Review: Pearl Izumi Performance T

The fit of the Performance T is what Pearl classifies as "semi-form fit" which is not relaxed but also not as tailored as a slim fit. It fits what I would consider well on my 5'10" 155 lb frame - loose, comfortable to move around in, but it isn't baggy by any means. The sleeves are fairly tailored on the arms and shoulders. It fits true to size for a medium compared to other brands across the board. I wear a medium in most brands and a small in a few, for reference.



Performance

$50 for a jersey isn't that expensive in the grand spectrum of riding shirts. However, that much money for something called a "t-shirt"? T-shirt, for some reason, always jogs memories of my mother telling me that paying even half that for whatever t-shirt I wanted as a kid to wear to school was a bit ridiculous and she wasn't going to consider it unless it was on sale. That was well before I knew what technical clothing was or had any desire for it but, still, when I hear t-shirt, I am usually thinking it'll be $30 or less. Pearl did a really solid job in making the Performance T more than just an expensive t-shirt... it's functional, looks good, and does what it's supposed to well enough to justify the price.

I tend to gravitate towards blander riding kit out of personal preference. I like the construction and feel of a lot of the more expensive jerseys and clothing out there but I'm not a fan of having a huge logo stamped across the front or back of what I'm wearing as many of the options currently do. When branding on a jersey is totally over the top, it somewhat erases the ability to wear it anywhere other than on the bike or in the bike park and stay casual. The Performance T is just about as subdued and casual as a riding jersey gets and that's a good thing. It's a t-shirt made out of a comfortable performance material to ride in, hike in, hang in, throw jeans on with it and go eat at a halfway decent restaurant in, whatever you want...without the gaudiness of someone's brand name plastered all over it.



The Performance T not only looks good, it's incredibly soft, fits well, wears well, and does a decent job of managing the heat and moisture that I encounter on the trails. As I tested it, I was riding in a combination of jungle-like humidity and I tend to sweat buckets when it's hot out. While the shirt does feel a little more heavily made in the weight of the fabric than some other riding jerseys, it doesn't retain much moisture and continues to feel good while wearing it even after a few hours out. Where some polyester jerseys tend to cling and stick to you, feeling like a plastic trash bag, the Performance T retains the same soft feel as when I put it on.

As far as durability goes, in the time that I've had it, the T has stood up to quite a few washing and dryings as well as a few days of back to back use without washing it- something I won't do with a lot of jerseys. I've ridden it primarily in hot and humid conditions and it does as good of a job as any in keeping me dry as can be expected and then quickly drying at the top of a climb or hanging on a tree while I'm taking a post-ride swim in the river.






Pinkbike's Take

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Reviews and Tech Reviews Apparel Jerseys Pearl Izumi