has anyone tried the pear izumi em trail and road n1?
has anyone tried the pear izumi em trail and road n1?
Ran in a pre-production version of the Trail N1, though I don't think they changed anything significant from my version to the final. Overall I thought it was a rock-solid shoe without any major deficits.
The fit of the upper is one of the most comfortable I've ever felt. Soft and has some give, yet still held my foot secure over most any trail. The midsole is soft enough to be quite comfy, but dense enough to not be mushy. The outsole has great coverage and traction, and the rock plate was enough to stop rocks from getting through. Their "dynamic offset" or whatever they call it seems like a marketing line, but the actual drop was a nice balance of not being too high or low for me. The midsole seemed to wear well, and after 500 miles it was still comfortable despite being compressed.
If I had to pick a disadvantage it would be the weight. While 10oz isn't heavy and the shoe didn't feel clunky, it also didn't feel light. When it comes to race day, I'd rather reach for a 7-8oz shoe that will get me through a race, rather than the Trail N1 which would be more of a luxury racer. For someone not used to training in racing flats, this probably isn't an issue.