Pearl Izumi’s PRO PowerShield Gloves are designed for cool and inclement weather on any type of bike ride. With a Polartec PowerShield fabric on the back of the hand and an AX Suede Slim Fleece palm, these low-bulk wind- and waterproof gloves are intended to fend off the elements in cool — but not freezing — temperatures. Unlike many cycling gloves that have a specific end user in mind, Pearl Izumi lists the PRO Powershield for road, gravel, and mountain bike riders.
I’ve been testing a pair of the Pearl Izumi PRO Powershield Gloves for the past several weeks. From snow and sun to freezing temperatures and balmy afternoons, the fall weather around here has delivered a little bit of everything. I wouldn’t call them perfect, but these gloves have been serving me well and are my new go-to for the majority of my upcoming fall and spring rides.
- MSRP: $65
- Type: Full finger, cool weather
- Weight: 54 g (size L)
- Materials: Polartec PowerShield back of hand, AX Suede Slim Fleece palm
- Knuckle protection: No
- Touchscreen compatibility: Yes
- Sizes: XS to XXL
- Colors: Black
Pros
- Blocks wind and moisture
- Ideal for cool rides ~ 45°F and up
- Versatile – works for road, gravel, or MTB
- Direct bar feel
- Works with touchscreens
Cons
- Awkward fit in tips of thumbs
- Block wind and moisture but not particularly warm
Pearl Izumi PRO PowerShield Details
In Pearl Izumi’s own words, “the PRO Powershield Gloves are built for wet, wind-chilled days when full protection can’t come at the cost of control.” As such, these gloves are made with their namesake Polartec PowerShield fabric covering the back of the hands and providing a wind- and waterproof barrier. That’s mated to an AX Suede Slim Fleece palm that “adds warmth without sacrificing bar feel or responsiveness.”
The stretchy neoprene wrist cuff has a Velcro closure for easy on and off and to seal out the elements. Pearl Izumi refers to the cuff as “extended”, although it is only just a little longer than the cuff on most of my summer-weight gloves. The entire thumb is covered in a soft, absorbent microfiber material that is great for wiping sweat or runny noses. Both the index finger and thumb are topped with touchscreen-compatible material, allowing you to operate your phone or other devices.
The PRO Powershield Gloves aren’t insulated. Instead, they rely on the weather resistance of the PowerShield material to keep the hands warm and dry. Pearl Izumi lists a suggested temperature range of 55-75°F (13-24 °C), which adds clarity to the intended use of these gloves. These are made for keeping wind and moisture at bay during cool (but not cold) rides.
Fit and Comfort
Pearl Izumi makes the PRO PowerShield Gloves in six sizes from XS to XXL. I have size large hands, and the large size of these gloves fits me almost perfectly. I found the fingers to be a good length and the overall volume of the gloves to be spot on. On my hands, they’re not too loose, nor are they tight and restrictive; instead, they fall right in the middle, where there’s almost nothing to complain about.
Except for the tips of the thumbs, which are my only significant complaint about the gloves in terms of fit. There is a slight excess of material at the tip of each thumb, resulting in a little crease/overlap on the inside (palm-side) seam. I don’t find it to be uncomfortable, necessarily, but it is notable compared to the otherwise relatively streamlined fit. My main gripe is that it reduces the utility of the thumb on touchscreens.
Beyond that, there’s no excess material that bunches in the palms when gripping the bars. The Velcro closure makes them easy to get on and off and provides a pretty good seal around the wrist. The cuff is a little longer than lighter summer gloves, but a bit shorter than many dedicated cold-weather options. Still, the low-profile cuff fits nicely underneath long-sleeve jerseys or light jackets for a bit of overlap — assuming those sleeves are long enough to do so.
Warmth and Weather Resistance
The PRO PowerShield Gloves hang their hat on the PowerShield fabric’s wind and waterproof membrane. This material is relatively thin and doesn’t really have any thermal properties or provide any warmth beyond blocking wind and moisture. And when used in the right temperature range, that’s really all you need to stay comfortable.
After many years of using “waterproof” products that aren’t actually waterproof, I’m dubious of manufacturers’ claims. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that the PRO PowerShield Gloves actually kept my hands dry in steady drizzle, along with lots of hand-soaking encounters with trailside bushes. I generally try to avoid riding in heavy rain, so I can’t speak to their performance in those conditions. However, I did conduct a pseudo-scientific simulation in my kitchen sink. With a glove on one hand, I ran the faucet on the sprayer setting against the back of the hand for about a minute. The outermost layer of the PowerShield material absorbed some moisture, but inside, my hand remained completely dry.
I also found them to block the wind quite effectively for the most part. However, I noticed that once my hands were a bit sweaty and the temperature dropped, or I was riding in the shade, I could feel cold air against the back of my hands. I don’t believe it was due to the wind penetrating the PowerShield, but rather that the thin material doesn’t provide a thermal barrier against the cold. Still, my hands never got too cold while wearing these gloves, but I could see it happening easily if pushing them beyond their ideal temperature range.
On that note, I found their temperature range to be slightly different from Pearl Izumi’s recommended 55-75°F (13-24°C). At the lower end, I was comfortable in temperatures down to around 45°F, provided it was a sunny day, or I was riding at moderate to high intensity and generating some body heat. On the upper end, I found that above 60°F or so, my hands would start feeling a bit clammy with the PowerShield blocking all the airflow. Of course, this varied a bit depending on whether I was riding in the sun, shade, or drizzle. Still, there are plenty of spring and fall days in my neck of the woods where these hit the sweet spot for warmth and weather resistance.
Bar Feel
One of my favorite aspects of these gloves is their low-bulk design. They feel light and normal on the hands, just like any old midweight glove, but with the added benefit of blocking wind and water, too. The palm material is just a touch thicker than most of my mountain bike gloves — other than those with mesh palms — but it’s a single layer that doesn’t impact bar feel in my experience. I’ve found they just fade into the background and go virtually unnoticed, which is pretty much ideal.
Other Features
The tips of the thumb and index finger are touchscreen compatible and work well. My only issue has been the crease in the thumb material that makes it slightly more difficult to be precise on the screen. Otherwise, the entire thumb is covered in a soft microfiber material, which has been fantastic for wiping my runny nose on recent cool rides.
Versatility
I’m not gonna lie, after a bunch of fall precipitation, the mountain biking has been phenomenal, and I haven’t touched my gravel bike since I got these gloves. However, I see no reason why these gloves wouldn’t be a great fit for riding drop-bar bikes in cooler temperatures and inclement weather. I think they could serve you well, no matter what bike you choose to ride on a given day — assuming you stay within their temperature range.
Durability
Cycling gloves can be really hit or miss in the durability department. Some will inexplicably last for years while others will begin to fall apart after only a few weeks. I’m only about a month into testing the PRO PowerShield Gloves, and fortunately, they haven’t shown any signs of premature wear. Beyond some mud ground into the palms and quite a bit of snot on the thumb wipe, they almost look as good as new. The only thing worth mentioning is that the cut edge of the neoprene wrist cuff is showing a tiny bit of fraying, which doesn’t appear to be problematic, but I’ll be monitoring it closely.
Otherwise, there are no runs or pulls in the materials, and all of the stitching is intact with no loose ends. Additionally, all stitching in the high-wear area between the thumb and index finger is reinforced. So far, signs indicate that these gloves will hold up well, but I’ll update this review if that turns out not to be the case.
Pearl Izumi PRO PowerShield Gloves: My Takeaway
Ever since I started noticing the holes forming in the thumbs of my several-year-old Specialized Trail Thermal Gloves, I’ve been looking for a good replacement. Based on my recent experience, it seems like the PRO PowerShield Gloves could be it. These gloves bridge the important gap between my summer-weight gloves and full-on cold-weather options, which covers the majority of my spring and fall rides.
Lately, it seems that any time I put on a windblock jersey or light jacket to fend off wind chill or light precipitation, these gloves have been a good fit. They perform exactly as advertised, blocking wind and moisture effectively without being bulky or too warm on the hands in moderate temperatures. Don’t expect them to provide warmth outside of their temperature range, and they should serve you well in the cool temps and inclement weather they were designed for.
