Whether at home on the bike, at the gym or around town, Pearl Izumi’s men’s X-Road Fuel v5 shoe delivers pedalling performance and easy off-the-bike walkability. These all-rounders fit snug and tight, while still comfortable to wear.
The insole’s arch may be a bit too elevated for some feet, however you can remove and replace the insole with your own preferred liners (I did just that as I have wider, size 44 feet).
The bonded, seamless upper delivers all-day riding comfort and durability and dries quickly after a rain shower due to the highly breathable mesh/synthetic upper.
I love the shoe’s built-in lace garage, as it eliminates drivetrain interference, a nice touch that many comparable brands haven’t yet included on their shoes.
The X-Road nylon plate delivers great pedalling stability, power and efficiency with off-the-bike comfort and walkability (with a stiffness rating of 4).
These shoes are very sturdy and have a rubber-lugged outsole offering both good traction and resilience. They’re also SPD-compatible and click in just as easily as any other SPD shoe that I’ve used in the past.
These will surely become my go-to cycling shoes for commuting, short errands and rides around town year-round.
The Fuel v5’s come in Black/Grey and Rogue Red in sizes 39 to 49; CAD $97.50 to $130/USD $82.50 to $110
They’re also available in a women’s version, in two colour variations (currently both are on sale for CAD $97.50/USD $82.50 online).
We were sent the X-Road Fuel v5 shoes for the purpose of this feature. Opinions, as always, remain our own.
