Pearl Izumi Men’s Expedition PRO Alpha Jacket

Review by Paul Gallaher

Details

Pearl Izumi describes the Men’s Expedition PRO Alpha Jacket as a winter jacket with breathable insulation, and water/wind resistance that is tailored for mobility. The outer layer of the jacket is constructed of nylon and has Pear Izumi’s “PI Dry” treatment which is designed for wind and water resistance while also being breathable allowing moisture out during those strenuous rides or changing weather conditions where you may get unexpected warm weather.

The liner of the Pearl Izumi Men’s Expedition PRO Alpha Jacket uses Polartec Alpha Direct insulation. This high-tech fabric that keeps the rider warm while also being a superior wicking fabric. This makes for a comfortable ride in a wide range of temperature/weather conditions, especially when coupled with the outer layer of this jacket.

This jacket features underarm and waist ventilation panels that work well with the above-mentioned technology. There are zippered pockets on the chest and right side of the back that will fit a key, gel or other smaller items. The jacket is cut longer in the back to help keep your bum dry on wet days.

On the Bike

I’ve taken the Pearl Izumi Men’s Expedition PRO Alpha Jacket on some high altitude bike rides. Mostly, I have ridden it mountain biking this spring as the snow has finally melted off most of the locals trails now that we’re in June in the high mountains of Colorado. On this type of ride, the temperatures can swing wildly with elevation change or weather patterns, especially in early spring or fall.

This jacket is packable/compressible and will fit into a road jersey pocket or a backpack. So, if you’re doing a lot of climbing and heating up, you can comfortably pack it away until the weather changes or you start a longer descent. For those of you used to recreating in the mountains, it is well known that layering is an often used technique for being comfortable on your rides and this jacket excels at that! With light rain and/or moderate breezes, this jacket will keep you quite warm with its Polartec insulation and outer shell. This jacket performs its primary function well.

For specific times and rides, this jacket is my choice to wear when starting a ride on a cool or cloudy morning and I can unzip or remove it if need be, packing it away for the moment I may need it again. This jacket is a nice option to take on long rides.

The Pearl Izumi Men’s Expedition PRO Alpha Jacket comes in three colors and five sizes, ranging from Small to XXL. I tested the “Green Bay” colorway in size Large, which fits true. The jacket is a bit expensive compared to some other cycling jackets, but the insulation and shell technology make this a jacket I’m glad to have in my quiver of cycling gear.

Paul Gallaher

Paul grew up in Minnesota where he learned to love the outdoors, riding his bike, fishing and canoeing in the summers and skiing in the winters on Minnesota’s 300 foot-tall “mountains”.

After finishing college, he was commissioned as an officer in the USAF eventually becoming a special operations and reconnaissance instructor navigator flying and serving around the world for twenty-two years.

Living and traveling around the world has given Paul opportunities to explore outdoor passions. He is an advanced scuba diver, a pilot, a sailor and has skied in the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland.