How does Pearl Izumi’s most expensive jacket compare to its rivals?
Pearl Izumi’s Men’s Pro NeoShell WxB jacket sits at the top of the brand’s poor-weather jacket line-up and incorporates a Polartec NeoShell outer fabric for wet and cold weather performance.
The jacket is designed for road cycling, with the aim of providing good performance in both rainy and cold conditions, thanks to its Polartec NeoShell construction.
In testing, this winter cycling jacket proved versatile in a range of conditions, but there are flaws that hamper its overall performance.
Pearl Izumi Men’s Pro NeoShell WxB jacket details and specifications
An increasing number of brands are using NeoShell in their jackets – I rated the Castelli Alpha Ultimate Insulated jacket highly and the fabric can also be found on the Sportful Fiandre Pro jacket, Giro Chrono Pro NeoShell and PEdALED Mirai NeoShell Waterproof.
Pearl Izumi says the Pro NeoShell WxB has the feel, stretch and breathability of a softshell with the weather-blocking force of a traditional race jacket.
The waterproof Polartec NeoShell fabric has a four-way stretch and a PFC-free durable water repellent treatment.
The brand also says the jacket is small enough to pack easily into a jersey pocket.
Pearl Izumi doesn’t suggest a specific temperature range for the jacket, but says it can be used from “summer rain where windchill becomes a factor to frigid temperatures”.
The brand says the jacket can also be used for gravel riding, but points to its Summit Pro NeoShell WxB jacket for mountain biking because it offers a different fit and the fabric has less stretch.
There are stretch cuffs on the wrist and the jacket has a twin-zip system so you can regulate its ventilation.
There’s also reflective detailing at the arms and a minimalist, embossed silicone gripper on the back of the jersey.
There are no pockets, aside from a front zip pocket to the left of the chest. Pearl Izumi says it made this decision because it anticipates “any gear being stowed in three rear pockets would be soaked if exposed to the wet climate”, and to achieve the best packability.
The Men’s Pro NeoShell WxB jacket is available in five sizes (S-XXL) and comes in two colours – black and ‘Screaming Red’.
I tested a size medium in Screaming Red, which is more reminiscent of a salmon pink in the flesh.
Pearl Izumi Men’s Pro NeoShell WxB jacket performance
I tested the Men’s Pro NeoShell WxB jacket in a variety of weather conditions, on both road and gravel.
Temperatures ranged from 1°C to a mild 14°C.
Mirroring my experience with the Castelli Alpha Ultimate Insulated jacket, the Pro NeoShell WxB’s breathability is excellent thanks to the NeoShell fabric.
I felt a little cold for the first five minutes of each ride but, once warmed up, the fabric kept my temperature well-regulated in an impressively wide range of conditions.
Paired with a midweight short-sleeve cycling jersey and a short-sleeve baselayer, I felt comfortable down to around 6°C. I’d recommend switching to a long-sleeve baselayer for anything colder.
On my coldest ride with the jacket, I felt warm for anything short of descending in a long-sleeve baselayer.
On a warmer ride, I paired the jacket with a hot-weather jersey to ensure further breathability. This proved a successful combination.
The fact the WxB performs in such a wide range of temperatures means it could be the one jacket you need over winter for anything short of freezing temperatures. That’s testament to the performance of Polartec NeoShell.
A flawed fit
The jacket’s fit left some room to be desired – I found it slightly baggy on the torso and the sleeves were too short.
When going into the drops, the sleeves would slip over my smartwatch. These are problems I don’t usually encounter.
While the jacket’s fabric performed admirably in extended (but not overly heavy) rain, water would get up underneath the waist hem and soak the bottom of my jersey underneath.
The jacket would benefit from having a solid silicone gripper across the entirety of its hem for improved retention and sealing against the elements.
I think a larger dropped tail would increase protection and prevent water from soaking up into a jersey.
However, the jacket shrugged off lighter drizzle, while keeping me warm.
I found the twin-zip system tricky to operate. The bottom zip, in particular, requires a fair amount of force to pull up to access your jersey pockets, especially when using thicker winter cycling gloves.
I found it easier to stop when needing to dig out an energy bar or gel, which ultimately defeats one of the key purposes of the secondary zip.
I’d also prefer tapered or adjustable sleeves over the simple elasticated wrist cuffs. While they fit reasonably snugly, one of these solutions would likely ensure a tighter fit.
No pockets is a mistake
The lack of pockets limits the jacket’s utility because you’ll need to wear a jersey underneath, on top of a baselayer, if you want to carry anything with you on a ride.
Not only does that mean another garment to stick in the washing machine, it also limits the upper temperatures you would use this jacket in because it’s another layer on top of a baselayer.
Although Pearl Izumi says it has done this to increase packability, the jacket isn’t particularly packable. I stored it for most of a ride in mild weather and found it overly bulky in my middle pocket, especially when wrapped over a mini-pump.
When folded down, it’s approximately 18cm in length, which means your jersey of choice will need to have a spacious pocket to slot into.
Bearing in mind it would only ever be a short-sleeve jersey I would put the jacket over, there are limited circumstances where that would happen.
Value
There’s no getting around the fact that, at £313.04 / $325, the Pro NeoShell WxB jacket is an expensive proposition.
While it offers admirable performance in a wide range of temperatures, the jacket is outperformed by Castelli’s Alpha Ultimate for practicality.
The Castelli jacket is even more expensive at £380, but it’s significantly more versatile and offers an excellent fit.
There are cheaper models in the Alpha series that could present viable options, such as the Doppio and Flight.
For alternative Polartec NeoShell-equipped jackets, Sportful’s Fiandre Pro retails for £270, while the Giro Men’s Chrono Pro NeoShell is £249.99 and the PEdALED Mirai NeoShell cheaper still at £210.
Both the Sportful and PEdALED options feature rear pockets to store your belongings, so they could represent better practicality than this Pearl Izumi jacket.
Pearl Izumi Men’s Pro NeoShell WxB jacket bottom line
Pearl Izumi’s Men’s Pro NeoShell WxB is a versatile jacket capable of withstanding a range of conditions, and a good showcase for Polartec NeoShell.
However, the lack of pockets is a hindrance and the fit needs some revisions to improve its performance, particularly in wet weather.
If Pearl Izumi were to integrate pockets at the back and improve the fit, the Men’s Pro NeoShell WxB would likely be an excellent jacket.
Product
| Brand | pearl_izumi |
| Price | 360.00 EUR,313.00 GBP,325.00 USD |
Features
| br_gender | mens |
| Features | Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL Fabric: 100% Polyester Colours: Black; Screaming Red |