With so many jersey options out there, just what makes one better or different from another? For starters, each jersey has an intended purpose and temperature range. Pearl Izumi’s latest Interval Jersey is made for the hottest days in the saddle and features highly-breathable and soft mesh fabric. Summer has arrived and so has peak season for the Interval Jersey.
Pearl Izumi Interval Jersey Features:
- Lightweight and silky Italian knit ELITE Transfer fabric
- In-R-Cool powered by coldblack® to keep you cool
- Three pleated rear jersey pockets
- Silicone gripper on rear hem
- BioViz® reflective elements
- MSRP: $125.00
Light, comfortable and stretchy
For years, I’ve been testing Pearl Izumi kits and the little improvements just keep flowing. After testing their Expedition PRO Bib Shorts earlier this year, I came away impressed with what Pearl Izumi has been making these days. The Interval Jersey does continue the evolution of their kits and has been a great option for warm summer days.
Testing began in late winter, so the Interval Jersey was broken-in on the Stages SB20 indoor trainer. No question, the Interval has a corner on comfort as it stretches and conforms to your body without every feeling constricting. It’s the kind of jersey that does really disappear — until it gets completely saturated. Indoor training can push any kit to its limits and this one ends up getting saturated and stuck to your skin.
Getting outdoors, any over saturation is minimized due to added the airflow of riding outside. On long climbs, it will get pretty wet — especially in humid conditions. But, it dries out in a jiffy and remains comfortable after long efforts. The low-profile, modern collar is spot on and allows for added comfort on warm days. Speaking of warm days, the zipper is easy to pull up/down one-handed should additional ventilation be necessary.
I really appreciate the stretchy nature of the fabric for overall comfort, but it does make the pockets sag and stretch a little more than I’d like. If you have heavier items in there (multitool, phone), they will tend to bounce around on rough terrain. It’s not terrible, but you may notice it. Back to some of the benefits of the stretchy material. I’d say tops is how much it stretches during hard efforts when you’re breathing heavy. There is almost no resistance on your chest with every deep breath. It’s nice.
The sleeve cuffs are simple and do the job , but I wish they were just a touch longer. Importantly, the hem needs to stay put and the minimalist silicone on the back of the hem does a decent job, but could be better. Without much natural resistance, the front of the jersey does tend to creep up just a bit, but the overall length is sufficient to maintain coverage.
Fit: I’m 5’11” and 173 lbs, wearing the size medium in pine/pale pine scrib.
The Good
- Stretchy and comfortable
- Mesh fabric allows ventilation
- Lightweight and great for warm days
- Low-profile collar
- Can fit all sorts of things in the pockets
The Bad
- Pockets lack structure and allow heavy items to bounce around
- Gets sticky when saturated (particularly indoors or on humid days)
The Bottom Line: Pearl Izumi Interval Jersey
The Pearl Izumi Interval Jersey is a lightweight, summer-friendly jersey that breathes well and feels great next-to-skin. It’s pretty stretchy though, so don’t expect much compression of your man bod.
Buy Now: Visit PearlIzumi.com
