Pearl Izumi PRO Jersey & PRO Bib Shorts Review

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The Pearl Izumi PRO Jersey & PRO Bib Shorts are a set of high-end road cycling duds to keep you looking and feeling good whether you’re racing in your local crib, putting in a century training ride, or blasting some local gravel. I was able to test these pieces during some early spring training rides here in Colorado, so I subjected them to a wide range of conditions which included 65-degree days, 40-degree overcast days with extra layers, and even during a pop-up storm that brought out many positives as well a few negatives.

Pearl Izumi PRO Bib Shorts & PRO Jersey

Test Baseline for The Pearl Izumi PRO Jersey & PRO Bib Shorts:

For reference, I’m 6’1” tall, 185lbs, and opted for the Pearl Izumi PRO Jersey & PRO Bib Shorts in a size large and size medium, respectively.

The Pearl Izumi PRO Jersey & PRO Bib Shorts Product Review:

Versatility (7 out of 10)

Pearl Izumi markets the Pearl Izumi PRO Jersey & PRO Bib Shorts as their top-tier road cycling kit and it shows in almost every way. Although meant clearly for the road cyclist, I did give them a whirl on some champagne gravel along Colorado’s Front Range as well as one spin on some mild single track on the mountain bike. My time with them proved their high-end pedigree but also showed that Pearl Izumi’s intent on making them more of a road-going kit was on point. Although they performed admirably on both gravel and single-track rides, the nature of the material and the race-like fit raise some concerns about durability in both disciplines.

The kit is made with some of the lightest weight, premium Italian cycling fabrics and it clearly shows. Breathability, comfort, and moisture management are all on point. However, I just can’t see these pieces holding up to the abuse a gravel cyclist or XC mountain bike racer would put them through. Under those circumstances, I’d likely reach for something with a bit more heft to stand up to the rigors of off-pavement abuse.

Pearl Izumi PRO Bib Shorts & PRO Jersey Pockets

Let’s talk about comfort range as well. The luxurious Italian PRO Transfer fabric is truly amazing, but best suited to mild to warm rides. Being so thin and so breathable was a boon on several of my warm, sunny, upper 60-degree rides where I was working hard and sweating profusely. On the flip side, however, during a 45-degree ride, I was keenly aware that even though I had a jacket and knee warmers on, the Pearl Izumi PRO Jersey & PRO Bib Shorts perform better in the heat than the cold. No big surprise here.

If you’re looking for a do-everything, jack-of-all-trades set of cycling duds, the Pearl Izumi PRO Jersey & PRO Bib Shorts are probably not what I’d recommend. That being said, if you mainly stick to the road and want to look good while reaping the benefits of some seriously cutting-edge fabrics, these pieces would bubble up to the top of the list.

Comfort/Fit/Features (9 out of 10)

Putting in multiple rides under varying conditions, I was thrilled with the kit’s comfort and fit, but with just a small caveat for those not accustomed to “race-fit” cycling gear.

Comfort is something that doesn’t necessarily reveal itself right away. Upon first donning the Pearl Izumi PRO Jersey & PRO Bib Shorts, I was immediately aware that these truly are cut for the lean road cyclist out there. If you’re someone used to more of a “club-fit” these might surprise you as you struggle to wedge yourself into them. Once on, however, both the jersey and bib shorts gently recede into the background and allow you to focus on the task at hand…whether that being spraying watts on your local weeknight group ride or settling in for a century ride on the weekends. And let’s be honest, the less you think about your gear while you’re using it the better it’s likely performing.

The Pearl Izumi PRO Bib Shorts:

Pearl Izumi has developed their latest Triple-density PRO Levitate chamois to minimize skin abrasion and sit bone discomfort while offering premium stretch for elevated contouring to the body. I’d say they nailed it as long as you keep your initial expectations in check.

Pearl Izumi Levitate Pro Chamois

Upon first putting the Pearl Izumi PRO Bib Shorts on I was immediately aware of the chamois. Unlike a chamois from some other high-end cycling brands, the Pearl Izumi Levitate chamois felt…significant. Although I don’t have an exact measurement, the chamois felt thicker than my typical chamois from brands like Castelli and Rapha. My past experience with thicker chamois’ hasn’t been the best. One would typically think “more is better”, right? Not so much as it just means there’s more material there to compress and possibly create hotspots in an area where you DEFINITELY don’t want hotspots. That being said, once out on the road, and after a couple of rides to break in the chamois and let it conform to my unique physiology, the chamois proved to be as comfortable, or in some cases, more so than some other premium brands I’ve ridden for years.

Pearl Izumi Levitate PRO chamois

The rise at the waist was a pleasant surprise as well. I tend to prefer a higher rise as it tends to hit me better when I’m bent over a bike pounding out the miles. The Pearl Izumi PRO Bib Shorts deliver on that point as well, keeping any bunching or uncomfortable abdominal binding at bay.

I typically wear a size medium in most cycling clothing (minus some of the crazy-sized European brands) and although the Pearl Izumi PR Bib Shorts felt more on the snug size, they ended up being perfect. Again, if you like a bit more room or have a few extra winter pounds on you, consider sizing up.

Pearl Izumi PRO Bib Shorts Leg Gripper

Fold in the seven-panel design, laser-cut raw edge leg hem (with a seriously minimalist gripper application that worked fabulously), and the wide, laser-cut bib straps and you find yourself with a barely-there, yet supportive fit that just works.

The Pearl Izumi PRO Jersey:

Pearl Izumi PRO Jersey

Pearl Izumi developed the PRO Jersey for the dedicated cyclist and it shows. The cut, materials, and features assume you know your way around a road bike and are used to tucking into a blistering pace line from time to time.

Again, offering up a healthy dose of premium Italian fabrics, the Pearl Izumi PRO Jersey adds just a touch of compression while allowing for ample amounts of breathability and stretch. The sleeves are on the longer side and the overall length on the shorter side so you can revel in your racer look while knowingly sipping that cappuccino at your favorite post-ride cafe. Gotta get those European vibes in while you can.

Pearl Izumi PRO Jersey

Speaking of the shorter length, be prepared to feel like the jersey might be too short upon first throwing it on. However, as soon as your torso hinges at the waist and you reach for those drops you’ll realize it was a strategic decision on Pearl’s part. We’ve all worn jerseys that fit great standing around the parking lot pre-ride only to find that they bunch up and create ‘ruffles’ along the abdomen once you’re bent over your bike’s cockpit. Not in the case of the Pearl Izumi PRO Jersey. The intentional short front was designed for the cycling position and works beautifully keeping the ‘ruffles’ at bay.

As mentioned above, I’m typically a size medium in most cycling brands, but opted for a size large jersey and I think it was the right call. Pearl Izumi’s PRO line leans slightly more toward the European cycling sizing norms and a size medium would have had me looking more like a stuffed sausage than a cyclist. Keep that in mind if you’re not accustomed to the “sprayed-on” look.

Pearl Izumi PRO Jersey Rear Zippered Pocket

Pearl Izumi rounds out the jersey with a reliable and stealthy YKK zipper, 3 traditional rear storage pockets with 1 zippered pocket. Add in BioViz reflective elements and you’ve got yourself a top-end, comfortable, breathable, and stylish cycling jersey.

Summary: (8 out of 10)

The Pearl Izumi PRO Jersey & PRO Bib Shorts are a premium road cycling kit, providing comfort, breathability, and style in a reasonably feature-rich package that only lacks some versatility.

What more can I say? Look good and feel good when you’re out on the road putting in those long miles or forcing your friends to breathe shards of glass as they try to hold your wheel in that “it’ll be an easy ride” pace line. Pearl Izumi is chasing premium cycling brands like Castelli, Rapha, MAAP, and others, and the PRO line has them right there.

Specs/MSRP:

The Pearl Izumi PRO Jersey & PRO Bib Shorts come in both a men’s and women’s specific version and are available now.  MSRP of $180 for the jersey (available in 6 colors) and $225 for the bib shorts (available in 4 colors). This isn’t exactly chump change by any stretch of the imagination, but when compared to other premium cycling brands, Pearl’s pricing is a bit more wallet-friendly. For more info or to check out a set for yourself, visit https://www.pearlizumi.com/