PEARL iZUMi is well known for their cycling apparel that offer something for everything from new cyclists to professional cyclists. Their PRO line not only includes cycling kits, but also the Pro Road carbon cycling shoes which are positioned as a mid-level cycling shoe. The shoes have been part of PEARL iZUMi’s lineup since about 2023 but have recently received a new Iridescent Navy color. Retail price on the shoes is $260 with both a men’s and women’s specific options in sizes from 39-49 EUR. The shoes feature a perforated synthetic upper that is attached to a highly ventilated 1:1 PRO Carbon Power Plate outsole. PEARL iZUMi has utilized a BOA Fit System with dual BOA L6C dials and TX4 laces to make it easy to adjust the fit.
The PEARL iZUMi PRO Road shoes gain a new eye-catching iridescent color and retain the anatomical shaping and stiff carbon outsole.
| Retail Price | $260 |
| Rating | Design: A Closures: A- Comfort: A– Value: A |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 576 (EUR 44.5) |
| Likes | + Dual BOA dials for adjusting the fit + Eye catching color shifting iridescent color makes shoes stand out + Highly ventilated outsole for warm weather riding |
| Dislikes | – Minimal heel and toe pads to protect carbon outsole – Visible glue between the upper and outsole |
| Where to Buy (US) | PEARL iZUMi |
UNBOXING
The PEARL iZUMi PRO Road shoes come in a standard cardboard shoe box with bright black and yellow PEARL iZUMi branding printed on it. Inside the box you’ll find just the shoes with BOA tags on them and a safety pamphlet. Unlike higher-end shoes, there is no carrying bag to transport or store the shoes with.
FIT & FINISH
The PRO Road shoes are PEARL iZUMi’s mid-tier cycling shoes that slot between their top-of-the-line PRO Air shoes and the Attack Road shoes. As such, the shoes have a dual BOA closure system and carbon sole at a relatively affordable price point. PEARL iZUMi offers the men’s version of the shoe in three colors: black, white and the iridescent navy we have in this review. There are also three women’s specific colors: iridescent white, black and nightshade. The iridescent navy is a unique iridescent finish that shifts from dark green to purple depending on what angle the light hits it. It’s a unique color scheme that has a semi-gloss finish compared to Shimano’s S-PHYRE shoes which are glossy.
A matte black color is used along the center of the shoes and around the heel region to break up the shoes. Although we would have preferred a full iridescent finish, the design gives the one piece upper material a different look. The shoes have a synthetic upper with perforations along the front and sides for ventilation. It’s a one piece design with a seam along the rear and a separate tongue piece in the center. The tongue portion is a very soft and almost knit like material at the top and thicker padded design along the bottom. Most of the upper material is soft and flexible to eliminate pressure points with stiff material along the toe and heel. In fact, you can see the reinforced heel portion as it has a slightly raised section and feels stiff from the inside.
As far as closure system, the PRO Road shoes have a dual BOA Fit System with two BOA L6C dials which only have micro-tightening or a full tension release option. The top dial controls the ankle fit while the bottom has a two row design for the toe box. One interesting feature of the shoes is the TX4 Lace which is a soft fabric like material instead of a stiff plastic lace found on other shoes. This softer design combined with the padded tongue is intended to eliminate potential pressure points from the dials. One of the most unique features of the shoes is the carbon fiber outsole. These are marketed as 1:1 PRO Carbon Power Plate and have one of the most ventilated designs we’ve seen. Most of the outsole has been cut away with large shiny mesh ventilation regions in their place.
PEARL iZUMi claims this design optimizes the stiffness by placing material where it is needed and putting ventilation where it is not. Obviously, these are not a good shoe option for colder climates or wet weather as you would need a full overshoe to keep the water and wind out of the shoes. The shoes have a standard three-bolt setup with fore and aft adjustment that’s compatible with Shimano SPD-SL or LOOK Keo cleats with clear white indicators to help with cleat positioning. There is no visible carbon fiber weave, you have a flat black finish instead, which is probably a good thing as the thin rubber pads on the toe and heel won’t protect the outsole from scratches. Inside the shoe you’ll find a premium feeling foam insole with bright PEARL iZUMi branding. There are perforations along the front to help airflow through the shoes and a wrap around design on the heel for optimal comfort. While the insoles do not have an adjustable arch height, there is an interesting relief line to help the shoes bend around the arches.
ON THE ROAD
While we’ve reviewed and ridden with PEARL iZUMi clothing before, the PRO Road shoes were our first PEARL iZUMi shoes. Using the size guide we ended up with a recommendation of EUR 44.5 based on our Shimano EUR 44 size input and the suggestion that the shoes ran small. In hindsight, we would have gone with a EUR 44 to match other Shimano and Bont shoes we wear as the PRO road shoes were a bit large. As with Shimano, we found these shoes to have a nice wide toe box and supportive design. The dual BOA upper closures make it easy to adjust the fit while riding, but there is no micro loosening feature with these dials. Despite all the ventilation in the outsole, the shoes are also surprisingly stiff and provide excellent power transfer while sprinting or climbing.
The biggest complaint we have is that the shoes are almost too ventilated, on a cold morning you can feel the airflow so we’d recommend using these as summer or warm weather shoes instead. It’s a great choice for warm climbs as air can flow through the shoes and keep the bottom of your feet cool even at slow speeds. Also, the thin pads on the outsole mean the carbon sole get scratches with any sort of walking so you have to be careful. The iridescent color finish is also a nice touch with the shoes that helps them stand out and shift colors as you pedal. With their green to purple shift, it’s a great match for some bikes color schemes like Trek Amethyst.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the PEARL iZUMi PRO Road shoes to be well designed and competitive cycling shoes. PEARL iZUMi’s updated iridescent color scheme helps the shoes stand out in a crowded market place and offer a mesmerizing color shift while pedaling. The stiff carbon sole not only offers support, but it’s highly ventilated and lets air flow through the insoles to keep your body temperature regulated. With it’s dual BOA dials and soft upper construction, the shoes are also comfortable on short or long rides with no pressure points and a wide toe box to allow feet to expand. As far as negatives, we would have liked to see thicker and replaceable pads on the shoes and didn’t like the exposed glue between the upper and outsoles. That said, the PEARL iZUMi PRO road shoes offer a great combination of performance and value.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by PEARL iZUMi. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.