I'm looking for shoes for use on my hybrid (Sirrus Comp) and my Shimano T780 SPD pedals. Nearly all riding will be in the city. I'm looking for something that strikes the right balance between comfort and cycling efficiency.

I went to three stores: REI, Helens and Cynergy and in my first pass, I narrowed it down to these three contenders:

1 - Shimano M089
2 - Specialized Rime Elite
3 - Pearl Izumi X-Alp Drift III

All three seemed comfortable enough in the store but I have no idea how they'll feel on the bike.

The Specialized shoes appealed to me the most, though I cannot be sure if it was the actual shoe or the happy customer who swore by his own Rime Elites. The Shimanos seemed all business and had a tightening device that I thought might make for a better ride. The Pearl Izumi's were the most fun of all, being very lightweight and comfortable, though I'm a little concerned about the lack of lateral support.

Any thoughts or insights from the group would be most appreciated.