Pearl Izumi mountain shoes - opinions?

[d_douglas]

I am thinking of getting a more functional pair of MTB shoes - has anyone ever used the Pearl Izumi X-Alps series? If so, do they tend to fit wide?

I wear a 46.5 MEGA Sidi Dominator that is snug but comfortable. I've heard the PIs fit wide, which might make these not work for me.

Any thoughts on them?

[gdw]

I've never used them but here are a few reviews of the various models:
low
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/mtb-apparel-and-protection/Shoes/pearl-izumi/x-alp-low/PRD_416049_144crx.aspx
mid
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/mtb-apparel-and-protection/shoes/pearl-izumi/x-alp-mid/PRD_417085_144crx.aspx
enduro
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/mtb-apparel-and-protection/shoes/pearl-izumi/x-alp-enduro/PRD_417086_144crx.aspx

http://www.bikepacking.net/reviews/shoes/pearl-izumi-x-alp-enduro/

You can search the MTBR.Com forums for more info or post your question there if you don't get the answers you need here.

Another option is Lake. They make some really functional shoes with vibram soles which are available in regular and wide widths. The 165's are a great shoe at a reasonable price and since they lack the buckle system so popular nowadays don't get jammed with ice, sand, or grit.

http://www.lakecycling.com/mountain-all-mtb-c-1_4_9.html

[d_douglas]

Reviews look good on MTBR - does anyone here use them?

I tried on some rubber soled Shimano ones today that cut into my feet like nobodys business. Not a Shimano man.

[d_douglas]

Does anyone know where to find the X-Alp Mid Goretex model in 46? Are these out of production?

They are what I am looking for, methinks...

[scooter]

I purchased a pair of PI X-Alp Low size 43 back in June directly from Pearl Izumi to use as a walk-friendly pair for a trip to Europe this summer. I read the reviews on MTBR and opted for these, even though they weren't goretex (not available). I have a medium to narrow foot and Sidis fit perfectly for me. I was wary of claims that these were "widish" but that isn't the case. In fact, I expected I'd need to use my running orthotics to take up the wider last of the X-Alp Lows but that wasn't the case.

I just compared the removable insoles from my Sidis and the PIs and they're almost identical in width and length. The removable insole measures a shade over 3.5 inches or 9 cm in width at the ball of the foot for size 43.

The PI shoe itself proved to be quite versatile, even though I used my Sidi ergo 2's for most of my riding. I typically used them for in-town shopping or sightseeing. They are quite a good shoe for walking around and I even ended up removing the cleats to use for a trip into the Falun copper mine in Sweden. The surfacing in the mine was wet, muddy, and slippery but the shoes' tread handled it quite well.

[Mr Mack]

I use a pair of PI X-Alps to ride my mountain bike and I also road-ride in a pair of Sidi Genius, regular width. Both work well for my feet, the Sidi are a tiny bit snug and the PI are a tiny bit wide, mostly in the toe area. The lug sole on the PI's work great for the hike-a-bike sections. The downside of the PI's are they are a little heavy, in retrospect I wish I had bought the Sidi's as they are the best fitting / performing bike shoes ever (at least for my feet).

Carl

[palincss]

I am thinking of getting a more functional pair of MTB shoes - has anyone ever used the Pearl Izumi X-Alps series? If so, do they tend to fit wide?

I wear a 46.5 MEGA Sidi Dominator that is snug but comfortable. I've heard the PIs fit wide, which might make these not work for me.

Any thoughts on them?

More functional than a Sidi Dominator? In what way? I have the Dominators, and I don't see any functional areas in which they're deficient.

[d_douglas]

and I have worn them for ten years, but I also commute in them. Walking around doing errands, sitting in a restaurant for three hours, etc, etc., gets a bit uncomfortable.

Sidi's are fine when you are pedalling, but if you are off the bike (off road or in the city) they aren't the best.

Trust me, I still like my Sidis, but I want something that doesn't have a plastic sole for a change. Specialized makes some shoes that fit me very well, but . . . they are plastic.

[gdw]

Have you ever hiked in rocky terrain while wearing Dominators? Dominators are great shoes but plastic soles don't work too well on rocky hike-a-bike sections.

[palincss]

Here's my "running local errands, walking around and wearing street clothes and street shoes" bike:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2658/3762682913_6f4bf924cb.jpg

Those BMX pedals work just fine. They don't have the class of je ne sais quoi of these sexy white rubber French pedals that Harris sells,

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/images/pedals-lyotard-rubber.jpg

of course.