Pearl Izumi P.R.O. MTB Shoes
Review: Pearl Izumi P.R.O. MTB Shoes
By Scott Mares | Published Nov 29, 2009
We Liked
Pearl Izumi is a great company that has offered shoes and apparel to the cycling community for over 60 years! At the helm of this great ship in the US is a good friend of mine, Jurgen Eckman. Having known Jurgen for over 7 years in Colorado, I can truly say that few people have the vision and foresight that he does. Furthermore, Jurgen has always been an active supporter of grass roots cycling and juniors development. Over the years, Pearl Izumi has been increasingly involved in cutting edge shoe technology and this year is not exception as they have taken another step in their evolution and mastery of the cycling shoe. I received a pair of the P.R.O. MTB shoes for evaluation and immediately tried them on. The first thing that came to my attention was the unique mesh vents that the shoe has. The P.R.O. MTB has the standard 2 velcro + 1 buckle closures along with 2 toe spikes spots for the included soccer cleats (key provided). The shoes are made out of synthetic leather, so they will wear extremely well and won’t shrink when they get wet. The MTB's are a little subdued, so if you are looking for a pair of flashy cycling shoes these are not the pair for you. Pearl's advances with shoe fit over the years has clearly paid off as the P.R.O. MTB's fit great. We evaluated a pair of 45's and they turned out to be a little too big. The shoes are stiff which makes them perfect for mountain bike racing! With the carbon soles, the rider can certainly get power to the wheels with these shoes. Overall, the P.R.O. MTB is a very lightweight, durable shoe with a stiff sole and unique metal mesh for breathability.
We Didn't Like
What I would change? I would design the shoe with a more anatomical foot bed. Trying on different shoes will give anyone a true appreciation of a well-shaped foot bed. Recommended upgrades would include adding more padding in the tongue of the shoe and providing additional buckle placements. The existing tongue is very thin, so providing more padding can make a big difference in the way it conforms to the rider's foot. Added buckle placements would provide more flexibility with the strap so that it can be moved up or down the strap pathway. This feature has already been implemented by other shoe manufacturers. I would also recommend an additional metal loop on the second velcro strap with a padded tab extending underneath it to prevent digging into the top of the foot.
The Final Say
If you are a mountain biker, get a pair as they will serve you well in the summer! Not so much if your a cyclocross racer as they are just too stiff for running in.
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Vitals
- Manufacturer
- Pearl Izumi
- Model
- P.R.O. MTB Shoes
- Website
- P.R.O. MTB Shoes
- Materials
Synthetic leather and carbon fiber
- Sizes
Available in sizes 36-48
- Colors
- Black with red and metallic silver accents
- Serviceability
- oe spikes and buckle are replaceable.
- Design
This shoe has a full length unidirectional carbon fiber mountain sole with a molded TPU mountain cage for durability and traction. Pearl Izumi's designers have included stabilizing high traction lug tips and a synthetic heel lining to prevent the foot from slipping out. They also included a new two position low profile buckle that is lightweight and offers greater adjustability.
By adding the direct vent technology, the P.R.O. MTB has superior breathability along with 2 big mesh ports near the toe box to keep the digits cool while training in the summer. Pearl has also utilized a one piece with minimal upper construction design to minimize weight, which is a very good thing as I personally dislike heavy shoes.
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