviews ( notice how they only have 4 & 5 star reviews on the site). I would recommend steering clear!
I'm considering buying this shoe, that's how I found this video looking for reviews. In winter, I insulate my cycling shoe with a layer of Insul-Brite insulation. It's a thin fabric that I trace the shape of my insole and cut so they match. Slide the Insul-Brite into the shoe first then the insole on top. It's very very thin so it has little to no effect on how the shoe will fit but no there is a barrier in between your foot and the cold ground.
I've been using a pair of Giro Privateers with great success. They are probably better on the pedaling side of the spectrum than walking, but much more comfortable on the ground than a typical road shoe.
Great review Neil. Just wondering if you had experience on the X-alps Elevate shoe. That one looks more like a racer version of the Summit.
just ordered
I have the specialized Rime 2.0 and like them a lot. Very similar to these.
I tried the first edition Rimes, liked them, I think I’m due to try them again. Thanks
Same here, I went from the cheapest of Shimano SPD shoes which were miserable off the bike. The Rimes have been nice but seem to develope a weird clicking at the cleat. goes away if you grease the cleat (weird I know) glad to see other options
Reckon you can ask Alexandera Houchin to review her next pair of boots!?
It will be telling to see what she uses for the Arizona Trail in October, so that Grand Canyon hike is no joke.
I agree with the changes you mentioned in the conclusion, but there's a trade off right. Maybe these shoes are perfect for commuters and gravellers that have been avoiding going clipless. They probably have their place and have done it well.
I'd like to try them. I think I want about 7 stiffness, laces and grip like that. Any recommendations?
I know I’m just one data point in the grand scheme of things, but I got these exact shoes for Christmas this last year, and both of the soles split right at the end of the shank near my toe. This happened early this summer, so I had only used them for a couple of months. I live in Grand Junction, CO, so I end up doing some hike-a-bike on short steep slick rock occasionally, but never for very long. Again, I’m just one person’s experience, but I thought it was odd that it happened on both shoes in the same spot.
Thanks for sharing your experience. that's a shame, maybe a bad egg?
I had a similar experience. You're comment is very gracious. I don't think you are the only one.
Thanks for this review! It's a nice option and I'll consider it!
I've been thinking for a while about buying the Shimano XM9 shoes. Has someone got it? Does it worthy?
whoa, I totally love that shoe and I think you nailed all the pros of it. The only feature that scares me is the boa on the side. I've had shoes with boas on the side and completely destroyed with trail side debris. I carry a spare boa with me from now on. Any experience with that Neil?
I actually had the OG Launch II's when the BOA was in the middle, that was irritating because it never tightened down evenly.
I've used A few shoes now with side BOAs, the one time I ruined them was when I flew off my bike going 20 MPH in the middle of the night. My knee and one of the BOA's exploded, it was a rough night.
Are there any good bike packing shoes that can be resoled? I need a new pair with decent toe box width & height. Solid review as always.
Thats a good question, I know most of these shoes are made over seas, so I doubt they would. That being said, I know that there are some companies that do resole shoes, but I'm not sure if they work on cycling shoes. Thats a whole different game so it seams with the a clipless system.
Do you find the edges of the top of the tongue where it tapers from the padded area to the knife-edge very uncomfortable? They dig into the front of my ankles and i can feel the edges through my socks. Everything else about the shoes isn't comfortable except for the tongue. I'm tempted to slice off those annoying edges but fear the layers might split.
Hi! How do you compare the sizing from men's to women's on this shoes? I'm planning to buy one but the colorway that I want is on the women's size. Can you help me? Thanks in advance! 😁
You spoke a bit about insoles, but what’s the arch like? I have decent arches, but spend 80% of my life barefoot. When I do wear shoes they are minimalist, barefoot, zero-drop sandals, sneakers and shoes like Xero Shoes with a wide toe box. Everything else ends up hurting my my feet.
Hey there - so hoping someone can chime in with recommendations. Im torn between the X-Alp Summit paired with Shimano PD-EH500 pedals on my Surly Straggler. The majority of my riding is rail trails/neighborhood riding with kids but it also sees longer 50+ mile rides - culminating with a 65miler scheduled for June. Id like to find a shoe that is not out of place around the neighborhood but can also be comfortable over longer multi-hour rides as well. Im sure both options are large upgrades over my current Nike sneakers but Im unsure if the Launch SPD may be TOO soft for those long rides. I think both options are - at minimum - decent off the bike. Which of the two is the stiffer shoe? Or is there a better overall choice?
I have the same question. Weird that he goes to the trouble to make these videos and doesnt respond. Have you received any more info on this?
Thanks for the review. Do you have any quick notes on the difference between the launch and the summit models?
Summit has more tread and more reliable grip in wet conditions.
Launch has a roomier toe box.
Launch has more padding on the tongue
Seemingly the same stiffness
Launch looks better
Summit overall has better performance and if I could only pick one, it would be the Summit.
@@BIKEPACKINGcom Thanks, Neil. You're the man.
Do you think this would be considered a WIDE shoe?
Do they come in wide sizing options?
No, but with my narrow and rather short feet I realized there is much more room in this shoe to fill out.
Is that your cleat position for all riding or just for loaded bikepacking?
Yep, it allows me to point my feet inward a bit, which for me, is the most natural pedal stroke.
I have the same position on all my MTB and road shoes. Best foot position I've ever had.
I slide (or used to) my cleat all the way back too. I just switched to flats on my main bike, and I push my foot even further forward on the pedal, because that feels the most natural. Now when I try my old clipless setup, it feels like i'm on my tiptoes, even though the cleats are slid all the way back. 😁
Am i correct thinking that smaller size will flex less ?
In theory, that is a good assumption. Not sure if they change the shank flex based on size.
Altra King MT, sadly they are now discontinued.