When Pearl Izumi set out to design the Pearl Izumi Women’s Pro Mesh Jersey ($135), they had two things in mind: It had to have a racing fit to decrease any all wind resistance and it had to respond appropriately to long, fast hot rides to ensure comfort to the cyclist.
What I Liked
Cool and airy for hot weather rides. It’s all in the PRO Transfer Mesh fabric. Of the three jerseys I tested from Pearl Izumi this season (Pro Jersey, ELITE Pursuit Jersey and the Pro Mesh) it’s the Pro Mesh that delivered the most noticeable difference in terms of optimal ventilation and drying times. If you live and ride in Minnesota, you know that the past two weeks has felt like the inside of an InstantPot. When riding in the Pro Mesh jersey, the temperate felt considerably cooler—like the inside of a crockpot on medium.
Pocket placement. The Pro Jersey has three nice-sized pockets in the back. They’re deep and wide and more than able to accommodate the colossal width and length that has become today’s most current smartphone. There’s always a debate about pockets, both number of and general placement. Some cyclists like lots of pockets so that they don’t have to carry a pack. Others prefer a more modest number to remove the temptation of filling them all to capacity. Placement, in my opinion, is more important than number. Can I reach back into my pocket easily when riding and get what I need? Or does extracting a packet of Gu turn in to a skirmish between arm and pocket and the risk of steering into the path of a semi? With the Pro Mesh Jersey I’m not at risk for skirmishes and collisions with cars.
What I Didn’t Like
Guess the color of my sport bra!
See through. That PRO Transfer Mesh fabric that optimizes airflow and comfort on hot and humid days? Becomes a window for the world to your sports bra. This point I make here isn’t actually something that bothers me. It’s designed with the mesh fabric to give it optimal airflow, and that it does beautifully. But tastes are subjective. Some cyclists may not like this so I have to call it out as a PSA.
Sizing. It runs small, no question. Pearl Izumi does disclose this on their website and recommend sizing up. I couldn’t agree more. I always wear a size small in cycling jersey. The small Pro Mesh jersey feels like an XS. To gain some perspective on sizing, I did try on a Medium at REI and voila. Sizing issue fixed.
Short hem. My size small runs 18 inches from neckline to hem in the front. This comes up a bit too short for me in the length department. My stomach is only covered off the bike if I walked hunched over or I’m physically holding the hem down. This is due to its skewed sizing because the Medium I tried on at REI allowed me to walk upright without flashing my tummy.
Zipper. It rarely stays locked at the top. When I zip it up to my neck it wobbles unsteadily for a moment or two and then gives up the fight, plunging down my chest to expose my sport bra—the one that the world already sees anyway because of the mesh fabric. On the rare occasion it does lock, it’s uncomfortably tight at my throat and I have to let it unzip a couple inches. Again, possibly a result of the skewed sizing since the size Medium I tried on at REI didn’t have this problem.
Final Thoughts and a Few Parting Shots
I think this is the first time that a Pearl Izumi jersey earned four bullets in the “what I did’t like” section! Remember that I did try on a Medium at REI though. If I had had a medium to test instead of small the only ding I would give it is the see through mesh fabric. Which, to me, isn’t really that big of deal.
Regardless, this is a solid jersey in the ventilation department. Just be sure to follow Pearl Izumi’s sound advice to size up.
If you do that, you’ll love everything about this jersey, including its matching sister shorts, the Pearl Izumi Pro Short ($170).
