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Pearl Izumi Elite Barrier Vest

By John Marsh, Editor & Publisher

4 stars

 

Pearl Izumi Elite Barrier Vest, front.web Pearl Izumi Elite Barrier Vest, back.web

http://www.pearlizumi.com

Cost: $80
Weight: 90g
How Obtained: review sample from company
Available: online and retail
RBR Sponsor: no
Time tested: numerous rides over 2 months

My MVP (Most Valuable Product) This Winter

This wind vest has been my MVP (most valuable product) this winter. For whatever reason, the wind has been a force to be reckoned with on almost every ride. It’s as if Mother Nature lost track of the seasons and jumped ahead to unleash the typical spring winds on us.

The upshot is, already cold days were made even more biting by the stiff wind. And as much as some thermal jerseys and jackets are good at providing a baseline of warmth, they typically do little to protect from the wind. Enter this mighty 90g vest, Pearl Izumi’s mid-level offering.

It’s semi-form fit, so it’s fairly snug and stays in place. And the elasticized hem and armholes do well to help keep it from flapping in the breeze, though the armholes could be a bit smaller and more snug. It also features a large hook-and-loop closure pocket so you don’t have to unzip the vest to get at whatever you’re carrying.

If the wind is already howling when I leave for a ride, I simply slip the vest on over my thermal top layer on cold days. On those cool days when you can just barely get by with a base layer, regular jersey and arm warmers, the vest seals the deal, enabling you to ride without adding another, thicker layer.

And because it’s so light and packable, I’ve gotten accustomed to carrying it along for a little “just in case” protection for when the wind picks up, or when a few rain drops start to fall.

It’s likely to remain on my back, or in my pocket, throughout spring as well.

March 2015


John Marsh is the editor and publisher of RBR Newsletter and RoadBikeRider.com. A rider of “less than podium” talent, he sees himself as RBR’s Ringmaster, guiding the real talent (RBR’s great coaches, contributors and authors) in bringing our readers consistently useful, informative, entertaining info that helps make them better road cyclists. That’s what we’re all about here—always have been, always will be. Click to read John’s full bio.

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