The X-Alp Elevate is Pearl iZUMi’s premier mountain bike shoe, and they offer an ideal combination of pedaling power transfer and walkability. They provide optimal comfort and efficiency on epic and everyday rides. The shoe has been updated with features that make it lighter, more comfortable, grippier, and more adjustable with its dual BOA® Closure. It features a seamless synthetic upper for comfort and durability, toe and heel guards, sticky soles, and clipless compatibility.
It comes in a Phantom/Berm Brown color scheme, sizes 39-46 (with halves), 47-49 (fulls), and retails for $200.
Features
The shoes use the Vibram ECOSTEP outsole, made from recycled rubber, yet it still offers a high-quality compound formulation. Keeping with the green theme for the shoes, the midsole is made with 20% renewable algae-based Bloom material. It has an EVA heel cushion that increases comfort and walkability, and the tread pattern and sticky outsole offer grip and confidence on techy terrain. It is 2-bolt SPD cleat compatible so that it will fit any clipless pedal brand.
It features the BOA® Fit System with dual L6 dials, which provides fine-tune fit capabilities by offering a multitude of adjustability. You can separately alter the midfoot and forefoot sections to maximize comfort and snugness without overt binding or hotspots. It has a perforated tongue for improved breathability, which is especially nice on warmer days.
The toe box and heel cup are reinforced for impact protection from rocks, branches, and debris.
Impressions
The X-Alp Elevate fits true to size and offers a decently wide toe box, which was appreciated with my feet since my toes like to splay out. They didn’t cause me any discomfort during an initial couple of days break-in period, which allowed them to stretch and conform to my foot. Since then, the shoes have been comfortable on multi-hour rides, without hot spots, even when doing long hike-a-bike sessions.
The dual BOA® dials make it extremely easy to put the shoes on and off. Once you pop open the dials, the tongue pulls forward, allowing plenty of room to get your foot in and out of the shoe. Once the shoes were on, you can twist each dial to tune in the forefoot and midsole separately. I greatly appreciated the dual tuning during a ride since your feet move around, swell, etc. inside the shoe, and you can alter the fit as needed. You could tighten them down for a technical section or loosen them up for more comfort on a long slow slog.
The toe and heel box had some wraparound reinforcement sections for impact protection from rocks and branches that were regularly encountered on the trail, though when I slammed hard into a wooden bridge once, I felt the blow to my toes.
I walked quite a bit in the shoes, and they were grippy on rock slabs and offered good hiking characteristics on dirt, gravel, and roots. Even with those good walking attributes, they had plenty of power transfer while cranking away on the pedals. The EVA cushioning was greatly appreciated, so I didn’t feel like I was pounding my heels into the ground when hiking. The sticky Vibram outsole had a functional tread design that provided grip in dirt and crud and effectively sheds mud. Even on long steep rock slabs, I could confidently walk around without slipping and sliding around. The midsole offered some cushioning and resiliency while pedaling, which helped reduce fatigue without things getting overly spongy. The ankle cuff was nicely padded and comfortable, and the heel cup prevented any lift issues while hiking or pedaling.
Bottom Line
The Pearl iZUMi X-Alp Elevate are comfortable, decently protective, have an optimal blend of power transfer and walkability, and have dual BOA® dials for ideal fit tuning and foot entry and egress. Its uppers are water-resistant and breathable for any weather condition, while the midsole dampens terrain chatter and provides pedaling comfort. The Vibram outsole’s sticky compound provided plenty of grip on any terrain and has been very durable, and the tread pattern offers plenty of bite with excellent shedding.
I do wish they had a beefier and more armored toe box for impact protection.
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