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review

Pearl Izumi Pro Escape Softshell Jacket

8
£169.99

VERDICT:

8
10
A warm, well-made and good looking jacket for the coldest weather
Weight: 
508g

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Pearl Izumi's Pro Escape Softshell Jacket is a very warm, well-made and breathable softshell that keeps all the bad stuff out and all the good stuff in. It's Pearl Izumi's top-of-the-line jacket, designed to be used in temperatures from -10 to 0 degrees, which – 'luckily' – the UK has managed a few times during the review period.

The jacket's primary role is to keep you warm, which it does through fleece sides and a fleece panel down the centre of the back panel. As it isn't throughout the main body, it leaves a decent area for breathability, which works well. I didn't find myself overheating when using the jacket up to around 5 degrees, although any warmer than this and it gets a little too warm – though there are two well placed vents either side of the front panel, and these help with ventilation. It also has a full-length wind flap-backed YKK zip with a large handle that's simple to use even in gloves, so zipping/unzipping is simple.

> Find your nearest dealer here

Pearl Izumi has used a three-layer membrane system, which kept out everything that a UK autumn/early winter threw at me, from driving rain through to vicious winds, despite the seams not being taped. 

Pearl Izumi Pro Escape Softshell Jacket - riding.jpg

It isn't just about the material though, it is also nicely designed to keep you warm and dry, with elements such as the high fleece-lined neck and the longish back panel stopping your lower back getting soaked when in the drops. This back panel feels different to the rest of the jacket, more like neoprene, while elsewhere it feels more like traditional softshell material.

Pearl Izumi Pro Escape Softshell Jacket - chest.jpg

The jacket has two pockets: one huge zipped one at the back with divisions to keep things separate, and one smaller one on the chest for valuables. Both are zipped, but although they aren't completely watertight, even in intense downpours only a small amount of water got in. The back pocket can fit a large amount in – I even managed to fit a medium size pump horizontally across the bottom – while the smaller chest pocket is just large enough for an iPhone 6, though that's probably the upper limit.

Pearl Izumi Pro Escape Softshell Jacket - pocket unzipped.jpg

In terms of fit, the jacket is closer to racer than casual on the sliding scale, but by no means too tight; Pearl Izumi describes it as 'Form Fit' and it manages to hit a decent sweetspot. A smooth wrinkle-free fit helps water to flow off the jacket, and makes it more comfortable to wear. One thing that helps here is the contoured shape of the sleeve, with a seam/flap at the elbow; it can look a bit odd off the bike, but looks absolutely fine while on it. The jacket does jersey duties well, too, worn under as well as over other layers.

Pearl Izumi Pro Escape Softshell Jacket - vent.jpg

There are also some other elements you might expect from a modern softshell, such as reflective elements on the sleeves, back and front panel, as well as silicone grippers to keep everything in place when riding. The reflective details are relatively small but work surprisingly well.

> Check out our guide to the best winter cycling jackets

It comes with an RRP of £169.99, which is about what I'd expect to pay for a well-made, warm softshell that keeps the elements out and the warmth in. As well as that, it has a decent fit, loads of storage and breathability is also strong. Yes it's at the pricier end of the scale, but ultimately those who are prepared to spend over £150 won't be disappointed. It would be good to have taped seams and taped zips on the pockets, but it was only found wanting in the heaviest rain, and even then it took close to an hour for anything to seep through.

Verdict

A warm, well-made and good looking jacket for the coldest weather

road.cc test report

Make and model: Pearl Izumi Pro Escape Softshell Jacket

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the jacket is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

A jacket designed for the worst the weather can throw at you, from freezing winds to pouring rain.

Pearl Izumi says: 'Winter riding demands versatile protection, and the PRO Escape Softshell delivers, with three-layer membrane construction. Key ventilation panels help regulate temperature, and stamped design elements add subtle style.'

This seems an accurate description: the jacket performs well, keeps the heat in but also lets the sweat out.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the jacket?

PRO Level 3 layer Softshell Panels for wind and water protection in key areas

Insulating Fleece on sides and center back for warmth and breathability

Contoured, shaped sleeve hem for an anatomically correct fit

Full-length internal draft flap seals in warmth

Zippered side vents allow for maximum temperature regulation

Large, zippered back pocket for storage with internal dividers

Small chest security pocket

Reflective elements placed for maximum visibility on the bike

Form Fit

Weather forecast: Cold and windy

Temperature range: -10 to 0 degrees

Fabrics: Body made of 39% polyester 36% nylon 13% elastane 12% polyurethane with weight of 320 g/m2 10,000 mm waterproof 20,000+ g/m2/h and Thermal Panels of 94% polyester 6% elastane

Rate the jacket for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Really well made jacket with strong stitching, well thought out design, with features like indented embossed marks and thick zips.

Rate the jacket for performance:
 
8/10

Kept the stuff you don't want out and the stuff you want in.

Rate the jacket for durability:
 
7/10

Well made, with thick, strong zips and good choices of material. Can't see anything going wrong any time soon.

Rate the jacket for waterproofing, based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
8/10

Seems about right, nothing got through despite the lack of taped seams, although it would be good to have taped zips on the pockets.

Rate the jacket for breathability, based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
8/10

Good breathability, thanks in part to the ability to both unzip the front, or open vents on the side.

Rate the jacket for fit:
 
8/10

Really nice fit, not too tight to slip over a jersey, not too baggy to be used as one.

Rate the jacket for sizing:
 
8/10

The medium fitted as I would expect from a non-Italian fit.

Rate the jacket for weight:
 
5/10

About what I would expect.

Rate the jacket for comfort:
 
8/10

Really nice fleece lining combined with features like the silicone grippers to keep everything in place and working well.

Rate the jacket for value:
 
5/10

About what I would expect for a jacket with this kind of quality.

How easy is the jacket to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Everything stayed in place, no shrinking or fading at a 30-degree wash.

Tell us how the jacket performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very well, it was great to use during some of the more dire weather we've had of late.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the jacket

The size of the pocket at the back may seem like a small thing, but it was genuinely useful and well designed.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the jacket

Would be nice to have some taping on the zips.

Did you enjoy using the jacket? Yes

Would you consider buying the jacket? Yes

Would you recommend the jacket to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

Pearl Izumi has done a good job, as you would expect from its top-of-the-line jacket; it does everything I wanted and expected from it.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 27  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: Cannondale Supersix Evo 6  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

George is the host of the road.cc podcast and has been writing for road.cc since 2014. He has reviewed everything from a saddle with a shark fin through to a set of glasses with a HUD and everything in between. 

Although, ironically, spending more time writing and talking about cycling than on the bike nowadays, he still manages to do a couple of decent rides every week on his ever changing number of bikes.

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