Pearl Izumi EM Road N1 v2 Shoe Review

One of the go-to shoes in my current rotation is the Pearl Izumi EM Road N1 – a very dependable shoe that offers a balanced ride in a super comfy package. I reviewed the original Road N1 last Spring and am currently logging solid miles on my third pair. Earlier this year I was lucky enough to be selected to represent Pearl Izumi on their Champions Team, and, as part of their welcome package I received a pair of the updated-for-2015 EM Road N1. I haven’t seen too much information online regarding the latest version, but they’re now readily available for purchase at several of the popular online stores.

I’ll kick off the review by attempting to explain the somewhat-odd naming convention of the Pearl Izumi EM lineup. EM stands for “E:Motion” in their Project E:Motion collection, which is characterized by their unique dynamic offset technology. According to Pearl Izumi, “most running shoes utilize a static offset, while Project E:MOTION delivers a smoother sensation with an ever-changing heel to ball-of-the-foot offset throughout the stride”. The N in the N1 stands for “neutral”, which means there are no stability features in the midsole, and the 1 signifies there is minimal cushioning in this particular shoe.

The Project E:Motion Road collection also features 2 other neutral shoes (N0 and N2), a couple of M shoes (M2 and M3) with midfoot pronation stability and the H3 with rearfoot pronation stability. Add to the mix their Triathlon and Trail shoes, and it all gets a little bit complicated when you first start looking at their range, but kinda makes sense once you get to grips with their methodology. If you are confused, the following graphic might help explain things! [Feel free to click the image to open a bigger version.]

Pear Izumi Footwear Collection
Pear Izumi E:Motion Footwear Collection

Anyway, enough about the name, what’s new with the shoe, and is the v2 update anything to shout about?

Official Updates:

  • New 3-D Seamless upper adding lightweight strength and stability.
  • New transfer dry spacer mesh that helps keep the feet cool and dry.
  • New Dynamic offset-shaped E:Motion midsole is biomechanically tuned for a neutral to supinator running gait.
  • Blown rubber in the forefoot and carbon rubber in the crash pad combine for great cushioning and abrasion resistance.

The updated N1 is a great looking shoe, thanks in part to the new seamless upper which is even more stripped down than the previous model. The original N1 featured a thick strip of leather from the top lace eyelets to the bottom of the shoe heel – this has been eliminated which no doubt contributes to the 2 oz weight difference between the v1 and v2 models. For the record, my size 9.5 v2 weighs in at 8.3 oz, compared to 8.5 oz for the v1.

The transfer dry spacer mesh is really comfortable against the skin (no issues with sockless runs), but the mesh is definitely more open than in the v1. In fact, it’s pretty common to end a run with numerous small rocks/pebbles in the shoe, and my one and only attempt at a sandy beach run was definitely not the smartest decision I’ve ever made. The open mesh is a great feature in the summer months though – coupled with lightweight Injinji socks, my feet stay completely cool and dry.

The ride of the v2 is similar to the v1 – well balanced, smooth and very lively. I remember taking several runs to get comfortable in the v1, but out-of-the-box these were an instant hit – possibly due to the all-new redesigned dynamic midsole.

The outsole update is fantastic too, and not only makes the shoe feel more flexible than the original, but provides much-needed traction in slick conditions. The forefoot blown rubber is perfectly placed and I really like that the full length rubber “S” along the sole has been broken up into several sections. Worth noting, I am showing signs of wear along the outside heel area, but this is fairly typical for my running style and something I usually see in all the shoes I own.

In my review of the original Road N1 I briefly commented on the thickness of the laces and the rubber toe bumper. I’m happy to report the laces are now flat and somewhat stretchy, and the toe bumper has been reworked and slimmed down. Just a nice couple of tweaks that reinforce Pearl Izumi’s attention to detail.

Overall it’s a positive update, and a definite improvement on last year’s model. Not that there was anything major wrong with the original N1 of course, which is still a major player in my regular shoe rotation. MSRP for the updated model is $115, which is pretty comparable to many of the N1’s competitors. See below for best current online prices. I’ve now logged over 300 miles in the new version, so it will soon be time to invest in another pair – not the Black/Blue Atoll, so either the Green Flash/Black or recently-released snazzy Grey/Punch colorway.


Question time:

  • Have you tried either the old or new Pearl Izumi N1?
  • Like ’em? Hate ’em?
  • What’s your favorite shoe brand?



16 thoughts on “Pearl Izumi EM Road N1 v2 Shoe Review”

  1. Loved my N1V1 and was glad they didn’t muck up the V2. The biggest difference for me was the flex. The added groves in the sole just made all the difference. If Pearl Izumi continues down this line the V3 should be pretty sweet, especially if they can drop a little more weight.

    Reply
  2. Thanks for the great review. I am thinking of buying either the N0 or N1. I’m looking at the Running Warehouse desc of these shoes and it says that the N1 has a high arch. Do you find this to be the case? Built-in arches and my feet do not get along well at all. Also, how roomy are the toe boxes? I prefer wider and thinner shoes but would like to give a bit more cushioning a try with the N1s. Thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • Hi Stan. Yeah, I’ve noticed the Running Warehouse “high arch” comment before. Not really sure where that comes from – I don’t find the arch to be high at all. The N1s are definitely wider than the N0, and I’d probably class them as being moderate width. The upper is really comfortable and stretches nicely to conform to the shape of your foot. Definitely worth trying them out. Good luck!

      Reply
  3. I love the old version of the n1,I ran 3 half marathons in them and they were fantastic.I also bought the n2 just to compare and ran 2 half’s in them.I liked them both but found I didn’t need the extra cushion of the n2 as the n1 had enough on race day.if the new version is better I can’t wait to get my hands on a pair.

    Reply
  4. Hi, i´m interested in the Pearl Izumi Road n1. Would appreciate a comment on how these feel and perform compared to the NB Vazee Pace ? I´d like to use the Pearl Izumi N1 as a lightweight shoe for daily running (easy runs, tempo runs, long runs) and i´m tempted by the saying of many people that the Pearl Izumi shall have very smooth transitions (i generally like full ground contact midsoles with a rockered geometry or toe-spring). Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi Dietmar. Both shoes are about the same weight (8.5 oz in a size 9.5). The N1 does feature a nice rockered geometry which helps your stride roll along nicely. On recent runs I’ve found the N1 a little more restrictive in the toebox than the Vazee Pace, but it’s not a big deal to me. Both are great shoes, with the N1 just about edging out the Vazee Pace as my favorite.

      Reply
  5. Thanks for your feedback! Agree, the Vazee Pace is a great shoe. But i use it only as workout shoe, because i find the ride at slower/easy paces a bit flat or boring (not a major issue though). I think its sole excels at quicker paces, where it actually feels really nice. So, i wanted to ask if the N1 is maybe also that kind of workout type shoe which feels good at tempo, but not very engaging at slower paces? Beside the uptempo stuff i´d like to use the N1 also for my daily easy runs, just smoothly cruising along.

    Reply
    • I’m a bit different I guess, in that I’m okay with the Vazee Pace for easy days in addition to uptempo days. Same goes for the N1 – both easy and speedier efforts. In my opinion the N2 is more of a “cruise” shoe, but then you’ve got the added weight which I’m not a big fan of. Hope that helps. Good luck!

      Reply
  6. Oh, just for your interest: got the N1 now, did immediately one run and must say that i´m deeply impressed by this shoe so far, wow! Chances are high that this is going to be my new favourite trainer, Pearl Izumi and this shoe in particular deserve so much more attention, imo. Thanks again for your review and feedback!

    Reply
  7. I have the n1 trail and love it but use the n0 for everyday road runs. Should switch to n1 for my 5ks and up?

    Reply

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