4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Sep 1, 2014
30 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 3/5
Pearl Izumi EM Road N2
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9.9 oz (men's) · 27/19mm stack · 8mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The Pearl Izumi EM Road M3 replaced it
How it ranks
The Pearl Izumi EM Road N2 trails most daily trainers in our data. Looks and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. Value scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 12 runner reviews and 4 other rated shoes in the EM Road product line.
Below average
61
Overall
61
Appearance
73
Comfort
68
Durability
66
Cushioning
63
Value
59
Confidence
83
Confidence
How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Confidence
83 Moderate
Based on
The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.
- Brand rating
- Our ratings
- External ratings
What runners say
“Simple outsole that is not too firm, yet not too soft. Smooth ride.”
“Doesn't offer a lot of support for high arches even though I have insert.”
“It is a bit thin in the forefoot, and can get very hot.”
“Simple shoe that doesn't interfere with your mechanics.”
“Extremely durable shoe.”
Prefer this shoe over another
0% 0/3
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- Comfort and appearance both average 4.4 out of 5 across twelve reviews.
- One reviewer calls it a simple shoe that does not interfere with your mechanics, with a smooth ride and a durable upper.
Cons
- Value averages 3.8 out of 5, the lowest of its dimensions.
- At 9.9 oz it is heavier than the 8.9 oz median for daily trainers for sale.
- Two of the twelve reviewers who answered report an injury while running in it.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.
Confidence
Better Shoes Rating
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the Pearl Izumi EM Road
Each dot is one version of the EM Road, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Rating
40
60
80
100
68
2014
72
2014
63
2014
61
2014
72
2016
Release year
-
2016 · 2 reviews
72 Decent
73 Confidence
-
EM Road N2 This shoe
2014 · 12 reviews
61 Below average
83 Confidence
-
2014 · 7 reviews
63 Below average
70 Confidence
-
2014 · 3 reviews
72 Decent
59 Confidence
-
2014 · 2 reviews
68 Below average
33 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 9.9 oz (men's)
- Release
- 2014
- MSRP
- $120
- Stack
- 27/19mm
- Drop
- 8mm
Runner reviews
5/5
Overall
This is my go to shoe for road and track and workouts. I also run in the trail version of this shoe as well. There are some shoes that I like and their are some shoes that I love. This shoe is a love.
Anonymous runner · Aug 28, 2014
60 mpw
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
Current shoe
Choose a model
Reference shoe
Newest
/
Best overall
/
Best comfort
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
9.9 oz (men's)
—
9.9 oz
Stack
27/19mm
—
40/35mm
Drop
8mm
—
4mm
Release
2014
2016
2022 Q3
Newest
MSRP
$120
Lower MSRP
—
$165
Best price
—
—
$95
Ratings
Overall
61 Below average
72 Decent
99 Exceptional
Best overall
Comfort
68 Below average
74 Decent
99 Exceptional
Best comfort
Cushioning
63 Below average
64 Below average
99 Exceptional
Best cushioning
Durability
66 Below average
64 Below average
97 Exceptional
Best durability
Appearance
73 Decent
72 Decent
75 Decent
Best appearance
Value
59 Bottom-tier
75 Decent
77 Decent
Best value rating
Pearl Izumi EM Road N2 In Context
More on the Pearl Izumi EM Road
- Pearl Izumi EM Road H3
- Pearl Izumi EM Road N1 previous version
- Pearl Izumi EM Road M2
- Pearl Izumi EM Road M3 next version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- Brooks Ghost 6 1 runner
- Saucony Kinvara 3 1 runner