Pearl Izumi has long been known for its line of high-performance cycling apparel. At this year’s Sea Otter, they showcased their decades-long legacy and previewed their 2025 line. Joining a gravel ride with the Pearl Izumi team, I received a set of their flagship road, gravel, and mountain biking gear to take home with me and test on my local trails.
Pearl Izumi offers cycling apparel to fit all experience levels and price points. I have accumulated a range of their stuff over the years, and honestly, it’s been a treat to experience their top-of-the-line offerings.
Pearl Izumi Men’s Expedition PRO Bib Short
I don’t own that many high-end bib shorts, but on long rides, there really is no substitution for comfort. A padded bib eliminates pressure on the abdomen, and a high-quality chamois offers next-level comfort over hours of pedaling. After a few 25 and 30-mile mountain and gravel rides wearing the PRO Bib Short, I’ve been walking away amazed at how good my backside still feels.
Features
- Armourtech Cordura fabric offers durability against abrasion while maintaining high compression
- Triple-density PRO Levitate 3D chamois minimizes skin abrasion and sit bone discomfort while offering premium stretch for elevated contouring to the body
- Laser-perforated and raw-edged premium elastic bib straps
- Stretch woven fabric moves moisture away from skin
- One drop-in thigh cargo pocket, one zippered cargo pocket, two lumbar pockets
- Raw edge leg band construction for seamless transition to skin
- BioViz® reflective elements for night visibility
- 10.5″ inseam
On the bike
Back in the day, I was into the self-torment thing that is endurance training and XC racing, but this point in my riding “career”, that’s not why I ride. I’ve gotten away from doing longer rides, as once I’m feeling discomfort or start feeling crappy, it just hasn’t been fun.
It’s probably too early to say, but it’s possible it may have just been a combination of my gear and riding position. Did I really just need $300+ bike shorts? (paired with anti-chafing lotion -AKA chamois cream, of course)
That is to say, these shorts are extremely comfortable. You can thank the cutting edge manufacturing techniques utilized (as well as the name-brand fabrics), which feature minimal seams and raw edges on the bib straps. Minimal to no seams means fewer places for chafing equals more comfort; if you’ve been on the fence about investing in some quality shorts, having a pair of top-level shorts for those big days may be worth looking into.
Previously, my go-to bibs were from my time managing the e-commerce department at a cycling online retailer. Much of the gear I own is high-end but admittedly is a bit dated at this point; apparel technology has come a long way since then. This (and I’m almost ashamed to admit it) is my first pair of “modern” cycling shorts with a zipper pocket for keys and a pocket that can fit a phone.
Damn, I’ve been missing out. It’s also worth stating again that the chamois is at another level. I’ve taken some time off endurance rides, but these things are inspiring me to start planning some longer routes.
Honestly, sometimes when I’m wearing this gear, I don’t feel worthy, especially considering I haven’t been doing as many long, big pedal days for the last season or two. After shoulder surgery last year, my focus has been on strength training over endurance. I had to relearn how to go to the bathroom wearing these (without totally taking everything off), and like many of us, I need to do more work on my core and pelvic floor. That said, there’s nothing like wearing gear that doesn’t hold you back, and it’s inspired me to get both my road, gravel, and cross-country hardtails tuned and polished for some bigger excursions.
Pearl Izumi Men’s Pro Jersey
Accompanying the Expedition PRO Bib shorts was the PRO Jersey. That’s “Pro” with a capital “P-R-O”. With a second skin race fit optimized for aerodynamics, for me, that means “suck it in!” for every photo taken while wearing these. (I am not worthy)
The Pearl Izumi PRO jersey is designed for riders seeking performance. The PRO Jersey features their race fit, with a streamlined silhouette to minimize aerodynamic drag. For the uninitiated, that means that at speed, nothing is going to be flapping about.
Features (via Pearl Izumi)
- Strategically placed solid and mesh lightweight Italian fabrics provide positive compression
- Iconic Speed Sleeve construction
- YKK semi-locking front zipper adjusts venting easily on the fly
- Traditional 3 rear pockets and one rear zipper pocket
- Bonded, no-stitch clean hemlines
- Made with recycled content
- BioViz® reflective elements for night visibility
- UPF 30
On the bike
I’ve been wearing the PRO Jersey on endurance rides, both on the road, gravel, and dirt. On hard-paced rides, the breathability of this top is so good compared to my other pieces that I forget how warm it is out.
I’ve been wearing baggier, looser fitting tops while mountain biking (Including a Pearl Izumi Canyon Merino 3/4 sleeve top I picked up at the end of last season on sale), and while those are great for eMTB, park days, and shuttle runs, I am going back to racier tops for cross country rides. Yes, I feel less self-conscious in looser fitting tops; however, the second-skin fit and compression wick moisture at another level, and that makes riding on hot summer days far more bearable. Admittedly, I’m still wearing an overshort much of the time when I’m on my mountain bike. If you see me going full Lycra, you know I mean business.
The jersey utilizes a combination of solid and mesh lightweight Italian fabrics and is designed for compression, with a fit intended for comfort on long days on the bike. The fabric content utilizes 85% recycled polyester paired with 15% elastane, offering moisture management and breathability. Paired with the front zipper for extra ventilation, keeping cool and dry under hard efforts is simple.
The Pearl Izumi Men’s PRO Jersey lists for $200.00.
Men’s Elite Gel Gloves – $45
Pearl Izumi included a set of their Elite Gel Gloves with the kit. As a rider who has mostly been wearing full finger gloves – or going without – I forget how nice it is to have access to my fingertips. The “Elite” gloves are the more expensive Pearl gloves and they… well they fit like a glove. But with these gloves, you’re getting additional levels of comfort on longer rides thanks to the 3D gel padding.
Features
- 3D Gel padding
- Reflective elements for nighttime visibility
- Pull-off tabs at base of fingers to ease removal
- Microfiber on thumb provides an ultra-soft sweat wipe for the face
- Hook and loop closure provides an adjustable wrist closure to give more room to put on glove
Some riders prefer thin gloves so they have a better feel of the grips. I tend to fall in this camp, but on longer rides, I’ve been happy to trade a bit of responsiveness at the bars for comfort. Admittedly, combined with gel padding under my bar tape, it was doubly weird, but dang, it was comfortable, and I didn’t have any issues with numbness.
It’s been a while since I’ve rocked the fingerless glove look, but being able to use my phone and camera gear easily – I shoot a lot of media on rides, after all, I’m a blogger – I may have to pick up a non-padded version for some MTB rides.
Who are the Expedition Pro Bib Shorts and Pro Jersey for?
The PRO Jersey from Pearl Izumi retails for $200, and the Expedition Pro Big Shorts sell for $300. There’s no getting around that sticker shock if you’re new to the sport. That said, the Pearl Izumi Quest short-sleeve jersey starts at $65.00, which offers many of the performance features found from the brand — quick-dry fabrics, quality zippers, etc., in a more accessible price point. They’re not one-season pieces either – but products built to last.
Indeed, while working at my first bike shop over two decades ago, one of the first investments in high-quality cycling gear I spent my hard dollars on was a Pearl Izumi chamois short and a windbreaker. While that chamois has since worn thin and been retired, I still have that simple black windbreaker.
For the price, you’re getting the latest performance, materials, construction, and everything else that comes with the advancements in apparel technology. This isn’t the kit for the newbie; it’s intended for the seasoned rider looking for the best available. That said, Pearl offers pieces for every budget, and many of those pieces are good options as well. Plus, you can always wait for holiday sales. And while this kit is ‘expensive’, I still have several Pearl Izumi pieces that are still in rotation over a decade later.
Fit & Sizing
In terms of fit, I’m 5’10”, 178lbs, and selected the size large for the bibs, jersey, and gloves. Many of my medium-sized cycling pieces are feeling small these days and according to the Pearl Izumi size chart, I am still a size medium. (These seem accurate.) I’m pleased with the fit of the larges – I wear this size in Castelli- choosing the medium size would provide additional compression. I’m happy with the larges, but based on my experience, for Pearl Izumi gear, especially mountain stuff— I’m probably a medium across the board.
Check out the Pearl Izumi Gravel Collection at PearlIzumi.com.