It’s an exciting and rewarding time to be a runner. The market continues to see new and innovative designs that work in harmony with a runner’s biomechanics for improved running efficiency and decreased anatomical stress. Redesigning their popular brand of running shoes to offer a greater level of running efficiency, Pearl Izumi’s new E:Motion line of road and trail shoes provide the next evolutionary step in the design of natural-minded running shoes.
The E:Motion Platform…
Runners are as distinctive as their own thumbprints. Some are slight in build with a gazelle-like stride and efficiency. Others are of much larger stature with collapsed arches and a heavy foot strike. Some run 100+ miles a week on trails, while others run around the block pushing their young ones in the stroller. While all are runners, their biomechanical needs—and hence product needs—are all unique.
Yet, the reality is most shoes don’t respect the unique nature of our individual movements. Most running shoes are based upon a platform that provides a static offset. The problem with a ‘static offset’ is that the foot and leg are never static while running. The heel to ball-of-foot difference changes as the foot goes through the natural stride. So it only makes sense that the shoe offset should also be dynamic in order to help the foot motion be smoother.
And so the concept of E:Motion was born. The new E:Motion series from Pearl Izumi sports an ergonomic design that accommodates midfoot and heel strikers alike. From initial ground contact through toe-off, the height offset between the heel and the ball of foot continually changes creating an easy transition between heel, mid, and forefoot striking styles.
Simply put, Project E:Motion’s midsole is intended to work in harmony with your legs to create a “no-slap, no-crash perpetual motion effect”. While mileage may vary from one runner to the next, everyone’s running will benefit from Pearl Izumi’s use of three levels of cushioning from the forefoot to the heel which reduces the shock of impact no matter how your foot comes into contact with the ground.
In our experience with the Road N2, heel-strikers will be the most apt to experience the sweet sensation of the smooth transition offered by innovative midsole. Simply put, it’s one of the best shoes we’ve ever run in from a heel-striker perspective.
And fear not mid-foot strikers, because the E:Motion midsole doesn’t negate your run experience. Wearing the N2 is believing, and for mid-foot strikers the E:Motion midsole offers a firm, yet highly responsive run experience that only improved the more mileage we racked up.
Overall Design and Performance…
In terms of overall construction, Pearl Izumi engineers kept the design simple, and that’s a good thing. The overall aesthetic is simple yet bold, earning compliments from fellow road warriors.
A seamless upper offers impressive conformity and a plush comfort while keeping the overall weight down so you can focus on your stride. It’s a fit you’ll appreciate – snug without being too tight – from the moment you slip into the shoe to the last few miles of your heavy training day.
The Transfer Dry mesh upper allows air to flow freely across the foot and dries and drains water quickly. It literally has a snug-yet-slipper-like feel, conforming perfectly to the foot while remaining light and highly breathable.
Notes from the field …
A softie this shoe is not. While our testers appreciated the use of shock absorbing and energy return foams, our run team was split on the firmness of the ride. One tester felt that the N2’s ride was a little too firm for longer distance runs, while another appreciated the overall feel and raved about the responsive nature offered by the foam.
Under our nitpick category, there was a minor concern about the overall length of the shoelaces. If you’re a double-knotter, then you might look to replace the laces with a longer length.
Bottom Line …
Get ready to enter the world of running efficiency. With the instincts of a runner, and the design of a technological artist, Pearl Izumi’s Project E:Motion Road N2 captures the essence of natural running to offer you an incredibly fluid running experience.
The Pearl Izumi Giveaway
Now that you’ve read our editors take on the N2, how about winning your own pair of Project E:Motion shoes? Pearl Izumi has generously partnered with Gumption Gear Review to provide one of our readers a free pair of run shoes. So go ahead, enter the contest below, share the love and best of luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
*Gumption Gear Review received the items featured in this review from Pearl Izumi at no cost and receives no monetary compensation for this or any related review. The items featured were provided solely in return for our honest views and opinions.