Pearl Izumi Peak 2 Trail Shoe

Pearl Izumi has been busy of late releasing updates to a couple of their popular lightweight shoes. Pearl completely revamped their Peak XC trail shoe with the Peak 2 XC. The new Peaks sit lower to the ground than the previous model, and have a much sturdier upper. Pearl Izumi works closely with athletes on development.  As a result, Pearl Izumi products are both technologically advanced and have the intangibles lacking in many larger shoe companies. Here is a video featuring PearI Izumi Ultrarunning Team member Scott Jaime discussing what they were trying to achieve with the Peak 2.

Specifications

Weight:

Men's 9.6 oz (Size 10)

Heel-Toe Drop:

8 mm (17 mm heel-9 mm forefoot)

Pearl Izumi Peak 2

Technology

• Seamless Upper
• 1 mm TPU Rockplate in Forefoot
• Sits lower to ground than most trail shoes
• Gusseted Tongue

Fit and Feel

Pearl Izumi designed the Peak 2 with a snug feel. In fact, you will definitely want to try them on beforehand and probably start with a half size larger than you normally wear. The toe box has a relatively low amount of volume, which is largely a matter of preference. I liked the wrap around feel that the gusseted tongue provided. Additionally, this feature helps keep out dust and rocks. The shoe sits lower to the ground than most trail shoes. This is an important feature for me because it helps prevent ankle roll, as well as adds some inherent stability. The back of the shoe wraps around your heel and achilles nicely without having to cinch the laces.

Peak 2 Top View

At 9.6 ounces., the Peak 2s are already a very lightweight trail shoe. However, they seem to feel even lighter than their weight. When wearing them, I had a hard time feeling the difference in weight between the Peak 2 and the Saucony Kinvara which is nearly 2 ounces lighter. While I didn't kick any rocks in testing, the toe protector is robust making this shoe a good option for those that are chronic trippers

Overall, the Peak 2s have a polished look and an eye for detail design and fit that Pearl Izumi fans have grown to love and expect. While the fit is tighter than I was used to, several other people have worn the Streak 2s and didn't find this to be the case.

Testing

I tested the Peak 2s out on the rugged Bootleg Canyon trails near Boulder City. One of the first things I noticed is the excellent balance the shoes have between protection and responsiveness. By responsiveness, I mean how the shoe allows you to feel the terrain below your feet. This provides feedback on whether the ground is loose or solid, and allows you to make quick micro adjustments on your weight distribution. Most shoes seem to skew too far to one side or the other. Either they provide maximum protection and  you can't feel a thing, or you feel every little rock underfoot and are constantly getting stabbed in the foot.

 Peak 2 Sole

One advantage of the low volume toe box is that it helps provide extra power when climbing uphill. I felt like I had a little more spring from my toes on the final push off. The seamless wrap around upper held my foot in place well, which prevented my toes from jamming on steep decents.
 

I am typically pretty hesitant about stepping on rocks when trying new shoes. I quickly gained confidence in the Peak 2'sTPU forefoot rockplate which is much more flexible than traditional plastic rockplates yet provides excellent protection. I could feel rocks but didn't have any painful stabbing. Similarly, the mid-foot and heel provided excellent protection for such a lightweight shoe.
 

In the end, the Pearl Izumi Peak 2 is an excellent trail shoe and a great option for those looking for a sub-10 ounce shoe that will still protect your foot from the virtual cornucopia of sharp nasty rocks typical of Las Vegas trails.

Peak 2 Side

Comments

[pearl izumi]

Cool shoe! I love this! Thank you for sharing this great review. Keep it up!