Pearl Izumi Women's Alp-X Drift II Shoe

Relaxed trainer-like shoes offering all-day comfort with pedalling performance and the ability to walk more normally than a flat footed duck are a sought after commodity if you like touring, and are just as useful for casual around-town errands or weekend café rides.

It's a bit of a personal quest of mine to find a shoe with just the right balance between comfort on and off the bike mixed in with a decent level of stiffness to maximize ride efficiency. The trickily named Alp-X Drift II from Pearl Izumi ticked all the boxes on paper. Factor in the fact that they actually looked good too, not like a couple of bricks with laces like many mtb/touring crossover shoes and I was keen to try them.

You could be forgiven for thinking that the Alp-X Drift IIs were just a cool pair of ordinary trainers, rather than a bike specific shoe, such is their general overall prettiness (yes, I'm a girl. Deal with it, these things are important). Predominantly mesh uppers (apart from a more rugged toe area) mean they're not for winter use, or indeed if you're expecting prolonged periods of rain, but if you're expecting a long dry spell, or for hot weather day rides, the mesh is a good thing. The lacing system is a single handed pull lace and there's a neat little hook on the end of the loop to secure it to the front of the shoe, minimizing the chances of getting it stuck in the drive train. The sole is a chunky rugged trainer-type sole, with plenty of tread for walking, but capable of taking MTB-type cleats. There's a wodge of seriously cushy padding at the heel too.

In wear, they were incredibly comfortable, with the padding at the heel making them excellent for all day wear. Walking was a breeze, with little or no protrusion of the cleat beyond the confines of the tread and yet this didn't interfere with the ability to clip in and out of the pedals at all. My walking gait was refreshingly normal. The sole was surprisingly stiff for such a lightweight shoe, offering a decent level of pedalling efficiency, although obviously there's always going to be some small compromise with a casual shoe of this type.

There was no evidence of aching feet from shoe flex or of hot spots under the foot, so there was a good balance of stiffness and support. The mesh was enough to see off small stones and the like, and the ventilation it offered was excellent, with feet remaining a good temperature even in hot conditions.

I probably wouldn't choose them for wet weather, although, in fairness, they would drain very quickly and dry out faster than shoes with more solid uppers. The single handed lacing was neat and quick to use. Sizing is very slightly on the small side, but not a huge amount. I'm normally an EU38.5 and the 39's were spot on, with a good medium width and volume.

£80 may seem a lot for a pair of low key riding shoes, but when you consider that most walking and outdoor shoes are around that price and more, it's not bad. They'll last a good while and are the sort of shoe that could quickly become your go-to riding shoe.

Verdict

An excellent compromise between on and off bike comfort and performance and a good looking shoe.