PEARL iZUMi Thermal Bib Shorts Review

Shoulder season has arrived and for most of us, it’s a good time to grab a pair of thermal bib shorts or bib knickers. New this fall, the PEARL iZUMi Thermal Bib Shorts offer added warmth and comfort on chilly mornings without going with full tights.

PEARL iZUMi Thermal Bib Shorts Features:

• Ultra-soft 266g lofted thermal fleece fabric
• Tight knit for added wind resistance
• Dual-density ELITE Levitate chamois
• PI Dry® C0 technology for an PFAS-free durable water repellent
• Elastic leg band with patterned silicone gripper
• Lightweight and breathable bib upper
• Made with recycled content
• BioViz® powerful reflective elements
• 10″ inseam
• MSRP: $160

Thermal bib shorts coming in clutch

PEARL iZUMi does a great job of delivering value in everything they offer. One of my favorite bib shorts is their Attack Air Bib Shorts and they come in at an affordable $160 (just like these). I have access to bib shorts that cost twice as much as these and they aren’t necessarily twice as nice. When it comes to cold weather riding, it pays to have a variety of thermal options. I’m a fan of bib knickers for added knee coverage and warmth, but most of the time, thermal bib shorts can do the trick (and offer added year-round versatility).

For starters, these are built with an ultra-soft fleece lining attached to a tight-knit outer fabric. Pulling them on, the next-to-skin coziness is outstanding. With that, it does quickly showcase just how stretchy the fabric is. The combination of the ultra-grippy cuff and stretchy fabric makes for a bit of a Slinky effect as I move them upwards and in place. Take your time and do whatever calisthenics are needed to situate them and they will be good-to-go. I appreciate the height as they keep my man bod in place while still remaining stretchy enough for easy nature breaks.

The stretchy straps are easy to pull on, but they don’t sit very flat across the top of my shoulders. While they do wrinkle up, they remain wide enough to distribute the pressure to keep them properly in place. I primarily wore them with a light base layer, but they are plenty soft to wear alone.

I have worn them on road, gravel and mountain bike rides throughout the fall. Lucky enough to have the iconic American Fork Canyon in my backyard, it didn’t take long for me to find a cold morning to test things out. Starting out in the low-50’s at the house, I knew temps would drop with every bit of elevation gain. As I made my way up the canyon, temps dropped as low as 37-degrees, with most of the time being in the mid 40’s (vew on Strava). At those temperatures, I remained comfortable and strong.

It’s important to maintain muscle temperature and the combination of the wind-resistant outer fabric and warm fleece does maintain an excellent amount of warmth. But, with all that stretch, they don’t offer a ton of muscle compression. As far as that goes, the Velocio Thermal Bib Shorts do offer better muscle support, but at a significant price difference.

Instead of a modern-style wide leg gripper, the PEARL iZUMi Thermal Bib Shorts feature a narrow and grippy leg cuff. While the ultra-grippy cuff and silicone bits are needed to combat the stretchy fabric, the cuffs are tight and noticeable with every muscle movement. The rubber pattern digs into my skin so much that it leaves a clear imprint. Again, the grippy leg cuff seems like a forced-function due to the stretchy fabric and ends up being the one black eye with them. Even though the fabric is stretchy, it didn’t snag on any of the saddles tested when standing/sitting (nice).

The chamois isn’t the most sophisticated, but does the job for long and short rides. I didn’t have any chafing and it remained comfortable on the road, gravel and dirt. It doesn’t stand out, but it’s also not a detractor. I like it and think it’s a solid chamois at this price point.

Fit: I’m 5’11” and 175 lbs. wearing the size medium.

Buy Now: Available from PEARL iZUMi