CATEGORIES
CATEGORIESPearl Izumi’s technical cycling apparel tends to be a staple in most mountain biking wardrobes. We put a couple of their new kits to the test in Spain, and our testers dug the simple functionality of this year’s apparel. We recommend you combine the Summit T-Shirt with the Canyon Shorts for an affordable, simple, stylish and decidedly functional MTB kit.
Were it not for the bold gray Pearl Izumi logo blazoned on the side of this shirt, the black ever-so-slight v-neck would have been perfect attire for the trendy nightclubs in Barcelona and Madrid. But this is Pearl Izumi we’re talkin’ about here. Our testers skipped the discos and wore this jersey day after day after day of shredding epic singletrack on the Basque Coast.
Lightweight and loose, this PI piece is a simple, well-done take on modern mountain biking apparel. Testers wore it with and without a backpack, solo and over chest armor. In all-conditions, the jersey performed as hoped and expected.
After plenty of crashes, bails, and the occasional intimate contact with a thorny bush, there was only a single thread that had been pulled out of place. Easy to hand wash, our testers happily scrubbed the shirt clean of sunscreen, beer, blood, and mud.
Tester Comment: “There’s not too much to say about this Pearl Izumi jersey, namely because there’s nothing wrong with it, nothing I would change. It stands up to the elements, it’s lightweight and really comfortable. I wore it ride after ride, day after day. The only thing I would say is that black isn’t ideal when the sun is going full steam, but that’s about it.”
Best For: Mountain biking with or without armor, casual everyday use, even just hitting the gym on days when you can’t make it to the trail.
Priced on the lower end of Pearl Izumi’s bike shorts, the Canyon offers excellent value, a few welcome features and zero frills.
When rain storms swung in from the sea and turned the Basque trails in to mud-splattered trenches, the Canyon Shorts weren’t afraid to get down and dirty. Pearl Izumi’s Transfer fabric is designed to wick away wetness and manage moisture — our testers verified this by getting absolutely soaked and continuing to ride in comfort. In fact, the shorts were so comfortable, our testers regularly removed the 3D Chamois — an easily integrated, well-designed bike chamois — and wore them around town, jumping off bridges, cliffs and docks into rivers, oceans and lakes.
Apart from being quick to dry and comfortable, the Canyon sports two non-zippered front pockets (use at your own risk when going for a ride) and a trustworthy zippered cargo pocket.
Tester Comment: “The Chamois is top-notch. You minimize sagging — the baggy shorts and the 3D chamois actually work together. Sometimes companies sell MTB shorts without the liner, or if you do get the liner, you’d never remove it to wear the shorts around town. But even though the orange is super bright, I still think the Canyon looks great off the bike. So, in my opinion, this is really a two-for-one deal.”
Best For: Mountain biking, traveling, jumping off cliffs into any and every available water source.
Our testers worked through several of the latest Pearl Izumi bike socks on a recent mountain biking trip to Spain — wearing them mountain biking, around town, at the airport and everywhere in-between. Here are two of their favorites:
On hot, long rides that require a bit of a pedal, this is the go-to. The low-cuff also pairs well with longer shin armor if you use it. Either way, the polyester/nylon/spandex blend supplies the right balance between stretch, compression and ventilation.
