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).

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Kudos, Pearl Izumi!

What I liked

Breathable mesh side panel

Excellent breathability on hot days, humid rides. The key to this feature is Pearl Izumi’s Transfer In-R-Cool® fabric. It is a heat-reflective fabric that (supposedly) reduces absorption of UV rays from the sun. In addition, the PRO jersey has mesh side panels that increase ventilation. I live in Minnesota and I began testing this jersey in mid-May when the temps were (finally!) in the high 60s and I started training for longer rides in excess of 45 miles. A month later, the temps are in the mid-70s to low 80s and humid. I certainly sweat during the exerting rides but the In-R-Cool fabric and mesh side panels work in tandem to encourage airflow and drying time.

Pockets galore

Pockets galore. The old adage still rings true. “If you build it, they will come.” In this case, it’s “if you add it, I will fill all six pockets with a cell phone, iPod, multitool, ID, money, sunblock and lip balm.” Three pockets are nice and deep. The two outer deep pockets have a slash pocket on the outside. There is a secure zippered mesh pocket out the outside of middle deep pocket. Nicely done, Pearl Izumi.

Sturdy zipper pull. Wowz! Finally. A women’s jersey with a hefty zipper pull that is full-fingered glove-friendly. In past lines Pearl Izumi has seen some wimpy zipper pulls. The PRO jersey’s zipper pull is all mighty and powerful.

Loaded with reflective elements. For riding at night, it is illuminated with a large logo strip and two thinner strips on the rear and two strips on each arm. A total of six reflective elements if count the little PI logo on the front. 

What Could be Better

The Kielbasa Effect

Fit. Pearl Izumi says the PRO jersey’s “feminine cut and longer articulated sleeves create a modern silhouette that is a natural fit on the bike, while still comfortable pausing mid-ride at the cafe.” Well sure, if a modern silhouette means the sausage casing look. I know this jersey is designed for fast riding. Any chance for wind resistance has been mitigated. But even on me, who is 5’6” 124lbs, the sleeves are noticeably tight. Not cut-off-the-blood-flow-to-my-brain tight but tight enough to be noticeable. If you’re a cyclist with chiseled arms and superbly elastic skin this will not be an issue for you.

Short hem. My size small is 17 inches from top to bottom in the front. When I compared this length to the Pearl Izumi ELITE Pursuit jersey with 18.5 inches down the front and the Pearl Izumi Pro Mesh at 18 inches, the PRO jersey comes up a little short (pun intended). With this length, my stomach is only covered off the bike if I walked hunched over or I’m physically holding the hem down. However, I can walk tall and proud off the bike in the ELITE Pursuit and Pro Mesh jerseys. If you’re a cyclist with chiseled abs this will not be an issue for you.

Final Thoughts

Despite the shorter front hem and tighter arms, I’m loving this jersey. The fit is a little skewed for my tastes but still allows plenty of comfort and excellent fit around the neck and under the arms.

I’m also excited about Pearl Izumi’s new Social Purpose. They have pledged to use their business practices and products to reduce their carbon footprint. They’ve always made products that reduce our carbon footprint but now they’re walking the walk and talking the talk. What’s good for us is good for them.

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