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 several different Pearl
Izumi cycling shorts, bibs, and jerseys and love them all. My favorites are the P.R.O. series shorts and
bib shorts, which shouldn’t come as a surprise since they are Pearl Izumi’s top of the line
products. You can check out my recent
review of the amazing P.R.O.
Pursuit Bib Shorts and ELITE
Escape Jersey (click
here for my review). I just got the P.R.O.
Escape Thermal Jersey, P.R.O.
Softshell Lite Glove, and the P.R.O.
Thermal Skull Cap to test.
P.R.O. Escape Thermal
Jersey
When you are looking for a quality fall or winter jersey,
what do you look for. There is a good
chance that the P.R.O.
Escape Thermal Jersey has all the right features. The P.R.O. Thermal fabric is always working
to keep you warm and dry. There is
nothing good about a cycling top that keeps you warm, but you feel like you are
in a sauna suit. The P.R.O.
Escape Thermal Jersey has strategically placed ventilation panels that
provide excellent breathability. The
temperature here hasn’t been too cold so I tested the jersey in temps around 60
degrees. Even at that temperature, I
didn’t feel like the jersey was too warm.
It did a great job of keeping me dry as well.
There are three large pockets in the back and a few smaller
pockets ensure you can take your gear and fuel with you. The pockets uses the new P.R.O. Softshell
Lite material that protects your gear from splashes and mist. The pockets not only hold tons of gear, but
they do a great job of keeping your gear close to your body so nothing falls
out (a common issue with loose pockets).
One of my favorite feature of jerseys has to be the silicone
print that has been added to the bottom elastic area near your waist. The P.R.O.
Escape Thermal Jersey has elastic with the silicone grippers
and the Pearl
Izumi logo. It does an excellent job of preventing your
jersey from creeping up during your ride.
There is a full length vislon zipper that makes unzipping your
jersey and zipping it back up with one hand easy, even while riding. This is important, especially if you are
getting warm and need to cool off by opening the jersey a little. No jersey is complete without a little bit
of reflective material and this jersey has that too.
While you are getting one of the best thermal jerseys out
there, it does come at a cost. The P.R.O.
Escape Thermal Jersey retails for $155, which is worth the
price if you can afford it. The features
and functionality are top of the line and you can feel the quality when you put
it on. You can get yours at the Pearl Izumi
website or at a bike shop near you.
Pros:
P.R.O. Thermal fabric keeps you warm and dry
Softshell pockets protect your gear from splashes
Elastic silicone grippers keep your jersey from riding up
Three full pockets and additional smaller pockets
Full length zipper is easy to zip with one hand while riding
Reflective markings increase visibility
Cons:
Expensive, but well worth the price.
P.R.O. Softshell Lite Glove
The Pearl Izumi P.R.O.
Softshell Lite Gloves are another great
product that delivers some of the best moisture transfer technologies in the
industry. These gloves provide
lightweight insulation the help combat against wind and water without creating
extra bulk.
The P.R.O.
Softshell Lite Gloves are
filled with 50 grams of Primaloft
Gold insulation. I just found out about
Primaloft and was
intrigued. Primaloft Gold has a high
warmth-to-weight ratio so you don’t need a lot of bulky insulation to stay
warm. It is water resistant and absorbs
less water than other types of insulation.
Primaloft is extremely
breathable and encourages the passage of moisture vapor to keep you from being
cold and clammy. It is packable, lightweight,
and very comfortable.
Like all the best gloves for running and cycling, the P.R.O.
Softshell Lite Gloves comes with conductive
synthetic leather on the glove’s index finger and thumb so you can use your
smartphone or touchscreen cycle computer with your gloves on. There is also Clarino synthetic leather on
the palm that provides durability.
The inside of the gloves are fleece lined and feel amazing. There is a little bulk to the gloves because
of the Primaloft, but it’s
very soft and doesn’t restrict movement whatsoever. The gloves have a 1:1 fit that ensures that
you have the most dexterity and will be able to shift and break with ease.
The thumb has a soft fleece wiping surface for when you sweat, need to
wipe off rain, or have a runny nose. One
of the big differences between this glove and my other fall/winter gloves is
the longer gauntlet design that goes further up your wrist. This not only keeps your wrists warm, but
prevents cold air from making it up your sleeves. Last, but not least are the reflective
elements to add extra visibility for low light conditions.
The P.R.O.
Softshell Lite Gloves
retail for $55, which is worth the price.
While some people might say, why pay so much for a pair of gloves, you
really have to try them to understand how great they really are. These are the softest, most comfortable
gloves I have every tried. I’m not just
talking about cycling gloves, but all gloves.
You can get yours at the Pearl Izumi
website or at a bike shop near you.
Pros:
Primaloft
keeps your hands warm and dry
Conductive material for use with touchscreens
Extremely comfortable fleece lining and wiping surfaces
Longer design to prevent air leakage
Great fit
Cons:
Expensive, but well worth the price.
P.R.O. Thermal Skull Cap
The Pearl Izumi P.R.O.
Thermal Skull Cap is a simple design that offers so much. The P.R.O. Thermal Dry fabric provides
superior moisture transfer, reduces dry time when it does get wet or sweaty,
and increases odor absorption. There are
reflective elements that make you more visible, which is always a plus.
It does a great job of keeping you warm while still being
extremely soft and comfortable. I tried
the skull cap on at my house the night it arrived and my head got unbelievably
warm in no time. The cap itself fits
really well and is designed to fit under your helmet without interfering with
your helmet’s retention system. There is
even a pony tail port that allows you to wear the P.R.O.
Thermal Skull Cap without causing the cap to get in the
way.
The P.R.O.
Thermal Skull Cap retails for $25,
which is a great price. This skull cap
will keep your head warm and feels great.
It is perfectly designed to go under your helmet without breaking the
bank. You can get yours at the Pearl Izumi
website or at a bike shop near you.
Pros:
P.R.O. Thermal Dry fabric keeps you dry and stink free
Fits perfectly under a helmet
Pony tail port provides a better fit
Great price
Reflective elements for low-light conditions
Pearl Izumi’s Social Media Links:
I
have never been disappointed with the products that Pearl Izumi
makes and that is especially true with these three products. The P.R.O.
Escape Thermal Jersey, P.R.O.
Softshell Lite Glove, and the P.R.O.
Thermal Skull Cap are all excellent products and I can’t
wait to wear them more, especially since the weather should be changing quickly
around here. Each product is made with
top-of-the-line features that make it easier to justify the cost. For me, comfort and performance are the keys
to having a fun and successful ride. I
would not hesitate to pay the higher price tag for such great products. 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.
