Pearl Izumi X-Alp Launch Mountain Bike Shoes - SPD (For Men)

First time out was like an episode of Survivor. Glad I had these shoes. Lot of climbing with the bike on my back. Could not have done it with a standard mountain bike shoe. Wish they were a little more water resistant, but that's the trade off for ventilation.

Based on just two two hour rides, these are great shoes for me. Fit great, no weird pains, hotspots or slop. The sizing is a little different than my typical MTB shoes, Shimano. I ride 45.5 in Shimano and 45.0 in this shoe.

My riding is taking me to places I need to hike through. Walking in Specialized experts is not comfortable. I decided to try the Pi's as they were on sale. $130 is fair for these shoes. At $175, I'd have some buyer's remorse. The shoes are a huge trade off in stiffness and pedaling efficiency. I've worn Specialized for years and riding in the Pi's is actually working some new muscles because the pedal stroke is so different. I switched from a 520 pedal to an XTR platform which helps generate more contact and power. They are cushy on descents. Definitely feel the sneaker bottom. Buckle system seems ok, and easy to adjust. Shoes breath very well compared to Specialized design. It really is a sneaker with a cleat. Overall, I like them. Off the bike comfort is amazing. Feels so good to unclip and stand normal to stretch and walk. My feet and my back are happy. We'll see if they stand up to back country thrashing.

The shoes seem like very nice shoes. I tried them on and they were a bit tight. I bought size 43 since that is my usual size and reordered 45. I am excited to get to try out my new shoes. I am sure I will Love the loud bright color.

Just rode the Flume trail in Tahoe in these. Had to walk / carry the bike in a few sections (landslides, etc). Nice hiking tread, but they still seem to pedal well enough. My feet measure 9.5 us, and I have another pair of pearl izumi bike shoes in 44. 43 seemed too small, so i went with 44 in these.