Shoe Of The Week: Pearl Izumi EM Road N2 v3
A versatile everyday trainer with a responsive ride.
Pearl Izumi continues to make strides with its line of road running shoes and it’s quite evident with the latest edition of the N2. It has improved the cleanly designed seamless uppers with 3-D print technology for a structured foot hold and added reflectivity. The third round of the N2 also offers an improved ride well-suited for longer training runs yet responsive enough for tempo training. The shoe would even fare well on a marathon course for those lighter on their feet. This neutral road shoe features a proprietary foam that is both dampening and resilient, combining desired qualities seldom found in trainers—the midsoles of which are either marshmallow-like luxury loafers or rigid, barren boards.
The N2 uses Pearl Izumi’s E:Motion midsole, a biomechanically tailored rocker-like shape that uses an offset built for neutral running form. One tester indicated it may not be ideal for those who pronate enough to warrant using a shoe with motion control. To make the N2 more durable Pearl added a carbon rubber crash pad for the majority of runners who land toward the rear of the foot.
This is the shoe for you if … you’re looking for a versatile everyday trainer with a responsive ride.
Price: $120
Weights: 9.8 oz. (men’s size 9); 8.3 oz. (women’s size 7)
Heel-Toe Offset: 8mm; 27mm (heel), 19mm (forefoot)
Info: Pearl Izumi.com