Pearl Izumi Select Thermal Winter Riding Review

Bike clothing manufacturer Pearl Izumi are based in the US “sunshine state” of Colorado, so they ship all their “cold weather” prototypes to the UK for testing.  It’s safe to say their rain jackets must have taken one helluva beating during 2012…

As for their budget-priced winter jackets, well they’ve probably never tested them north of the M25.  Here in northeast Scotland, it’s been single figure temperatures since the back end of October, with the mercury barely nudging above zero for most of December.  It seemed the perfect environment for testing Pearl Izumi’s entry level thermal winter range…

The Select series of jackets and bib tights is described as “ideal for athletes who demand affordable, high performance athletic gear they can depend on day in and day out.” If you want something less affordable but higher performance, you need to check out their Elite and P.R.O ranges. The Select jacket is described as a Barrier jacket, and according to the label is designed for use in temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees.  Most of the rides I did in it – totalling a couple of hundred miles – were at the bottom end of this spectrum, and at times I could certainly still feel the chill, especially at the start of the ride before I’d worked up a sweat.  I wore it with just a long-sleeved baselayer, but possibly it’s designed to be worn over your normal cycling jersey too.  That might explain why it’s called a “jacket”.  Except with my normal winter jacket of choice, I only ever wear it with a baselayer and am consistently toasty(though that cost three times the price of the jacket I’m reviewing here).

The “barrier”  – the wind and waterproof “WxB” membrane – is only on the front of the jacket.  The back is “non-barrier”, which improves breathability – I never felt too damp or sweaty during my rides – but leaves you exposed to wind or rain.

It’s described as a “semi-form fit”, which means you might want to consider ordering down a size from your normal cut(depending on how you define “jacket” – see above).  I’m normally an XL guy, but the Large Select jacket was easily big enough for me, possibly a bit too spacious around the cuffs, which are non-adjustable.

And the “jacket”  description probably explains why, instead of the traditional three pockets on the back, you get only one, zipped pocket, which can be a mild irritant when you are trying to find your Allen keys or tyre levers amongst all your loose change and spare tubes.

Pearl Izumi Select Thermal Barrier Jacket, RRP £79.99.

Value for money: 3.5/5

As for the Select Thermal bib tights, these also have a very generous cut.  I’m 6’  2” with an inside leg measurement of 33”, yet the legs of the Large size were still bunched up slightly Nora Batty-style around the knees until I did a bit of rejigging.

There’s no padding –  they are designed to be worn with your usual cycling shorts – nor foot stirrups.  Instead, there’s a generous (eight-inch) ankle zipper that comes with a “zipper garage”.

They feature a very comfortable anatomic multi-panel design and a fleecy lining which, claims the label, “sets the benchmark in warmth and moisture transfer.”

The temperature range for the tights is slightly higher than for the jacket – eight to 11 degrees – which presumably reflects the amount of work your legs will be doing out there in the cold.  Certainly my limbs never felt anything less than warm and comfortable(and never sweaty, Betty).

Pearl Izumi Select Thermal bib tights, RRP £89.99

Value for money: 4/5

For the full range of Pearl Izumi bike wear, go to:  www.pearlizumi.co.uk

Thanks to @cathot21 for shooting the video.