PEARL iZUMi X-ALP Launch Cycling Shoe - Men's for Sale, Reviews, Deals and Guides

9.0
out of 10
2 Positive, 0 Mixed & 0 Negative
from 2 Reviews
Retail Price:
$99.95
Used Value:
$59.97
Sale Value:
$89.96

Beyond the trails most traveled lay miles of untouched hero dirt, undulating berms and chunky rock gardens waiting to be tamed, and with the Pearl Izumi X-ALP Launch Mountain Bike Shoes you can take your place as the Matador. These kicks give you the confidence you need to conquer the wild backcountry, and with the stiff composure, confidence, and tacky grip that you need to keep locked into the bike while you push further beyond your limits. This unyielding support comes largely from the bonded, seamless uppers that hug your foot into place, and stiff soles that give you true security while you book it up winding deer trails on bike, or on foot, diving into your adventure.

The X-Alp Launch combines the best of both worlds, with a stiff sole for direct power transfer, and serious grip that locks your footing into the trail when you're off the bike. Its built with an EVA midsole that cushions blows from sharp rocks, and a dual-compound Vibram Megagrip outsole that holds true to the dirt under foot. The lugs are designed with open an chevron shaped pattern, directionally placed to give you braking power in the heel, and propelling power in the toe while maintaining surefooted grip. Even the pedal zone features Vibram Megagrip with siping to keep mud away to help your sole lock into the pins without slipping in sketchy hair-pin turns.

Specifications

Brand:
Claimed Weight:
[size 42] 340g
Closure:
lace
Manufacturer Warranty:
lifetime
Midsole:
EVA
Recommended Use:
enduro, trail
Sole:
dual-compound Vibram Megagrip
Upper Material:
synthetic

Full Reviews

10
This shoe had mixed reviews, some said that sole lack of grip on flat pedals and others said that the grip was fine. It was also reported that the shoe was too narrow and you need to size up. I have always used the Five Ten shoes for mountain biking because they have good grip on flats but they are too wide for me and they are also heavy. So I thought it was time for a change, I have a narrow foot and I did note some complaints about the shoe being narrow, so that is great for me, my only concern now is the lack of grip on my pedals. When I got the shoes and tried them on, the fit was perfect but if you have a wide foot you may want to steer clear. So my next test is the grip, I used these shoes now over 50 miles of rough single track without any problems, sometimes my Five Tens had too much grip, even getting my foot stuck at times and it is also hard to adjust the position of my foot. With the X-ALP Launch shoe there is less grip and its not hard to move your feet on the pedals but my foot never slipped off unexpectedly under power or during an assent. Let me add that I have the One Up Components flat pedals, they have long pins, if you have a pedal with short or worn down pins you may slip some with these shoes. They work for me but maybe not for everyone?
Jennifer Young, backcountry.com
August 20, 2019
8
Although these shoes are the stickiest out there, they certainly do a great job. The Vibram dual-comp megagrip soles make for a great surface to connect to your flats while still giving you some traction for walking the trails if needed. They are light enough and nimble enough to make it feel like you don't have lead weights on your feet, but not so light that you lose any confidence in the shoe. My only complaint is the toe box is slightly narrower than my FiveTen Freerider Contact Shoes so I would recommend sizing up at least a half size if not a whole size if you have a wider foot. Overall the shoes are great and very impressed with them straight out of the box. Two thumbs up and would recommend to a friend and all that jazz.
Kyle Laudenslager, backcountry.com
April 27, 2018