PI pants pricey but versatile
Pearl Izumi Alpine Elite Pant
– Pros: Windproof; Adequate reflective features; Wicks well
– Cons: Little useful ventilation; Can’t slip pants over shoes; Pockets positioned too high to access while cycling
– Bottom Line: While they’re pricey, the Alpine Elite Pant can be used for running and cycling in cold weather making it worth it for athletes who do both.
– MSRP: $140
Designed for running but equally suited for biking and other winter activities, you get what you pay for with the Pearl Izumi Alpine Elite Pant.
The company’s high-end winter-oriented pants are a loose pair of tights that balance wind-pant fit with tight-like performance.
Tapered enough around the ankle for comfortable running without the incessant swoosh of rubbing material, the leg and ankle cuff is also tight enough to prevent your pants from ripping on your bike’s big chain ring.
While wearing the stretchy soft shell pants for hundreds of miles on my bike, I never had a problem with the material catching – something every biker has dealt with.
The cuffs have a zippered flare to provide a looser fit and more ventilation. But I found the flare wasn’t loose enough to slip the pants over a pair of shoes and the vents didn’t increase airflow.
- Pearl Izumi Alpine Elite Pant
The Alpine Elite’s other vents – a nearly foot-long mesh-backed vent on the outside of each thigh as well as a mesh-backed knee flap designed to increase airflow towards the waist – did little to help regulate temperature either.
Regardless of dedicated vents, overheating, generally, wasn’t an issue.
I stayed comfortably warm on numerous 30-degree days as the P.R.O. (Performance and Race Optimized) fabric wicked sweat and breathed while remaining virtually windproof. However, once temps reached the mid 40s I was too hot.
With a soft inside liner that doesn’t cling to your legs as you move, the pants are incredibly comfortable.
They have a zippered hip pocket on each side that’s great for loose keys or some cash and ID. But, I wish the pockets were positioned slightly lower. While riding with a backpack – with the hip belt clipped – it’s difficult to access the pockets.
While there is a fair amount of sticker shock, Pearl Izumi’s Alpine Elite Pant, new this fall, is a great option for running and cycling and could be used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing too.
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