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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Pearl Izumi EM Road N0 Review}}

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=Characteristics=

[[File:Pearl-Izumi-EM-Road-N0-Wear-Pattern-bottom.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Pearl Izumi EM Road N0 showing the outsole more clearly where it has attracted more dirt.]]

* {{H: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.

* {{H: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.

* {{H:flexibility}}. The N0 is pleasantly flexible, and it flexes remarkably evenly, unlike many shoes that tend to flex in just one place.

* {{H: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.

* {{H: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.

* {{H: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]].

* {{H:lacing}}. The N0 has traditional flat laces that stayed tied nicely.

* {{H:heelcounter}}. 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.

=Comparisons=

Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.

|[[File:Asics-Gel-Hyper-Speed-6-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 outside]]

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==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.

|[[File:New-Balance-MRC-5000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|New Balance MRC 5000 outside]]

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==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.

|[[File:Asics-GT2000-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Asics GT2000 outside]]

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=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=

{{:Shoes-include}}