Pearl Izumi Expedition Short Sleeve Jersey Review
By Brandon Bilyeu
Cost: $110
How obtained: review sample from company
Available: online, retail
Colors: Black, Highrise Spectral
Website: Expedition SS Jersey
RBR Sponsor: no
Tested: 10+ hours
Sizing: S-XXL
Reviewer Measurements: 5’10” (178cm), 145 lbs (66 kgs), 33″ (84cm) waist, 38” (96.5cm) hips, 33″ (84cm) inseam, 38″ (96.5cm) chest. My measurements put me roughly in the middle of size Medium and this was the size I tested. PI classifies this jersey as Form Fit that is snug to the body and engages the material stretch. I found the fit very close to my body, but not stretched, and the sleeves a little loose on my cyclist arms. It’s a good fit, especially for a gravel jersey, but if you prefer a skintight fit consider sizing down.
Expedition Short Sleeve Jersey – Performance and Value
Hot!
- Excellent price-to-performance ratio
- Lightweight and breathable
- Grippy elastic cuff at waist
- Elbow length sleeves
- UPF 25 sun protection
- Full zip in front
- Five pockets: three pockets in the back + two zippered pockets
- Men and Women versions available
Not!
- Sizing seems to run a little big
- Rear side pocket openings are a little small
The Pearl Izumi Expedition Short Sleeve Jersey looks, feels, and performs well above its price point. The main body of the jersey is made with a super thin, lightweight fabric and the sleeves/side panels are made from a micro mesh for extra breathability. Both fabrics feel soft on the skin and the jersey cut is form fitting, though you may need to size down for a truly snug fit.
Pearl Izumi’s Expedition line is intended for use on both road and gravel. The Expedition Jersey looks like a standard road jersey but has a few features to help when the road gets rough. First, the fabric is designed to be abrasion resistant to deal with gravel’s generally harsher conditions. Second, there are five pockets to stash all the gear and food you need when you are far away from civilization. Third, the jersey is rated UPF 25 for sun protection.
Circling back to the pockets, the jersey has three standard rear pockets and then two zippered pockets that piggy-back on the outer two standard pockets. The standard pockets feature a large center pocket with the two slightly smaller side pockets. This allows for better security of large and small items when the gravel gets bumpy, but the trade-off is difficulty getting your hands into the smaller pockets. The zippered pockets are the same size as the smaller side pockets, with the zippered opening also quite small. While I found it could be a little difficult to get items in/out of the four smaller pockets, I was glad for the added storage capacity and security on my gravel rides.
On the bike, the jersey has plenty of stretch to accommodate different positions and never felt constricting. Breathability and sweat management are good, with the lightweight fabric drying quickly. The full front zipper also helps with cooing, as well as easy on/off. The wide waist hem has gripper dots that keep the jersey from riding up and support the weight of the pocket contents. The elbow length sleeves bring a modern aesthetic that I like, as well as extending the coverage of the UPF 25 sun protection.
Bottom Line
This is a full-featured, high-performance jersey with all the expected bells and whistles, but at a relatively (for cycling kit) reasonable price point. I can recommend for anyone looking for a quality cycling jersey.
Brandon Bilyeu is an avid recreational roadie who lives in Regensburg, Germany. He’s a year-round bike commuter and is a mechanical design engineer by trade. Click to read Brandon’s full bio.
