Faced with shorter winter days, we’ve transitioned to doing more road and gravel rides close to home. As a new cyclist, I needed fitted gear to stay warm without overheating. As I recently purchased a pair of Pearl Izumi X-Alp Flow shoes, I decided to match pieces from the same collection, leading me to Pearl Izumi’s Attack Thermal Jersey and Sugar Thermal Tights.
Features (via Pearl Izumi)
Attack Thermal Jersey
- Thermal fleece transfers moisture to the exterior and increases stretch and mobility
- YKK semi-locking front zipper adjusts venting easily on the fly
- Traditional 3 rear pockets and one rear zipper pocket
- Made with recycled content
Sugar Thermal Tights
- Soft Thermal fleece fabric for comfort and thermal regulation
- Two side pockets to stash accessories
- Women’s SELECT Escape Chamois pad with blended edge-free cushioning
- “BioViz” reflective elements for additional visibility
On the Trail
After wearing these tights on several longer rides, I was pleased with how warm they kept my legs. Though they are a snug fit, they moved well and didn’t sag down in the back. I initially paired the jersey with a windbreaker, but as soon as I got warmed up, the jersey was enough. It kept me nice and toasty and did a fine job wicking moisture.
I haven’t tried a lot of different cycling shoes, so I’ll hold off on writing up a report on them for now. I haven’t graduated to clipless pedals yet, but I am happy with how well the X-Alp Flow shoes performed on mountain biking, urban, and gravel rides. They provide a good amount of grip which is helpful as I build my skills.
Fit and Sizing
Sugar Thermal Cycling Tights
The Sugar Thermal tights feature a built in chamois pad and are designed to be fitted. In the product description on the Pearl Izumi website, they note: “This product runs small. We recommend sizing up from your normal preferred size.”
Taking their advice, I sized up to a large. However, getting into them the first time was a feat, as the material felt more like a wet suit and didn’t stretch much.
Despite the tight fit, the wide waistband was comfortable and didn’t create muffin top. The chamois sits a little low until you’ve broken them in, but provides ample padding for longer rides. I got a pair in orange (dark ink/adobe pomme) , which isn’t typically my jam, but it was fun for fall riding. I got a second pair in blue (navy marble) which is more in line with my typical aesthetic.
Attack Thermal Jersey
I was pleased with the fit of this Jersey as it was comfortable and fitted with just the right amount of stretch. I tried a size medium and found the fit was spot on. For reference, I am a US dress size 6, 36” bust, 28” waist.
Conclusion
Pearl Izumi offers a range of quality, high-performance cycling apparel at reasonable prices. The Women’s Attack Thermal Jersey, Sugar Thermal Cycling Tights, and X Alp-Flow Shoes each sell for $100. For this review, I purchased both the tights, jersey, and shoes on sale at the Pearl Izumi website. If you found this article useful, please support the site by shopping via our affiliate links at our retail partner Competitive Cyclist.