Field Use
The Pearl Izumi mountain biking shorts are a good, entry-level pair of shorts for riding. They are designed extremely loose and for various riding locales, even in exposed, 90-degree heat. The 100% polyester shell dries nearly as quickly as a bathing suit when taken through water or mud. The shorts have a ton of pocket space, which includes a long pocket on both legs secured by Velcro, a smaller "pocket within a pocket" also secured by Velcro and a rear zip pocket good for carrying a wallet or cards. You could even use the shorts to carry tools and supplement the storage space of your bike pack and backpack.
Pros and Cons
The Pearl Izumi shorts are extremely cool and performed under a variety of riding conditions. They are very loose, allowing for ample motion and maneuverability. On the other hand, the cut of the shorts is a bit longer than ideal and they can be rather uncomfortable on the knees and crotch; they don't allow for optimal positioning and pedaling. The snap button and elastic waist are rather cheap features that don't quite secure the shorts as well as a slit button and fixed waist with belt loops would. The light gray color became dirty quite quickly and is far from the best color for mountain biking shorts. Some riders might prefer the loose fit and maneuverability offered by the lack of Lycra or padded insert; however, other riders might prefer to have such inserts.
Bottom Line
These shorts are good entry-level mountain bike shorts. They are cool, comfortable and quick-drying. Try them on before purchase as the cut isn't the best for mountain biking and won't appeal to many. They're probably better-suited toward downhill and freeride than cross-country given the low, baggy cut. The shorts tested in this article were purchased on sale for under $20 at the Pearl Izumi outlet in Silverthorne, Colorado. For that price, they were an excellent purchase and could serve as a good pair of all-around biking shorts. If you don't like these, no reason to spend more than $30 on any other pair of biking shorts.
Article Written By Joe Fletcher
Joe Fletcher has been a writer since 2002, starting his career in politics and legislation. He has written travel and outdoor recreation articles for a variety of print and online publications, including "Rocky Mountain Magazine" and "Bomb Snow." He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Rutgers College.
