Revision as of 11:55, 14 April 2015

The EM Road N0 is a lightweight, simple shoe that works well. It's not as good as the best shoes, but it has no real flaws. The weight to cushioning ratio needs improvement, but some of the additional weight comes from having more padding in the upper, which may be worthwhile for some runners. (I use The Science of Running Shoes as the basis of how I test running shoes and what you should look for in a running shoe.)

Pearl Izumi Road N0 top	Pearl Izumi Road N0 bottom
Pearl Izumi Road N0 inside	Pearl Izumi Road N0 outside

1 Characteristics

Pearl Izumi EM Road N0 showing the outsole more clearly where it has attracted more dirt.

• Why you’d buy it. While it's not the best, the EM Road N0 is a worth contender for your money. It's a little more padded in the upper than most lightweight shoes, and a better toe box than many.
• Cushioning . The N0 is reasonably well cushioned, but it's not as good as it could be. For instance, the Asics Gel Hyper Speed is both lighter and better cushioned.
• Drop. I measure the EM Road N0 at a 5mm drop unloaded, and strangely the drop increases to 6mm when there's a person's weight in the shoe. I didn't find this drop a problem, but it's more than I'd like.
• Structure. The EM Road N0 uses a single density of foam with no problematic "arch support". The sole has no gaps that could act as stone traps.
• Flexibility. The N0 is pleasantly flexible, and it flexes remarkably evenly, unlike many shoes that tend to flex in just one place.
• Outsole. The EM Road N0 has a few patches of firmer outsole that are well placed. Some of the outsole is obvious by the different color, but there are also patches that are color matched to the midsole, making them harder to spot. When I first got the N0 I thought it was nearly all expose midsole, but that's not the case. Once you've run in the N0 a bit you can see the outsole as it picks up more dirt.
• Shape. While N0 does not match the shape of the human foot, it's much better than many shoes. There is more room in the toe box and cutting open the toe box is recommended rather than required.
• Upper. The upper is moderately thin, inflexible and mostly seamless. There is a tiny bit of padding around the rear of the foot, plus more around the ankle opening. For such a light weight shoe, it's better padded than you'd expect.
• Tongue. The EM Road N0 has a traditional tongue that is has a tab to attach it to the laces. The tongue is extremely well padded for such a lightweight shoe .The tongue is nearly as well padded as the much heavier Asics GT 2000.
• Lacing. The N0 has traditional flat laces that stayed tied nicely.
• Heel Counter. The N0 has only a slight heel counter that is only really noticeable at the extreme back of the shoe. There is certainly nothing that would dig into your foot.

Please support this site This review was made possible by readers like you buying products via my links. I buy all the products I review through normal retail channels, which allows me to create unbiased reviews free from the influence of reciprocity, or the need to keep vendors happy. It also ensures I don't get "reviewer specials" that are better than the retail versions. Buy Pearl Izumi EM Road N0 at Zappos Buy Pearl Izumi EM Road N0 at Road Runner Sports Buy Pearl Izumi EM Road N0 at Kelly's Running Warehouse Buy Pearl Izumi EM Road N0 at Charlotte Ultra Running Company

2 Cushioning and Shoes

It's intuitively obvious that the cushioning in a shoe will reduce the impact on your body when running. However, The Science of Running Shoes indicates that the reality is rather more complex. While slight cushioning may reduce the effort needed to run by improving your Running Economy, most scientific research indicates that more cushioning does further improve Running Economy. In addition, cushioning does not generally reduce impact and may actually increase it. This is counterintuitive, but is likely to be due to the way a runners mind and body adapts to softer cushioning. Unfortunately, the scientific evidence is far from complete and it's hard to give clear recommendations. I believe that some runners will prefer more cushioning, while others prefer less, and typically those running further have a fondness for greater cushioning. I also believe that a shoe should be as light as possible, and a shoe should justify its weight with the cushioning it provides. My advice is to decide what level of cushioning you're looking for, and then find the lightest shoes that also fit well and are comfortable.

3 Visualizing the Attributes of the Pearl Izumi EM Road N0

How Pearl Izumi EM Road N0 compares showing rearfoot cushioning against the performance penalty of its weight. Upper right is better.	How Pearl Izumi EM Road N0 compares showing forefoot cushioning against the performance penalty of its weight. Upper right is better.
How Pearl Izumi EM Road N0 compares showing the price against the benefit (cushioning/performance penalty). Upper left is better.	How Pearl Izumi EM Road N0 compares showing the loaded drop against the benefit (cushioning/performance penalty). Upper left is better.

4 Comparisons

Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.

4.1 Pearl Izumi EM Road N0 and Asics Gel Hyper Speed

The Asics Gel Hyper Speed is one of my favorite shoes, and it shows up the weaknesses in the N0. While the N0 is a good shoe, it's not as light or as well cushioned as the Hyper Speed. The N0 is better padded, but I've never felt the difference in comfort in practice.

Pearl Izumi Road N0 top	Pearl Izumi Road N0 bottom	Pearl Izumi Road N0 inside	Pearl Izumi Road N0 outside
Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 top	Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 bottom	Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 inside	Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 outside

4.2 Pearl Izumi EM Road N0 and New Balance RC5000

The N0 is reasonably light weight, but the New Balance RC5000 is quite stunningly light. The RC5000 is less than half the weight of the N0, but nearly as well cushioned. Of course, the bare bones RC5000 is not for everyone as it provides just enough cushioning to improve Running Economy, but no more. This makes it the most efficient shoe I've found, but the minimal cushioning my not be sufficient for you. However, if that's a problem for you, then the N0 may not provide the cushioning you want either.

Pearl Izumi Road N0 top	Pearl Izumi Road N0 bottom	Pearl Izumi Road N0 inside	Pearl Izumi Road N0 outside
New Balance MRC 5000 top	New Balance MRC 5000 bottom	New Balance MRC 5000 inside	New Balance MRC 5000 outside

4.3 Pearl Izumi EM Road N0 and Asics GT 2000

I tend to compare shoes against my benchmark "normal running shoe", the Asics GT 2000. The GT 2000 weights nearly twice as much as the N0, but most of that extra weight is in the form of over engineered features that The Science of Running Shoes indicate are more likely to cause problems than solve. There's quite a bit more cushioning with the GT 2000, as well as somewhat better padding in the upper. However, the N0 won't attempt to interfere with your stride, or encourage you to heel strike like the GT 2000. The GT 2000 helps show just how good the N0 is; it's just not quite as good as the best shoes.

Pearl Izumi Road N0 top	Pearl Izumi Road N0 bottom	Pearl Izumi Road N0 inside	Pearl Izumi Road N0 outside
Asics GT2000 top	Asics GT2000 bottom	Asics GT2000 inside	Asics GT2000 outside

5 A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes

If you're looking for "the best of the best" running shoe, here are my top picks. Of course, the answer will depend a little on what you're looking for, so I have recommendations for various categories. Best All Round Shoe. The Altra Escalante is my current all-round favorite. It has plenty of cushioning for its weight, it has a very springy midsole, it lasts well, and it has a shape that's closer to the shape of a human foot than most shoes. It's a great shoe for any runner, including those Starting to run. It's also a fairly easy shoe to find due to its popularity. Best Maximalist Shoe: If you want something massively cushioned, then I'd recommend the Saucony Kinvara 8. It's remarkably light and remarkably cushioned, beating Hoka at their own game. Best Optimal Shoe: For those looking to trade cushioning for speed, the Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 was my top pick, but the latest version (LT 4) falls short of it's predecessor. There are lots of great optimal running shoes, which provide just enough cushioning with light weight and minimal frills, but all have their weak spots. Probably the best option at the moment is the Altra Vanish-R, which offers great cushioning for just over 5oz/150g. Fastest Shoe: If you really want speed, then check out the Nike Vaporfly 4%. It's light, massively cushioned, and has a carbon fiber plate. Nothing comes close, not even the now defunct New Balance RC5000‏‎ or New Balance RC5000v2‏‎. There are a number of caveats; it's really expensive, it's really hard to find, and there's a significant injury risk. Best Minimalist Shoe: Merrell Trail Glove. I recommend the trail glove for road running in spite of the 'trail' moniker. It's not a fast shoe by any means, but it's comfortable and will last well. All Terrain Shoe. For trail running, I've become a fan of Altra, and I think their best shoe is the the Altra Timp, though the Altra Lone Peak is really close. Honorable Mention: It's not really a running shoe, but the Vivobarefoot Ra is comfortable, minimalist and can more or less pass as a dress shoe. I've worn mine to weddings with a suit and they've not looked out of place. You can run in the Ra, but the leather means it doesn't breathe well.

For a more detailed on running shoes see the Recommendations for Best Running Shoes. This table lists the key attributes of What to Look for in Running Shoes. For more detailed information, on the shoes see detailed shoe comparison.

It's not a running shoe, but I love the Hoka Tor Ultra hiking boot and I've tested the Altra Lone Peak Boot, the Hoka Tor Speed 2, and the Inov-8 Roclite 325 hiking boots
Older shoe reviews: Saucony Hattori Review, Mizuno Cursoris Review, Skechers GO Bionic 2 Review, Hoka Clifton Review, Saucony Virrata 2 Review, Brooks PureCadence 3 Review, Brooks PureConnect 3 Review, Brooks PureFlow 3 Review, Skechers GO Bionic 2 Review, New Balance 980 Review, Brooks Transcend 2 Review, Hoka Huaka Review, Patagonia EVERlong Review, Asics 33-DFA Review, Hoka Conquest Review, Saucony Cortana Review, Puma Faas 100 R Review, Saucony Fastwitch Review, Nike Free Review, Asics Gel Lyte 33 Review, Skechers GOmeb Speed Review, Skechers GOrun Ultra Road Review, Nike LunaRacer Review, Altra Paradigm Review.