Saturday, September 14, 2024

RoadTrailRide: 2024 Pearl Izumi Cycling Apparel Round Up Review

 Article by Jeff Valliere and John Tribbia


Pearlizumi Cycling Clothing



In the article, Jeff and John review an assortment of Pearl Izumi cycling apparel for road, mountain bike and gravel riding.


Men’s Expedition Short Sleeve Jersey

Sizes S-XXL

$100


The Expedition SS Jersey is a form fit jersey made with lightweight fabric that balances durability and sweat management.


The stretch woven fabric is abrasion resistant while ensuring optimal moisture management.  T

He form fit design promotes agility and minimizes the possibility of snagging on branches or whatever when mountain biking or gravel riding.


The Expedition SS Jersey also is enhanced with UPF 25 sun protection and is equipped with 5 rear pockets for organized and secure storage for long distance adventures.



The fabric is comprised of:  Main Body: 86% recycled polyester, 14% spandex Sleeves: 82% recycled polyester, 13% elastane, 5% polyester



The jersey is form fitting, but sizing is true to size and while snug, is not overly so, a fit that I would describe as just right for streamlined riding and in line with performance jerseys (I am 5’9” and weigh 145 lbs with a waist size of 33”).  The sleeves are long, just about to my elbow, with a snug elastic hem.  I also appreciate the grippy waist hem that prevents the jersey from riding up, staying securely in place. 


I find the materials to be very soft, supple and breathable, quick drying and are odor resistant.I can easily get several rides in before needing (wanting) to wash.


The pockets are a traditional cycling jersey format and hold items securely.  On either side is a zippered pocket. I really appreciate having two zips for valuables such as keys and wallet



Men’s Expedition Bib Shorts

Sizes S-XXXL

$130


The Expedition Bib Shorts are designed for all day, all terrain adventures. They feature  a moisture wicking and compressive high stretch Transfer fabric, sleek fit, lightweight straps, silicone printed leg grippers and ELITE Levitate dual-density chamois for long distance ride comfort.  


But my favorite feature and the onethat really makes the Expedition Bib Shorts stand out are the 3 built in pockets, one on either thigh and another centered rear pocket at the base of the straps which is ideal for a compact windbreaker or nutrition.  These shorts are made with recycled content and have a 10.5” inseam for ample leg coverage.


Fabric:  Top Panel: 35% recycled polyester, 34% recycled nylon, 31% elastane Bottom Panel: 79% recycled polyester, 21% elastane Pockets: 54% recycled polyester, 35% polyester, 11% elastane



The ELITE Levitate chamois features a dual density, 4 layer configuration that minimizes skin abrasion and sit bone discomfort. I find them to be quite well padded for long rides.  Any seams in the shorts are undetectable and overall the shorts are exceptionally smooth and comfortable.


Fit is true to size and the leg grippers do a great job at holding the legs in place where they do not ride up (a pet peeve).  I have very long legs for my height and I appreciate the 10.5” inseam so the shorts go almost to my knee.


The shoulder straps are very thin and comfortable, and in fact, are  barely noticeable if at all.

(above photo is not me)



The additional pockets make these my go to shorts for longer rides, where I will keep my phone handy in one pocket and use the other pocket for food or trash.  I first thought this would be annoying placement for such items, but I find that I don’t notice anything there at all and they are super handy.  They are so handy, I pretty much want to use these shorts over all of my others.


Summit Shell Short

Sizes 28-44

$105

The Summit Shell Short is perfect for adding over a pair of padded bike shorts for mountain bikers, gravel bikers or anyone who is looking for a more casual riding look. Given it has a 4-way stretch outer shell, it has a nice level of stretch and range of motion.  The inseam is 13”, so it provides plenty of coverage to ensure the casual mountain biker look and keep the sun off.  


They feature two roomy backward facing side hand pockets (so when sitting on the bike, the contents are down instead of up), as well as a micro adjustable ratchet closure.


I use the Summit Shell Shorts for more casual outings on the mountain bike, typically when I am with the family or friends and riding slower than I might otherwise, or for when I am running some errands on the bike.  I like the full length coverage, the loose, comfortable (but not excessively baggy) fit and the generous pockets.  





The ratcheting waist belt is good for fine tuning fit, but would be fine with a drawstring too for simplicity.  My only minor complaint is that it would be great to have a zippered fly (understanding the aim here is comfort/flexibility, but if they could pull it off with a thin, flexible zipper, that would be great).


John: For mountain bikers and gravel riders seeking functional and casual shorts, the Summit Shell Short is a great option. The 4-way stretch outer shell allows for a wide range of motion, and the 13-inch inseam provides adequate coverage without being too baggy. 


The two roomy side pockets with zippered closures are convenient for storing essentials during rides. 


The Summit Shorts' versatility and comfort make them suitable for various types of off-road riding. They can be worn comfortably over bib shorts. 


The adjustable waist closure ensures a secure and personalized fit. The perforated panels on the inside of the legs enhance breathability. 


While there is a lack of a zippered fly (like Jeff points out) and some users might need time to get accustomed to the leg-zippered pockets, these shorts are otherwise excellent for both trail and leisure activities.


Expedition Merino Short Sleeve Jersey

Sizes S-XXXL

$90.00


The Expedition Merino SS Jersey is a semi form fit jersey that has a merino body and durable stretch woven shoulders and back.  The Merino jersey provides great thermal regulation and has a longer fit for full coverage when ln a riding position.



I find the fit to be true to size and appreciate a more baggy fit for more casual outings.  It basically fits like just about any of my normal running tees or casual tees.  


The Merino has a nice soft feel to it and really works well at regulating temperature, is breathable and dries quickly.  Odor resistance is also really good.  I can wear it for several rides before wanting to wash it.


There is a small zippered side pocket, which is good for a small item or two (car key, gel, small wallet).

The Expedition Merino jersey pairs well with the Summit Shell Short and I love the combo for more casual mountain biking outings or times where I might be stopping at a store or getting some lunch along the way.  Great for those times you don’t want to be geeking out in the tight spandex!


Summit Glove

Sizes XS-XXL

$30

The Summit gloves are a durable mountain biking glove with a seamless synthetic suede palm for tactile control with a 4 way stretch design.  Paired with sticky silicone grippers on the thumb, index and middle fingers, they provide very good brake and shift control and are also touch screen compatible.

I find the Summit gloves to be very comfortable and help me to control my bike well, be it on the mountain bike or my gravel bike.  They are cool and breathable enough for wearing on hot days (especially in white), but also provide enough warmth for chilly morning rides in the summer.  I have even ridden several rides to 12,000 feet and even above 14,000 feet and they were enough for the crisp descents.

I do wish that they had padding in the palm, but that was my own fault, as somehow I missed this and should have opted for the Summit Gel Gloves, which are the same, but with a gel padded palm.  The non gel version I have is great for me for 2-3 hours, but when I go beyond that, I really wish I had more cushion.  The trade off however is perhaps a little better control.

    



Fit is true to size, as I typically wear a size medium, but I think a small would work for me too here and perhaps provide a little less movement and better control.


Touch compatibility works well and is not only good for the phone, but also the Garmin Edge or other cycling computers that have touch screens.


Shopping at our partners is much appreciated and helps support RoadTrailRun


Pearl Izumi Cycling Clothing is available at Pearl Izumi HERE

& our partners


REI 

Men's & Women's  SHOP HERE

AMAZON
Men's & Women's SHOP HERE

BACKCOUNTRY
Men's & Women's  SHOP HERE

Tester Profiles

Jeff Valliere has been around bikes his entire life, as a toddler following his dad to bike races and bike shops, BMX racing as a kid, working in bike shops as a mechanic for 14+ years (10 at U-Bikes in Boulder where he met John) and racing as a professional road cyclist for several years.  Jeff no longer races, but still loves to ride as he introduces his daughters to the joys of cycling.  In addition to being obsessed with cycling, he runs mountains daily and has been reviewing running shoes/gear/tech for RoadTrailRun since 2015 and for other publications/companies since 2005.

John Tribbia is a regular technical reviewer for running-oriented product testing website RoadTrailRun with a large readership domestically and internationally. He dabbled in bike racing both mountain and road as a junior Cat 5 and eventually upgraded to Expert on the mountain bike. After his brief stint of cycling racing and once in college, John crossed over to running and found success as a sponsored mountain/trail runner by placing atop the podium in domestic and international races. But he always kept his bikes nearby for cross training while injured, supplemental training, and commuting. Given that cross-over experience as well as 6+ years of working at University Bikes in Boulder, CO and over 20 years of competitive running, he loves the opportunity to test the latest and greatest in both sports

Samples were provided at no charge for review purposes. RoadTrail Run has affiliate partnerships and may earn commission on products purchased via shopping links in this article. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.

Comments and Questions Welcome Below!
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