Cheap Pearl Izumi Women's Elite Thermal Barrier Jacket

Customer Ratings:

I was pleased to snag this item on offer, as a warmer jersey for colder days. I was particularly interested in the combination shell/wind and water resistant exterior and thermal properties as I dislike multiple layers or carrying extra stuff with me 'just in case'.

I haven't had the chance to test water resistance so far, but the wind-resistant and thermal qualities of this item are excellent and have served me very well. The interior zipper flap offers superb protection from drafts. Though warm and soft/fleecy inside, this jersey wicks moisture away and provides superior ventilation that is perfect for cycling and running. The back pockets, one of which zippered, are sizable enough to fit whatever.

Design-wise, this is a smart-looking jersey, fitted but not overly so (I'm a 36C and size 4, and the S still offers adequate space, M would be too large), with nice color contrasts and seams, and a flattering angled sleeve. I would have liked a little more definition in the bust area (the fabric drapes over in a not-so-elegant way, kind of thick).

A big fan of PearlIzumi generally; this item doesn't disappoint either.

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I'm 5'4", ~110 lb., slim/straight figure, small chest, typically an XS/0-2 in most clothes, and I got this jacket in a Small in Coffee (brown). The Small is just a teensy bit big on me, but the brown/blue color combo matches my bike (!), so I don't really care that the fit isn't perfect, and plus they don't make it in an XS. Here are my thoughts about this jacket.

Awesome:

The fabric on the front, shoulders, and top of the arms is a super lightweight, thin windblocker (which really does work!) sewn over thermal jersey fabric.

The fabric on the sides, back, and underside of the arms is your standard thermal jersey. It's fleecy on the inside.

^This combo is fantastic because it blocks the wind from the front and still lets your excess heat dissipate out the back. I wore this jacket with just a thin, long-sleeved, wicking athletic shirt underneath, and I was comfortable in temperatures ranging from the upper 50s to the lower 60s. (Any colder than about 55 and I have to add another layer.)

The zipper has a draft flap, so cold air doesn't leak in.

The sleeves are nice and long.

The quality is excellent, as usual for Pearl Izumi products.

In cooler temps from 40-50, this jacket is a perfect mid-layer/thermal piece for those who are more "cold-natured" (like me), and it may even suffice as an outer jacket for those who are more "hot-natured."

Neutral:

There's one zipper pocket in the back.

The wrist cuffs are contoured and cover the back of your hand a bit more than your average jacket or jersey.

The Coffee (brown) color perfectly matches Pearl Izumi's other items in Coffee, like the Canyon Short and the Divide Capri. (This goes under the "awesome!" category for me, but I realize this fact is neutral for most people.)

Could be improved:

I wish there were front pockets for your hands, storing your gloves, etc.!

I wish the windblocker fabric covered the entire arm, not just the top side (from shoulder to wrist), leaving the underside exposed to the wind. The undersides of my arms get chilly if I'm not wearing another layer over this jacket.

I wish the wrist cuffs had elastic. I wear a thin windblocker glove with the ends tucked into my sleeves when it gets a bit cooler, and I can still feel a draft come inside the cuff every now and then.

It would be nice if the inside of the collar were lined in fleece for a little extra comfort.

Overall, this is a fantastic piece to add to your cycling wardrobe. I plan to use it as a mid-layer thermal jersey and add my Gore Countdown windstopper on top of it for temps between 40-50. Definitely recommended!

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I love this jacket. This is the second one I bought. My cat destroyed my last one and nothing else I saw had what I was looking for, so I just got the same one again. It's great for rainy seattle weather, and keeps you warm, but not too warm. It has great lines, form accentuating and looks good when you are going to meet friends by bike. The thing I don't like is that there is only one pocket, and its on the back with a zipper, so you can't just grab something quick, and you kind of have to get off your bike, get your backpack off and get it. Also, if your hands are cold, you can't put them in your pockets. It's pretty enough that its worth it though.

Also, I'm very tall (5'11") and I am happy with the length of sleeves which can be a struggle sometimes.

Overall, great jacket! Why don't more companies make ones like it??

Honest reviews on Pearl Izumi Women's Elite Thermal Barrier Jacket

It fits snug but that is to be expected for this type of a jacket. It's very windproof and warm enough without being too warm.

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Used it all Winter and Spring. I wish I had gotten a size larger because it was snug. Seems to be the normal thing for Pearl Izumi. Whatever you normally are, get a size up. I liked that the arms were long enough as well. I would recommend this to a friend and I would buy a bigger one for myself.