Pearl Izumi Boulder short

The Boulder short from Pearl Izumi combines a lightweight stretch nylon/spandex shell with a floating polyester/spandex liner and minimalist chamois. Two front zippered pockets are complimented by two rear vented pockets. The waist is elasticised and the liner is removable via two simple clips. They’re designed as lightweight casual riding shorts with the ability to be worn off the bike as well.

These shorts hit the target squarely when it comes to doing what they’re designed to. The soft-touch shell feels comfortable against the skin and the shorts fit well. In hot weather they feel airy and there is little chance of overheating. The material dries fast and the quality in construction is evident in the nicely finished seams.

The minimalist chamois makes rides of two hours plus a little uncomfortable, but for short rides, coffee runs and regular commuting they’re spot on. In those roles they also have reflective strips for night time safety and plenty of handy pockets for keys, money and the cellphone.

Review by New Zealand Mountain Biker magazine (Aug/Sep ’07) www.nzmtbr.co.nz

Pearl Izumi Zephrr vest

Made from polyester Zephrr® fabric the Pearl Izumi Zephrr vest has a soft Ultrasensor® collar and vented upper back. A small internal pocket is large enough for keys or money and the single rear pocket also turns inside out to allow the jacket to be stuffed into it. A full length front zip and elasticised hem make for a form fit. The material is windproof and water-repellent (rather than resistant).

When it comes to getting your mountain bike wardrobe sorted a vest is usually pretty far down the list, unless you are a cross country rider that spends a lot of time on the bike. These riders get to experience all kinds of conditions, often training early in the morning or in the cool of the night when temperatures fluctuate and an extra layer is required. For them having a lightweight easy to stow vest is ideal. So using the PI Zephrr for the last 3-4 months has added another ‘must-have’ to my wardrobe. With the full length zip and high collar that wraps around the neck it does a great job of warding off chilling winds, yet doesn’t restrict the body or drown you in your own sweat. In light showers it keeps the upper body dry, but having also been caught in torrential rain I can say the mesh upper back and lightweight material will let heavy rain through. At 160 grams (large size) it packs down small and is easily carried on those rides where you need an extra layer to keep warm, but it’s not worth carrying a heavier, bulkier jacket.

Review by New Zealand Mountain Biker magazine (Aug/Sep ’07) www.www.nzmtbr.co.nz

Pearl Izumi Vagabond M4 Shoes

The Vagabond M4 is Pearl Izumi’s entry level shoe for men. The nylon I-Beam sole features aggressive rubber lugs for traction and the leather/mesh upper is secured via three velcro straps.

We liked the subtle black colour with silver detailing preferring it over the bright silver ‘disco slipper’ look of many high end shoes. The aggressive tread looks great for off the bike antics and certainly helped when scrambling up slippery slopes, but the lack of toe studs (or the threads to fit them) meant we had to adopt a crab walk to get grip.

The uppers are soft and comfortable from the get-go with the straps holding the foot securely, but the foot bed is flat and soon had us thinking about slipping in running shoe inner soles to maintain comfort over longer (1.5 hours plus) rides.

The Vagabond M4 achieves a good balance between comfort and performance at an entry level price. The sole is stiff enough to provide good pedaling performance yet not so stiff as to make walking uncomfortable.
Review by New Zealand Mountain Biker magazine (Jun/Jul ’07) www.nzmtbr.co.nz

Pearl Izumi Vagabond Jacket

Pearl Izumi uses their own Zephrr® fabric in creating the Vagabond jacket. The semi-form fit water-resistant shell features zip-off sleeves, a vented back and hand, chest and back pockets.

Manufacturing standards at Pearl Izumi are obviously high as the quality in construction is evident throughout the seams of the Vagabond. Nowhere along the seams is there any bit of thread sticking out or undoing itself and it stayed that way despite multiple trips through the washing machine. The semi-form fit feels great on the bike and restricts any flapping of material at speed however the waist of our XL jacket could have been tighter (when worn as a vest it was slightly baggy) But we should qualify that by saying our 6’4” tester could use some beefing up!

In everyday use the Vagabond is very light and highly crushable – easily stuffed in a bag when not required. Transforming the jacket into a vest is done via two hidden zips at the shoulders which worked flawlessly, even when wearing a hydration pack we could remove them in under 30 seconds and there was never the worry of snagging the material in the zip.

Protection from wind and cold air is excellent and was well proven during daily work commutes. It is also quite water-resistant withstanding light drizzle, but on several occasions in heavy downpours it demonstrated its lack of waterproofing. Luckily the light material does dry quickly. The fabric proved robust after a crash on loose dirt and through a gorse bush. Despite landing on the elbow it showed no signs of damage. And yes that was on a single-track work commute! While the logos are reflective, no other part of the jacket is – important if you’re spending time in traffic after dark.

The Vagabond proved to be a quality jacket with versatility as a vest or lightweight wind and shower proof jacket. Being easily packable also means we’re more likely to take it on those ‘iffy’ days when the weather doesn’t know what it’s doing.

Review by New Zealand Mountain Biker magazine (Jun/Jul ’07) www.nzmtbr.co.nz