On test: Pearl Izumi Barrier Jacket, April 20, 2006

Comfort round freezing

Pearl Izumi has been offering top-quality cycling apparel in the US for a quarter-century and, not surprisingly, the company has learned a thing or two about designing cycling gear in that time. In particular, Pearl Izumi's Broomfield, CO setting means it has plenty of experience with winter weather so cold weather gear has always been among its strengths. James Huang dons Pearl Izumi's Barrier Jacket, Therma Fleece Cycling Bib Tight, and Vector Jersey through two states and across three time zones to see what 25 years of experience can do.

Pearl Izumi's Barrier Jacket

Pearl Izumi uses a tried-and-true formula for the cold weather-specific Barrier Jacket. The company's workhorse Kodiak Ultrasensor brushed insulative fabric is used all around and is paired with an assortment of wind resistant and water repellant Zephrr panels on the front surfaces of the jacket to provide extra protection where you need it without compromising the overall breathability.

The full length zipper is backed with a draft flap and combines with elastic hems to further seal out bone chilling winds. Additional ventilation is provided by a large open vent on the back.

Thoughtful details abound on the Barrier Jacket. The zipper pull can lock in place and Pearl Izumi integrates a 'zipper garage' at the collar to keep the pull neatly tucked (and away from your chin). Generously sized front and rear pockets are provided for extra storage space, which is a particularly handy feature for winter rides when you often are carrying a bit more gear or bits of clothing. The openings for the two large rear pockets feature an angled cut for easier access and both can be zippered shut for secure storage. Finally, a wealth of reflective material is plastered just about everywhere, including the chest, cuffs, rear collar, rear midsection, and along the entire rear bottom edge.

The overall styling of the Barrier Jacket is pretty classic Pearl Izumi, with a relatively understated and classic look that still manages to look current without going too over the top. It's certainly hard to go wrong with black, red, and silver, eh?

A pair of large zippered pockets

The rear of the jacket

A pair of large zippered rear pockets

'Out you go'

The Barrier Jacket seemed most at home while straddling the freezing mark, depending on what was worn beneath it. The windfront panels certainly did their duty admirably and the overall breathability of the jacket was excellent. The supplemental rear vent was particularly welcome on one occasion where I found myself somewhat overdressed on a local trail on the cross bike. In general, it soundly satisfied the ‘warm, but not too warm' criterion for a cold-weather jacket and could easily be used on cooler spring and fall mornings as well with some careful layering.

Pearl Izumi is my hero-of-the-day for outfitting the Barrier with real pockets! All of the pockets were easily assessable while riding and their ample size was sufficient to comfortably swallow up just about anything you would normally carry on a winter ride. The angled cut on the rear pockets was particularly clever as it greatly eases access without compromising cargo capacity.

Other details earned more appreciation with time. Pearl Izumi's 'zipper garage' certainly provides a clean look, but more importantly, it also prevents the shock that comes along with touching an ice-cold zipper to your chin. In addition, the plethora of reflective material definitely provided some reassurance as the sun dipped.

Unfortunately, in spite of its upsides, the Barrier Jacket had one conspicuous downside. Pearl Izumi's 'Form Fit' cut is intended to provide a snug and aerodynamic fit while on the bike, but in this case, it may be designed to fit a form other than my mine. The overall fit and coverage of the jacket was quite good with the slightly extended sleeves and tail, but the shoulders and upper back area were noticeably tighter than I would have expected them to be, especially when in the drops or with a thicker jersey underneath. I understand that 'Form Fit' is supposed to be snug and aero, but I doubt that fear of busting a seam or two was what Pearl Izumi had in mind.

Pearl Izumi acknowledged the issue and reported that the production patterns have been revised relative to early versions to provide more room out back so this is likely a moot issue for those grabbing a Barrier Jacket off the clothing rack. Subsequent tries of a later production model produced a much better fit around the shoulders. Admittedly, though, my shoulders probably more closely resemble those of a swimmer than a cyclist so those of slighter build will likely be just fine. Regardless, this definitely qualifies for the ‘try before you buy' stamp, but if the fit is good, the Barrier Jacket would be a fine choice in winter cycling apparel

Pro: Good combination of warmth and wind/water protection, useful pockets, tons of thoughtful details.
Con: Restrictive fit around the upper shoulders and back when in the riding position and/or with heavier baselayers (fixed in later production models).
MSRP: US$139.99
Fabrics: Kodiak Ultrasensor, Zephrr
Colors: Blue, Red, Yellow, Grey
Sizes: S-XL
More information: www.pearlizumi.com
Cyclingnews rating:

See also: Pearl Izumi Therma Fleece Bib Tight, Pearl Izumi Vector Jersey

James Huang is chief guru at mountain bike suspension site www.angryasian.com