[Review] The Canyon Cycling Shoes by Pearl Izumi

If you’re all about comfort when you are mountain biking, the Canyon SPD Cycling Shoes by Pearl Izumi are for you. The Canyons offer ultimate comfort, an amazing fit, breathability, and a stiff shank for less foot fatigue on those long rides. The Canyon SPD Cycling Shoes are perfect if you want the performance of cycling shoes but the comfort of tennis shoes. 

First of all, I really love that I can hike around in these shoes and not feel like I’m in a cycling-specific shoe. They offer an awesome outsole with carbon rubber lugs so you have traction no matter the conditions. Especially at my level of riding, I need to be able to hike-a-bike comfortably without feeling like I’m going to eat it because I don’t have a proper outsole. I also really like how the cleats are slightly recessed so that you’re not destroying your cleats when you walk around in these. When you’re walking, it feels as though you’re walking in normal shoes. It’s also great if you have delicate wood floors and you have to run back inside with your shoes on because you forgot something. 

Again, these provide cycling performance with tennis shoe comfort and to me, that’s very important. When you slip these on, you’ll know what I mean. They’ve also minimized seams which makes for a smooth interior and fewer chances of chaffing or rubbing when and where you don’t need it. 

There’s ample airflow and breathability throughout the Canyons thanks to the mesh paneling throughout. We had some hot rides in Baja and I never felt like my feet were overly hot. 

When it comes to performance on the bike, the Canyons have a composite shank through the midsole that directly connects to the SPD system. This provides you with the stiffness needed to lessen foot fatigue throughout the day. It’s also beneficial for harder landings and helps absorb the shock. 

As far as sizing goes, I’m usually a size 8 in shoes and I went off Pearl Izumi’s size chart and went with the 40. It’s a spot-on fit. 

Overall I love how simple the Canyon SPDs are without compromising performance on the bike. If you value comfort but still want a legitimate cycling shoe, the Canyons are for you. Don’t ride with the SPD system and have flat pedals? Pearl Izumi offers these without the SPD system and they have all the same features. Also, be sure to check out the review of my Canyon kit. If you’re interested in purchasing Pearl Izumi Gear, doing so using our provided link supports us as we get a small kickback from your purchase. We appreciate the support!

*We received this gear for free in exchange for a review, however, it’s important to know that all thoughts are our own.