Review on 🚲 OCTANE SL-III Road by Mark Gilbert

I've been cycling for 7 years now and the Pearl Izumi Octane SL I road cycling shoes have become my favorite pair. I've tried the Bont A-1 and the Adidas AdiStar Pro and none match the lightness, stiffness and secure fit of the Pearl Izumi Octane SL line. Over the years my Octane SL I has seen a lot of road love and developed an undeniable persistent stink. that meant new shoes for me! It was difficult for me to wear other shoes because I had such good experiences with these specific shoes. I was happy to see that they were advancing the road model Octane SL and decided to buy a new pair. I usually wear size 9 US/42.5 EU. I knew my original shoes were a little tight on me so the size 9.5 US/43 EU fitted me perfectly. I thought they fixed the sizing issue so I went for my normal size. Lo and behold, they were pretty tight on my legs. I sent them back and got a size bigger. As soon as I put the shoes on I felt a familiar fit and feel. I don't know how they did it, but the shoes are even lighter but still have the same durability and stiffness that I'm used to. The new bright orange takes a little getting used to (the originals were a versatile white and black color scheme), but they're beautifully finished and constructed. There are plenty of vents to keep your feet cool when cycling in hot spring and summer, and the small form factor makes the boots easy to put on and take off for autumn and winter outings. In fact, I've always preferred Velcro to any of the ratchet cases you see out there; They offer a precise fit and allow quick adjustments. Overall, I love her as much as I loved my original Izumi Pearl. Hopefully in a few years the Octane SL V will continue the tradition of quality build and craftsmanship. If you're looking for an ultra-light and super-stiff road shoe, you should definitely get yourself a pair!