PEARL iZUMi X-Project P.R.O. Limited Edition Cycling Shoe - Men's for Sale, Reviews, Deals and Guides

8.6
out of 10
9 Positive, 0 Mixed & 1 Negative
from 10 Reviews
Retail Price:
$209.95
Used Value:
$125.97
Sale Value:
$188.96

Your new hardtail's lost a few more grams, you've been suffering on the trainer for months, and this year's kit just arrived. The only thing not ready for XC race season are your kicks. This year's podium ambitions necessitate a serious upgrade, so toss your old shoes and upgrade to Pearl Izumi's X-Project P.R.O. Limited Edition Men's Cycling Shoes instead. Boasting significant upgrades this year, this top-tier race shoe is adept at power transfer, but won't leave you hanging on a hike-a-bike stretch of trail either.

Pearl completely overhauled the X-Project's carbon composite sole this year, fine-tuning it to find the elusive balance between stiffness and flexibility that a shoe for the dirt requires. If you have a steady XC race calendar but a trail riding habit on your off days, this adaptable sole is the key to making the X-Project work for either ride. Of course, the carbon-tipped TPU lugs help out, as does the precise, wrap-like fit and highly customizable arch system. Now all that's left to do is to get to the start line.

Specifications

Brand:
Claimed Weight:
369g
Cleat Compatibility:
2-bolt MTB
Closure:
dual Boa IP1
Footbed:
1:1 insole system
Manufacturer Warranty:
lifetime
Midsole:
carbon composite, EVA heel
Recommended Use:
mountain bike
Sole:
carbon rubber tips, TPU lugs
Upper Material:
seamless composite

Full Reviews

10
These are great bike shoes! I did not really think of Pearl Izumi as a maker of bike shoes but these are the best I have owned. They are on the narrow side which is good for my feet. I wear men’s 10.5 and the 44.5 fit perfectly. Beyond the sizing, these shoes are great for 4 reasons: the two “boa” wheels give me extra ability to tighten to fit my feet perfectly. Having the boas on the top of the shoe is much better than the side which I tend to occasional wack into rocks on technical rides (e.g. Mr. Toad’s off Tahoe rim Trail). The soles are firm but not rock hard like the Sedi, which is much more comfortable for several hour rides but still very efficient, and the tread on the bottom of the soles is excellent for the tough rides with hike-a-bike climbs. I tried the Scott, Shimano and Sedi shoes - the Pearls are a winner!
Andy G, backcountry.com
September 6, 2020
10
Wow, I finally found a great shoe that actually fits my feet! I usually wear a 10.5 in running shoe, so Backcountry had a 44.5. Spot on for my foot. For comparison, I am right in between a 44 and 45 in Sidi MTB shoes, so these are really similar in size. These maybe a 'bit' narrower. The shoes come with insoles that allow adjustments to the arch support and forefoot. After some experimentation, I found these fit better than my running shoes (well, you know). The double BOA system is the same as on my snowboard boots. Super quick to get in and out. Expensive, but you get what you pay for here.
Brandon S., backcountry.com
April 29, 2020
2
Great looking shoes with good construction. Unfortunately, the shoe says 'unisex' on the box and it looks like a women's shoe in the width. I have an average foot width and it just hurts to put it on and will return them.
Scott H., backcountry.com
March 4, 2020
8
Excellent materials and construction on initial impression. The shoe appears designed for dry weather, non-dusty conditions. The BOA closure works great, but the design of the tongue/lacing area appears highly prone to trapping dirt and water. I am returning these for a MTB shoe with a ‘better seal’ to keep the crud out.
Ty W., backcountry.com
December 19, 2019
8
I upgraded to the X-Project PRO thinking they would be just as comfortable as my previous X-Project shoes. They are not. Though you have numerous ways to adjust this shoe, I could never get it perfect. I will downgrade to my old model next time around.
Gaines S., backcountry.com
August 5, 2019
10
First new shoes that I have bought in years. These run true to size. I wear an 11 US and bought a 45.5, exactly what the size chart indicated. I also have sort of wide feet and wear a full orthotic insole. The toe box is not tight at all, the dual Boa dials work near to perfectly, and the fit can be dialed in far better than any shoe that I have ever had in over 30 years of mountain biking. They are also comfortable right out of the box with no break in required. I rode 20 miles of tight technical single track on the first day in about 90 F and the shoes felt as if I had worn them all season! Absolutely love them...
James C., backcountry.com
September 5, 2018
10
These have instantly become my favorites. Now I am looking at the road version. Amazing in the hike a bike sections and even better on the bike. So comfortable out of the box
Gabriel T., backcountry.com
October 29, 2017
8
I really wanted to gell with these shoes because everything about them is what I want in a shoe. Sadly, they just felt too tight around the toes for me. Mine fit properly length wise. The Boa system was perfect. I’m not sure how much abuse the finish ion these will take. Two rides in the rocks and they were scuffing. Shame, otherwise a great shoe.
Barry Q., backcountry.com
October 28, 2017
10
I ordered half size bigger and it is perfect. I wear a 44.5 in the sidi wire vent mega (aka wide for siding normal for America), and got 45 in this shoe. Fit, features, and stiffness are on par with 450 dollar shoes and much easier to keep clean. Comes with extra fit pads for varus and also spikes. Perfect gravel and cross shoe. Also the free goat sticker and the great value make it a great win for my season. N+1, and happy riding, jake
Jacob O., backcountry.com
September 5, 2017
10
This shoe has many great features but the best one for me is the sole - it has a carbon section that is not like many road shoes. This carbon piece does not extend for the entire sole of the shoe The carbon piece is positioned under the cleat mounting section to distribute the load from the cleat/pedal interface. Many mountain bike cleats are small and the load can get concentrated under a small portion of your forefoot. With this one , it gets spread over a larger area and reduces the risk of having a sore foot. Why is the carbon piece smaller? It is so that you can not walk like Frankenstein when you are off the bike. The rubber that makes up the midsole is great because it provides some cushion, but it is not too soft - it is just right :) You can walk around easily and it also provides stiffness on the bike - ingenious. The heel cup retains your foot while riding as well. Probably the best feature of this shoe is the dual BOA enclosure. With the two of them, you can adjust the fit to just how you need it at any point in the ride. Too tight? Rotate the dials to loosen - no need to pop them back up, they are bidirectional. You just have to remember that the dial on the left is backwards of the one on the right :) I do not mean to sound like a shill, I am just thrilled with this shoe. I moved from a pair that was not that stiff in the forefoot and it resulted in some sore feet. Those shoes also had traditional strap and ratchet enclosures. This is a great shoe. Any downside? Maybe the lack of airflow, but that is a personal preference and with a mountain shoe - it is a tradeoff with getting water and trail/road debris in the shoe. Two thumbs up for this shoe!
Andy LaCombe, backcountry.com
August 17, 2017