In spite of the fact that part of the country is struggling with too much water while others don’t have enough, mountain bike season is either here or rapidly approaching. Just in time for the warm weather, Pearl Izumi has an all new Spring line up that has been heavily redesigned. The new pieces offer improved fit, features, and a fresh color palette. In addition to muted grey, white, black, and brown, there are pops of color that seem to mate well with other products – like a Smith Forefront helmet for example (I swear the matching was unintentional).
While the entire range of products looks interesting, the new mountain bike shorts and bib liner are the standouts. Offering a much better fit than previous PI mountain shorts, and a comfy bib liner with 3 pockets sewn into the back, Pearl’s mountain gear is looking promising for the coming year…
Billed as an XC/Trail short, the new Summit has a relaxed fit and a 14″ inseam. Sold as a shell without a liner, the lighter 4-way stretch fabric is coated with a DWR treatment to keep you dry. An internal velcro waist adjustment helps keep the shorts in place and a snap/velcro closure keeps the waist belt secure. Two zippered pockets are located one on each side of the short.
The Summit is also available in women’s which was designed from the ground up with an 11″ inseam rather than working backwards from the men’s version. Available in multiple colors, the men’s Summit retails for $80 and the women’s sells for $70.
No, Pearl Izumi isn’t the first company to offer a mountain bike bib liner with integrated storage but it’s great to have options. Using an Elite 3D chamois with 37.5 Minerale for improved moisture transfer, and odor resistance, the liner is made from a stretch mesh which helps keep things cool under a baggy shell. Three pockets built into the back of the bib offer road jersey like storage, but under your mountain bike jersey. For those that don’t wear a pack, but also prefer baggies pockets like these are a great addition. The liner sells for $100.
Built with a slightly longer 15″ inseam, the Elevate short leans towards the all mountain segment. Using similar 4-way stretch fabric with DWR treatment, the Elevate uses a dual snap closure and zip fly with an adjustable waist belt. Cut a bit looser around the knees, the Elevate is designed to work well with knee pads and sells for $100 without a liner.
Up top, the Big Air long sleeve jersey is meant to be ideal for additional coverage in the warmer months. Using open mesh Transfer fabric for breathability, the jersey also includes a built in sunglass wipe and sell for $55. To manage those unpredictable spring and summer storms, Pearl Izumi offers the new MTB WRX jacket. Meant more as a packable jacket, PI used a 2.5 layer charcoal membrane to make it waterproof but does not use waterproof zippers or taped seams which give it the water resistant rating but also a more affordable $175 price tag.
In addition to another revision for the X-Project which moves to two centrally located Bi-directional Boa dials, PI is introducing a heavily updated X-Alp model. Fitted with a lace up closure, the X-Alp Seek VI is SPD compatible and uses a composite injected nylon plate with EVA outsole/midsole and 1:1 heel pad with a carbon rubber lugged outsole. The X-Alp Seek VI will retail at $105.00 and the new X-Project 1.0 comes in at $320
Based on the few early samples we have received, Pearl Izumi has really upped their game for the mountain bike scene.
