The Pearl Izumi Pro Merino Thermal Jersey ($195) is a result of a partnership with The Woolmark Company to create Merino wool cycling apparel for when the temperatures plunge, brooding gray clouds occupy the sky and the vengeful breezes chill to the bone. The partnership solidifies Pearl Izumi’s pledge to move 30 percent of their line to natural technical materials by 2020 and 90 percent by 2022.
What I Like
Naturally breathable and odor-resistant
Merino wool is naturally breathable so we’re less likely to overheat and perspire. Since it’s great at not absorbing sweat, there is far less sweat collecting and producing odor. And then there’s Lanolin, the oily, waxy coating on every single Merino fiber that helps the sheep repel water during rain. When you add all this up, it’s a trifecta of Mother Nature’s most excellent product for outdoor apparel.
That being said, it took three weeks of wearing the Pearl Izumi Pro Merino Thermal Jersey every weekday on bike commutes to work, mountain biking on the weekends and as a running top before I smelled like the compost pile in my grandparents’ backyard. Boom.
Multipurpose Use
The Pearl Izumi Pro Merino Thermal Jersey is most definitely a cycling jersey. But because it’s made from 57 percent Merino wool, and it fits like a baselayer, there is absolutely no reason I can’t wear it Nordic skiing, snowshoeing or for running. This is a good thing because if I had to shell out for the painful price of $195*, I would make damn sure I can use it all year around and for every outdoor activity. (*I received this jersey as a sample from PI for this review)
Fit and Size
The Pearl Izumi Pro Merino Thermal Jersey is semi-fitted, meaning I had no problem wearing a short-sleeved or long-sleeved wool baselayer underneath. I wear a size small in tops and my size small sample seemed to be the right fit. I especially liked that it offers enough room in the shoulders so that I don’t feel constricted when I use it for running. For cycling, the sleeves are nice and long and fully cover my wrists when I’m in the aggressive riding position.
Semi-fitted Cut Allows for a Baselayer
The coldest temperature I’ve worn with the Pearl Izumi Pro Merino Thermal Jersey is about 30 degrees and I was plenty comfortable. I experimented with three separate wool baselayers to achieve that optimal balance between comfort and overheating: which is a blend of 57 percent merino wool and 43 percent nylon, a Kora Shola yak wool baselayer and a short-sleeved Pearl Izumi Merino baselayer. My personal preference in temperatures between 30 and 35 degrees was the Pearl Izumi Symphony Thermal jersey. The Kora Shola was way too warm, although when the temps get down to the single digits or below, the combo of the Kora Shola and the Pearl Izumi Pro Merino Thermal jersey will hit the sweet spot. The short-sleeved Pearl Izumi Merino baselayer worked well in keeping my core warm and moisture managed but my arms were cold.
What I didn’t Like
Nothing. Although for some people the price tag of $195 could feel like a sharp knee in the stomach.
Final Thoughts
Wool is the original tech fabric. Humans were summiting 8,000-meter Himalayan peaks and tending goats in January on the Steppes of Mongolia while wearing wool long before any lab-born textiles were a remote idea in someone’s head.
The Pearl Izumi Pro Merino Thermal Jersey is styled to wear on or off the bike and is fitted enough to not be bulky but also allow for a (another) wool baselayer (or as a baselalyer) when it gets really cold. The Pearl Izumi Pro Merino Thermal Jersey is another win from Pearl Izumi.
