Pearl Izumi was started
over 50 years ago in Tokyo, Japan by a father who wanted to make bicycle racing
clothing for his son. It has become one
of the largest makers of cycling apparel in the world. The name Pearl Izumi means “fountain of
pearl” and was named after Izumi, which is an area of Japan known for its clear
water and the gem, pearl. They have been
selling their gear in the United States since 1981 and have branched out into
selling gear for running and triathlons as well.
I have been
using Pearl Izumi
cycling products for over 15 years and have found that the quality of
their gear is top notch. The durability
and design has never left me disappointed.
I have 3 different Pearl Izumi cycling
shorts and my favorite shorts are the P.R.O. series shorts. I was really excited when I got a pair of the
P.R.O.
Pursuit Bib Shorts and ELITE
Escape Jersey.
P.R.O. Pursuit Bib
Shorts
There is no substitute for really great cycling gear. When you have the right bib shorts or jersey,
it can make all the difference in the world.
Research has proven that you ride faster when you are more
comfortable. The P.R.O.
Pursuit Bib Shorts are the top of the line bib shorts from Pearl Izumi. The features really do make a difference and
while the price tag of $195 is pricey, they will last quite a while and feel
awesome. I have had a pair of Pearl
Izumi P.R.O. Shorts for about 6 years and they work just as good today as
the day I bought them.
The P.R.O.
Pursuit Bib Shorts feature high end fabric with Coldblack
technology. This provides a great amount
of stretch and compression, which will aid in muscle support and recovery. Coldblack
is a revolutionary finishing technology that reduces heat buildup due to
sunlight, especially on darker materials.
Having Coldblack
will also protect you from the sun by providing a minimum of UPF 30 protection.
Another great feature of the P.R.O.
Pursuit Bib Shorts is their 1:1 Chamois.
It comes with multi density foams that support key areas (you know the
area’s that I’m talking about) but still remains light weight. It looks like one uniform chamois and you
wouldn’t know that there were different thicknesses if you didn’t touch the
chamois. I have to say that this is one
of the biggest selling points for me. A
great chamois will keep you happy mile after mile and the 1:1 chamois that Pearl Izumi used in the P.R.O.
Pursuit Bib Shorts is the best that I have ever tried.
The upper bib material (the overall straps) are made with a
Transfer Direct Vent mesh and provides awesome moisture transfer, odor
resistance, and dries really quickly. I
will admit that up until about 2 months ago, I always wore regular cycling
shorts. I tried a few bib shorts out and
I will never go back.
Some of the other features of the P.R.O.
Pursuit Bib Shorts include silicon grip material at the leg openings to
hold the legs in place and prevent them from creeping up in the middle of your
ride and reflective elements for low light visibility (which is hidden in the
black material of the bib shorts).
While it may be hard to justify the $195 price tag of the P.R.O.
Pursuit Bib Shorts, It is a great investment. The bib shorts will last quite a while and
you simply can’t beat the comfort. With
some of the best features in the industry, I would put the P.R.O.
Pursuit Bib Shorts up against any bib short out there.
Pros:
Coldblack
material keeps you cooler and drier
Mesh bib area is well ventilated and dries quickly
Best chamois I have tried
Silicon leg grippers to keep the shorts from riding up
Cons:
Expensive, but well worth the price.
Elite Escape Jersey
The Pearl Izumi Men’s
ELITE
Escape Jersey is another great product that delivers some of the best
moisture transfer technologies in the industry.
It is specifically made to keep you cool and comfortable even in the
heat of summer.
The ELITE
Escape Jersey may not be
Pearl Izumi’s top-of-the-line jersey, but you wouldn’t know that from the
fit, feel, and performance. It comes
with Pearl Izumi’s Elite
Transfer In-R-Cool fabric which uses Ice-fil technology to keep your skin
cooler. I have used this on a few 90+
degree rides and felt like the fabric did keep me cooler than my other jerseys. The jersey also has Direct-vent panels to provide
superior ventilation.
The ELITE
Escape Jersey has a full length zipper in the front, three large pockets
and two additional stow pockets (all pockets are in the back). This is the first jersey that I have used
with 5 pockets and I really liked it.
Plenty of room for tools, gels, bottles, my phone, and more. There are also reflective elements built into
the jersey for added safety.
The ELITE
Escape Jersey is made with 100% polyester that has UPF 50+ protection from
the sun’s harmful rays. The price tag,
like the P.R.O.
Pursuit Bib Shorts is a little higher than some jerseys, but I feel
the features are worth the price tag.
You may find a cheaper jersey, but it won’t perform or feel as
good. You can find the jersey for around
$85.
Pros:
Elite Transfer In-R-Cool fabric with Ice-fil keeps you cooler
Direct-Vent panels help keep you dry with superior
ventilation
Full length zipper
5 pockets to store your gear
Cons:
Expensive, but well worth the price.
Pearl Izumi’s Social Media Links:
I
have never been disappointed with the products that Pearl Izumi makes and that is
especially true with the P.R.O.
Pursuit Bib Shorts and Elite
Escape Jersey. They both have
top-of-the-line features that really came through in my brutal testing. I was riding in 90 degree temperatures each
day and they not only made the ride more manageable, but I feel the compression
in the shorts and comfort of the chamois helped me perform better. I would not hesitate to pay the higher price
tag for such a great cycling kit. You
can purchase these items on the Pearl
Izumi website or at a local dealer near your (click
here for locations). I would love to
hear what you think about these products, so please leave a comment and let me
know.
Note:
I received this product in exchange for a review. The review is my personal
opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of
it. I am not a doctor, so please use all
of the products that I review at your own risk.
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