The Pearl Izumi Divide is designed for cross-country riding, and you can feel that the moment you put it on. There’s an instant comfort factor in that it feels light, despite the heavy fabric, with a good fit and length.
The cut is what we’d call race-ready; it’s loose enough not to be a road jersey but slim enough to mean business. The fabric is Pearl Izumi’s Transfer, with a solid knit through the body. We thought it might be clingy and warm, but it deals with sweat very efficiently and doesn’t hug the love handles as snugly as we’d feared.
Mesh inserts positioned on the chest and sides, front and back help the cooling effect and really seem to work at creating airflow. A full-length front zip is always welcome and especially important in a summer jersey designed for more epic rides. This is an expensive jersey but you can feel the difference when you wear it. If you’re serious about distance then consider investing.
This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.
