If you are looking for a soft agressive thread that hikes well, this is your shoe. First shoe that gives me confidence on steep hike-a-bikes (like Walker Ranch Cliff Section). Shoes feel great on and off the bike, keep your feet cool, are durable, and don't show alot of wear after 1 yr use.
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Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Boulder,CO,USA Date Reviewed: June 12, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Mt. Lion Trail
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$89.00
Purchased At:
Full Cycle
Strengths:
Soft rubber soles provide real grip for hike-a-bikes, comfort on and off bike, style, construction, breath well.
Weaknesses:
no complaints
Similar Products Used:
Shimano
Bike Setup:
Yeti 575
Bottom Line:
One of my favorite rides has a long, steep, hike-a-bike section. The hard rubber on most shoes makes this section sketchy. Until I found the the X-Alps, which hike almost as well as my hiking shoes. Very comfortable on and off the bike. Love these shoes.
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Submitted by
Rorry Hillis
a Cross Country Rider
from Colo Springs, CO, US Date Reviewed: April 16, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Buffalo Creek, CO
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$89.00
Purchased At:
Old Town Bike Shop
Strengths:
Very comfortable, lightweight, breathable, feels like a cross country running shoe.
Weaknesses:
As previously mentioned, mesh upper will let your feet get wet when criusing through creeks and water.
Bike Setup:
Tomac Revolver/full suspension/disc brakes
Bottom Line:
Great all around mtn bike shoe. Perfect for off bike scrambling whether it' up a rock or loose gravel. Previously worn Shimano shoes with toe cleats and did not like getting off my bike at all. This shoe is stiff enough for all purpose cross country rides and somewhat difficult downhilling. Not a racers shoe, but I'm not a racer, so it's perfect for what I do.
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Submitted by
Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angeles, CA, USA Date Reviewed: March 22, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Aliso-Woods Canyon
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$90.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Very comfortable, durable.
Weaknesses:
Mine are gray/blue, don't hide dirt and mud as well as new black and gray models, and GTX. Other then that, none.
Similar Products Used:
Nike, Specialized, Shimano.
Bike Setup:
FSR Comp, Thompson stem, WTB saddle, lock-on grips, Panaracer Fire XC Pro tires.
Bottom Line:
Most comfortable fitting MTB shoes I've used. Ordering a pair of mids, maybe GTX's soon.
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Submitted by
jim coyne
a Cross Country Rider
from bay area, ca, u.s.a. Date Reviewed: February 16, 2008
Favorite Trail:
pine mountain
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$80.00
Purchased At:
performance
Strengths:
perfect cycling/hiking combo, extremely comfortable, lace-up with velcro cinch, stiff sole yet flexible, nice looking
Weaknesses:
the fabric uppers provide no protection from wetness and may get really dirty as compared with leather or similar upper
Similar Products Used:
worn cannondale cycling/hiking shoes for many years, really liked them but they discontinued the shoe
Bike Setup:
specialized epic, older marin team hardtail, specialized m4 cross
Bottom Line:
like the previous review, these shoes are incredible comfortable, light as a feather, solid sole, lace up provide great fit and the top-strap keeps everything together. have ridden both mountain and road with this shoe and both styles benefit from the solid sole and light weight. walking in them is like walking with a regular hiking shoe. i do a lot of hiking/rock scrambling on my rides and these shoes make that a safe pleasure. the only concern is that past pearl shoes have gotten crappy reviews re: workmanship and durability, hoping these break that pattern.
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Submitted by
Brent
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary Date Reviewed: August 6, 2007
Favorite Trail:
Elbow Loop
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$110.00
Purchased At:
Cyclepath
Strengths:
Great looks, super comfortable, easy to walk in, well protected cleat, cool & great breathability.
Weaknesses:
Not stiff enough for hard core racing, but perfect for general riding, epics, or endurance races.
Similar Products Used:
Lake MX 101 (similar target use to the X-Alp, but dorky looking and not as well executed)
Bike Setup:
24 lb Santa Cruz Blur XC tricked up with a variety of lightweight parts and a lightweight wheel package (Spinergy Xyclone's, aluminum rotors, Stan's No Tubes and The Crow tires)
Bottom Line:
Too much flex to be a short distance race shoe, but that's not what it's designed for. For its designed use of day to day riding, epics, or endurance races/rides, this shoe is the perfect tool. I used them to race in the 24 Hours of Adrenalin and they were exceptional.
This is easily the most comfortable cycling shoe I have ever worn. It has a nicely designed rocker sole that makes walking extremely easy during those times when you need to dismount to scramble up rocky sections or sections that are too steep to ride (quite a few where I ride). It's also perfect for commuting, especially when you will be walking on sidewalks or in buildings after dismounting, due to the mentioned rocker sole as well as a design that recesses the cleat enough that it doesn't contact the ground (there's nothing more annoying than the clicking and sliding of cleated shoes when you need to make the inevitable walk to the office after getting off your bike). I've even walked across the hardwood floors in our house with these shoes on, without leaving a mark. The shoes are easily the best looking shoe on the market, and look like a good cross training athletic shoe. Nobody would even know by looking that they are cycling shoes
For general performance riding (what they are designed for, not racing) these shoes get my top recommendation.
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