What it will handle is impressive and more so if it's dry. At the lower end, it does great with a Pearl Izumi Alpha layer and a warm base layer. Pair it with one of the best cycling base layers and a solid mid-layer and you can handle a huge range of possible situations. As I said, not every jacket will do everything and Pearl Izumi created a jacket that covers what's important. Don't take that as any indication that I don't think it's great. I spent a good amount of time through this review discussing the limitations of the Pearl Izumi Wxb jacket. It's a shame because the fabric itself does a great job of keeping water out. Without fenders though, there's just not a whole lot of coverage to keep your chamois from getting soaked. At the rear is a combination of elastic and silicone grip and, in combination with the relaxed fit, things definitely stay put while riding. The waist uses a hemmed design that creates a lot of structure and helps keep it flat. One issue it highlighted was that the drop tail isn't long enough. The Southern California rain did give me a chance to notice a few other details as well. Later in the ride when the sky opened into the kind of desert rain that you get in Southern California, comfort was only a matter of zipping things back up. I was even able to grab food from my jersey pockets underneath with an easy pull of the bottom zipper up enough to clear the pockets. Sure, the fabric is breathable but there's nothing like a great zipper and this is one of the best.ĭuring that ride in San Diego, the zipper meant that as I headed out into weather that was maybe too warm, I was fine. If you need even more the upper zipper pull has a locking system that's easy to move one-handed but will stay put where you want it to. If you feel like you need some ventilation, unzip it from the bottom. Keeping moisture out falls to a storm flap with enough structure that it won't get in the way. It's a YKK piece that uses big plastic teeth and moves with ease. When the weather is too warm it's the fantastic zipper that Pearl Izumi chose that you'll notice. There was some wind and it was certainly chilly but the early part of the ride was warm enough that I wondered if I'd made the wrong choice. San Diego is hardly an area known for harsh winter weather and I headed out in shorts plus a jacket and a light long sleeve under it. It was perfect when I was riding in San Diego during the launch of the new Enve MOG gravel bike. Where the Pearl Izumi Attack Wxb jacket shines is when the weather is changing. Consider that detail more of a warning than a complaint though, not every jacket will do everything. It won't come through but it will leach warmth from your body in places like your forearms and the tops of your shoulders. As good as it is, the outer layer will hold a bit of water over time. You might even be able to go colder but rain will challenge the lower end because of the nature of the fabric. At the bottom of the range 7C/45F should be attainable without too much difficulty. Instead, the Pearl Izumi Attack Wxb is there when you need something to cover a more reasonable range of weather. If you want to brave the most extreme weather, there are better options. I might be curious to see if there is a combination of layers that could push the usability closer to 0C/32F, that's not really what this jacket is about. As it turns out though, my experience says that was plenty. Instead, I spent time testing with weather that ranged from 10C/50F to 18C/64F. I would love to tell you that I tried the Pearl Izumi Attack Wxb shell jacket in the worst weather that the winter has to offer but it came to me too late this season. There are certain realities of testing gear against the weather. Keep reading to see if Pearl Izumi should be on your shortlist for shell jackets.Įvery seam is taped and the inside feels good against your skin (Image credit: Josh Ross) Performance Now that I've spent time testing it, I'm ready to discuss if the brand has managed to meet the goals set. For Pearl Izumi, the Attack Wxb jacket is an option that looks to cover the bases at a relatively bargain price. There are a ton of options and they all claim to be the best in a variety of ways. If the layered approach sounds like the right approach for you, there's no doubt you'll be looking for the right shell. You can shop for each piece separately, looking for deals, and you can build on what works through multiple seasons of riding. This approach allows you to pick and choose a mid-layer, a base layer, and a shell depending on your needs. The other way to approach the challenge of staying warm and dry through the spring, winter, and fall, is with layers. Colour Options: Urban Sage, Screaming Yellow
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