50 years ago in Tokyo, Japan, Pearl Izumi (translated "fountain of pearls") was born out of necessity when a father began producing cycling apparel for his son, an aspiring athlete. The line has been taking a bite out of the American market since 1981, and in the last decade has become a name synonymous with triathlon. Their attention to detail and ability to dive into the mind of what age group multi-sport athletes really want, has put them at the forefront of the sport. We had the chance to preview some of their shoes from this season and next. Pictured are the women's colors, but all feedback is from both the male and female athletes we tested. Here's what we thought...

syncroFuel XC- Trail
The Details:
- Mild pronation control (I'm neutral and I didn't have any discomfort)
- Good traction
- Super comfortable, no rubbing or chafing
- Seamless race upper and breathable foot mesh
- Durable but lightweight enough for technical trails
- Comes in great colors and has 360° reflectivity
- Weight 9.6 oz.
- Heel/Toe offset is 12 mm.

The Experience:
I ended up using these shoes for trail runs but also found myself wearing them to the gym and on walks with friends. They're comfortable but not overly bulky. The size runs dead on so if you want a little extra room for wool running socks in the winter, I'd go a half size up. The toe box is ample for the average runner, but not overly generous. If you have wide feet, you'll want to try them on before you buy, and you may even want to size up as well. The arch is neutral and I even tried running with a heel strike (not that I condone the heel strike) and the heel crash pad was good and  cushy. Overall, a good trail runner.

 

Streak II- Race + Training
The Details:
- Seamless upper
- Energy Foam cushions return energy back to the runner
- Ortholite sockliner
- 100% recycled lace webbing and laces
- Heel/Toe offset 9 mm
- Weight 6.9 oz.
- Segmented forefoot

The Experience:
This shoe has had quite the overhaul since last year. Worn barefoot, I had no rubbing or chaffing and was very pleased with how comfortable they were out of the box. They've been stripped down making them feel super light (6.9 oz) and I loved how flexible they are; I felt like I was wearing socks. I have ended up using these for plyometric training, lifting, running and I even added some Yankz and did a few triathlons in them. They were great even with lateral movement. I really liked these shoes. The site recommends you buy them a half size smaller, but I had to go a full size; it will depend on your preferred race distance (because of swelling feet) and space preference.

isoTransition- Race + Training
The Details:
- Drainage holes in midsole
- Ortholite sockliner
- Energy Foam cushions return energy back to the runner
- Blown rubber and EVA outsole combine for cushion and lightweight feel
- Quick lacing system
- Seam-free interior
- Weight 6.7 oz.
- Heel/Toe offset 9 mm.

The Experience:
This race flat was designed and developed by IronMan World Champion Tim DeBoom and it really shows. Comfortable out of the box, it molded to my foot and felt like I was running in a pair of moccasins. They were breathable on race day even in very hot whether and dried quickly when I stepped in a rather large puddle. I love the quick lacing system, saves a trip out to buy some, and were easy to slip into in transition. I have average feet and found the toe box just right, but if my feet were any wider, I'd have to rethink. I went a half size bigger than I normally do and there was plenty of room without being too sloppy. (Pearl has no recommendations on sizing up with this shoe so it could be personal preference.)

As with ANY race flat you can use them in training, but if you want to preserve them for race day, I would limit their use to few training days. Race flats are made to be light, not super durable (a fair trade I'd say) and a run every now and then to check for hot spots or chaffing is wise before a race, but thrashing them before your first Ironman is not recommended.

For more information about these and other Pearl Izumi products go to: www.pearlizumi.com or check your local triathlon shop.