Reader review
Anonymous runner · Sep 19, 2014
5/5
Overall
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
Pearl Izumi
EM Road M3
Daily trainer
· Neutral
· Road
Above average (82/100)
- Release
- 2016
Above average (82/100)
overall
Shoe details
- Release
- 2016
Ratings & Reviews
Above average (82/100)
Based on product-line history, external ratings, and 3 runner ratings.
?
This score rates better than 65% of shoes.
Our ratings use detailed reviews from knowledgeable runners, ratings for shoes in the same product line, and reliable product information from trusted retailers.
Rating breakdown
Better Shoes score out of 100. Shading shows the expected rating range.
?
Rankings combine runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, direct comparisons to other shoes, related product-line performance, and trusted external ratings.
The darker band shows the central score range. The lighter band shows a wider range of reasonable outcomes. More reviews for this shoe usually narrow both bands.
Likely rating
Overall
Above average (82/100)
Overall ranking
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.
Estimate
Above average (82/100)
Rank
Ranks above 65% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.
Comfort
Excellent (92/100)
Comfort ranking
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.
Estimate
Excellent (92/100)
Rank
Ranks above 88% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.
Appearance
Good (78/100)
Appearance ranking
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.
Estimate
Good (78/100)
Rank
Ranks above 52% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.
Cushioning
Good (79/100)
Cushioning ranking
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.
Estimate
Good (79/100)
Rank
Ranks above 50% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.
Value
Good (72/100)
Value ranking
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.
Estimate
Good (72/100)
Rank
Ranks above 38% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.
Durability
Good (69/100)
Durability ranking
We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.
Estimate
Good (69/100)
Rank
Ranks above 25% of shoes
Compared with all shoes
The shaded band shows the score range we think is most likely.
0%
0/1
Prefer this shoe over another.
Reviewers said this shoe was better than another shoe they ran in.
Comparison set
Rating
All Running Shoes
Better than 65% of 2,538 running shoes ranked.
Above average (82/100)
Daily Trainers
Better than 66% of 1,816 daily trainers ranked.
66%
Pearl Izumi
Better than 73% of 10 Pearl Izumi shoes ranked.
73%
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Current shoe
Reference shoe
Newest
/
Best overall
/
Best comfort
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
—
—
—
Stack
—
—
—
Drop
—
—
7mm
Release
2016
2016
2024 Q2
Newest
MSRP
—
—
$200
Best price
—
—
$149.99
Ratings
Overall
Above average (65%)
Bottom tier (14%)
Exceptional (>99%)
Best overall
Comfort
Very good (88%)
Good (74%)
Exceptional (99%)
Best comfort
Cushioning
Average (50%)
Average (47%)
Exceptional (99%)
Best cushioning
Durability
Below average (25%)
Bottom tier (9%)
Exceptional (99%)
Best durability
Appearance
Average (52%)
Below average (39%)
Excellent (96%)
Best appearance
Value
Below average (38%)
Average (44%)
Very good (85%)
Best value
Where to buy
No offers available
Better alternatives
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Daily trainer
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93rd percentile
+28 percentile points vs this shoe
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93rd percentile
+28 percentile points vs this shoe
Glycerin 23
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$174.95
93rd percentile
+28 percentile points vs this shoe
Triumph 23
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91st percentile
+26 percentile points vs this shoe
Mach 7
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$144.95
90th percentile
+25 percentile points vs this shoe
Mach X 3
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88th percentile
+23 percentile points vs this shoe
Reader Ratings
3 reader ratings
Showing 1–3 of 3 written reviews
Reader review
MTRaceTimer · Aug 28, 2014
5/5
Overall
I had been wearing Asics GT-2000 series for many years. My mileage record dating back 12 years shows that I have owned 26 pair of the GT-2000 series shoes. I started getting plantar fasciitis in my feet from a bad pair of Nike spikes. I didn't have a pain-free run for 1.25 years. I got a part time job at a running shoe store, and decided to take advantage of my discount, and got Pearl Izumi M3s. LOVED THEM!
My first run was the day I got them. 5 miles, and not a single twinge of pain. AWESOME! I put 750 miles in those shoes and no pain to mention. I got a pair of the Trail M2's, Road M2's, and I just got my 2nd pair of the Road M3's (M2 and M3 are the same just 2 more millimeters of cushion in the M3). I have loved every mile I have put in all 4 pairs of Pearl Izumi's and when I am selling shoes to a customer, I always bring a PI option out and tell them my success story!
Ex-Div 2 conference and regionals runner. Gained 50 pounds while injured. I'm only 15 pounds from college running weight, all thanks to PI!
3D printed, one piece, seamless upper is Prefontaine's dream-come-true.
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Reader review
Anonymous runner · Aug 27, 2014
5/5
Overall
Great lightweight neutral running shoe with stability and cushion
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 4/5