Pearl Izumi Escape Softshell Lite Gloves Review (Men’s and Women’s Versions)
Hot
- Touchscreen compatible thumb and index finger
- Great transition seasonal glove (40-65 degrees)
- Silicone palm provides good gripping
- BioViz® reflective elements for low-light visibility
- Gender specific styles/fit
Not
- No padding (personal preference)
Cost: $35 MSRP
Sizes: Women’s (S-XL), Men’s (S-2XL)
Colors: Women’s (Pink/Black or Black), Men’s (Yellow/Black or Black)
Availability: Online or retail
How Obtained: Company sample
RBR Advertiser: No
Tested: 15+ hours
Perfect Transitional Season Glove
It’s always a struggle to keep my hands and feet the right temperature when the seasons are changing. Finding the right gloves for that transition from Fall to Winter has been a challenge. Either the gloves are not warm enough or too warm and my hands are sweating. That’s until I tested Pearl Izumi’s Escape Softshell Lite gloves.
These gloves are available in both men’s and women’s. Trust me they didn’t just pink it and shrink it. Okay, they do come in pink, but the women’s version I tested had longer, thinner fingers and the right sizing around the palm.
With a temperature rating of 40-65 degrees, it’s the first time my hands were comfortable in the range stated by the manufacturer. I tested the gloves on a night time fattie trail ride at 43 degrees and on a windy road ride in Colorado at 60 degrees. My hands were perfectly fine…not sweaty in the upper temperature range and not cold in the lower.
The Little Details Make a Difference
I love to take pictures when I ride. What I don’t like is having to take full fingered gloves on and off in cold weather to activate my iPhone. The Softshell Lite gloves are touchscreen compatible on the thumb and index finger. Now I have numerous gloves that tout this feature, but these gloves truly work. I had no problem turning on my iPhone, taking pictures or answering a call.
The palm and fingers of the glove has Silicone screened on for gripping in all types of weather (see picture below). An all-important wiping surface is made of soft, windproof fleece since cold weather can trigger a runny nose. The interior of the gloves is made of a lightly brushed fabric which is soft next to the skin but doesn’t make your hand sweat. The long cuffs are elastic fabric which helps to keep the cold out and easily tucks inside a jacket or jersey sleeve.
Pearl Izumi’s Softshell Lite fabric located on the back of the hand provides lightweight wind and water protection. The Thermal Lite fabric on the palm of the glove delivers moisture transfer and warmth. A synthetic leather is located in high-wear areas of the palm and index finger to thumb. For added safety in low-light conditions both gloves have BioViz® reflective elements.
Padding or no padding in a cycling glove is a personal preference. Some riders want a lot, while others don’t want any. I’m the type of rider that wants some padding. This glove has no padding, yet it was quite comfortable to ride in. But for longer rides, I’d prefer a padded palm. I will say that not having padding allowed me to use the gloves during other activities like hiking and running errands. Got to like multi=purpose apparel.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for the right glove during the transition from Fall to Winter, checkout Pearl Izumi’s Escape Softshell Lite gloves. Rated for 40-65 degrees this glove is the perfect choice. Personally, I have trouble keeping my hands comfortable in this temperature range. But these gloves did the trick.
The Pearl Izumi website rates these gloves 40-45 degrees, not 40-65.
The web site is incorrect. I double checked when I was writing the review because the hang tag that came with the gloves said 40-65 degrees but the web site said 40-45 degrees. The PR firm confirmed that the hang tag was correct and was going to relay to the PI web team to update the site. I’ll reach out to them again to update as it does cause confusion and definitely limits sales.
Will, the Pearl Izumi web site is now updated for both men’s and women’s.
Awesome. My older PI Softshell gloves are a favorite but they are getting worn out and the seams are raggedy after many years if faithful service. I will check out the new model ASAP!
How’s the durability of these? Hope they don’t disintegrate after just a few rides.