Since 1950, Pearl Izumi has been in the business of crafting innovative cycling clothing, essentials and footwear for cyclists. The company launched with one man, Kinji Shimizu, a businessman who delivered clothing to his customers by bike through villages in Japan.
Shimizu would go on to evolve an Italian kit design worn by his son Hiro at the Asian Cycling Championships, using the best materials he could find, and so began a journey leading to the Pearl Izumi brand as we know it today. (In 2008, the company was purchased by Shimano).
Since we’re all about comfort on two wheels (and warmer weather, giving us all the more reason to get outdoors), we decided to check out the latest in Pearl Izumi cycling clothes for men and women, from pro shorts to lightweight merino tops.
Women’s ELITE Escape Barrier Jacket
Lightweight but protective against the chill of early mornings and evenings, I’m an instant fan of this jacket’s classic design and semi-form fit. The drop tail hem adds extra coverage and I’m impressed by the sturdy two-way zipper considering how light the material is.
On the back is a zippered, ventilated pocket for stashing small items. The cuffs and hem are both elasticized to further protect you from the elements. A welcome addition is the silicon gripper strips around the inside hem to keep the jacket in place.
Screaming yellow means cars (and other cyclists) won’t miss me when I zip by on busy roads.
Added BioViz® reflective elements on the sleeves and around the rear pocket are just icing on the visibility cake.
The ELITE is made of 100% polyester (in sizes XS to XXL), also available in Screaming Pink, Orange Pop/Fiery Coral, Arctic/Midnight Navy, Teal and Black. CAD $150; USD $90
Women’s Vista Pant
These soft, technical, four-way stretch pants are meant to go anywhere and everywhere, not just on the bike. They’ve got a front zipper, a two-button looped closure and five pockets.
The waistband rides a bit higher in back to provide more coverage when riding, but I just really like their deep green colour that pairs well with so many neutrals and print tops in my wardrobe. The eco-friendly durable water repellant finish is also perfect for our Wet coast.
And along the upper part of the right leg is a hidden zippered pocket for stashing a few bills, ID, (smaller) smart phone and the like. The pocket is even angled so the items will stay behind the leg and not interfere while pedalling.
[The unique two-button looped closure]
Rolling up the pants reveals a reflective strip on each leg.
The Vistas are made with a blend of 89% polyester and 11% elastane (and 100% polyester pockets). They come in sizes 0 to 16 in Forest and Flint Stone (neutral cool grey).
CAD $175; USD $125
Women’s BLVD Merino 1/4 Zip
Pearl Izumi’s smartly-detailed BLVD merino top is perfect for layering with a soft-shell jacket for winter or a lightweight jersey in spring and summer. It’s the perfect combination of Merino wool’s warmth coupled with polyester’s fast-dry qualities.
This shirt maximizes the best qualities of each material: The polyester is worn next to the skin and the Merino is on the exterior.
Alongside half the zipper is a thin strip of reflective material; around the inside neck is pink contrast piping. Using 58% recycled polyester, the BLVD also happens to be sustainably-sourced. The back of this casual, go anywhere top features a reflective strip and a slight drop to offer more rear coverage.
The BLVD Merino 1/4 Zip (58% recycled polyester/42% Merino wool) comes in XS to XL in Aquifer and Phantom. CAD $150; USD $110.00
Men’s BLVD Merino T
With all the same great design and sustainable features of the Women’s BLVD Merino zip, the men’s BLVD Merino T is a short-sleeved version with that same slight drop tail in back.
This is a super flexible shirt that can pair with jeans, technical pants and casual wear in addition to bike shorts. The form-fitting T comes in three easy-to-pair colours, too: Willow, Russet and Phantom (sizes S to XXL).
CAD $120; USD $80.00
Women’s P.R.O. Short
These shorts are super comfortable and include a supportive, breathable chamois constructed with plush Italian PRO transfer fabric for great rides. I like the patterned option in addition to solid navy and black.
Seven engineered panels are used to minimize seaming for the perfect contoured fit.
The waistband is also soft yet supportive and the seamless hem has a patterned silicon grip pattern so the shorts won’t ride up when cycling.
In addition to the Pearl Izumi reflective logo, each leg has a reflective strip for added visibility.
The form-fitting P.R.O Short is made using 46% nylon, 38% polyester and 16% LYCRA® elastane and is available in XS to XXL in Navy Wish, Navy One and Black. CAD $250; USD $170.00
Men’s PRO Short
Similarly designed to the women’s P.R.O. Short, the men’s version contains that same supportive, breathable chamois and PRO transfer fabric with a narrower waistband.
Pearl Izumi uses just seven carefully engineered panels to minimize seaming for a perfectly-contoured fit. The seamless hems (also containing a patterned silicon grip) create a smooth transition from short to skin for a sleek, high performance look and feel.
The form-fitting P.R.O Short is made with 46% nylon, 38% polyester and 16% LYCRA® elastane and comes in sizes XS to XXL in Navy Paisley, Black Stripe, Navy One and Black.
CAD $250; USD $170.00
Men’s PRO Mesh Jersey
This race-fitting trio of colourful jerseys was originally created for pro tour racers who require aerodynamic design with highly-breathable mesh fabric for high-performance rides.
We like the stylish features of this lightweight race-fit jersey, including the classic three pockets on the back, grippy waistband (featuring the patterned silicon design) and mix of textures and to make this a highly-desirable addition to your cycling wardrobe.
Fabric Composition
Main body: 88% polyester, 12% elastane
Sleeves and Side Panels: 71% polyester, 29% elastane
Back Pockets: 83% polyester, 17% elastane
The PRO Mesh comes in three cool colour combinations: Screaming Yellow/Navy Paisley, Torch Red Stripe and Teal/Navy Stripe in sizes XS to XXL. CAD $175; USD $135.00
A big thank you to Pearl Izumi Canada for providing us the items above for featuring.
