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review
Jerseys - short sleeve
Pearl Izumi Ultrastar S/S Jersey Pearl Izumi Ultrastar S/S Jersey Pearl Izumi Ultrastar S/S Jersey Pearl Izumi Ultrastar S/S Jersey Pearl Izumi Ultrastar S/S Jersey
Pearl Izumi Ultrastar S/S Women's jersey

Pearl Izumi Ultrastar S/S Jersey

7
by Lara Dunn
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Jul 1, 2012

0
£39.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Good-looking and reliably performing jersey at a good price
Weight: 
0g
Contact: 
www.madison.co.uk
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Ultrastar is part of Pearl Izumi's lower-end Select range of products, aimed at the mass market cycling consumer. It's a casually styled jersey, straddling the road and MTB markets, with plenty of features.

With a contoured but not tight fit, the Ultrastar is available in a good range of sizes, up to XXL and will appeal to a variety of cycling builds. It's styled to appeal to a wider audience too, with attractive colours and a neat effective collar. The fabric is moisture wicking with side panels designed to move moisture more quickly than the rest of the body. The polyester fabric has sun protection (UPF50) built in and the jersey has a full length zip for ventilation and three simple back pockets. It also has reflective piping for added safety in low light.

In use, the Ultrastar was a comfortable jersey, fitting close enough for the technical fabric to do its work, but without making me feel shrink-wrapped. The body length wasn't the longest, and taller women might find this a problem. Despite the lack of a hem gripper at the bottom, there wasn't too much trouble with the jersey riding up when leaning forwards, although it definitely suited a more upright riding position. The full length zip was nice, but it would have been handy to have had some sort of zipped pocket for keys etc. The fabric was on the warmer side, but ideal for the majority of UK spring and summer conditions.

£39.99 is a fairly reasonable price for an attractive technical jersey. It's lacking some of the finer details, but it's a solid reliable jersey that should last well and is good value for money.

Verdict

Good-looking and reliably performing jersey at a good price.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Pearl Izumi Ultrastar S/S Jersey

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product 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?

Aimed at any woman who rides a bike.

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

92% polyester/8% elastane

Side panels 100% polyester

UPF50

Full length zip

3 back pockets

Reflective piping

Machine washable at 30

Available in sizes XS-XXL

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Well built with good quality components.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Wicked moisture pretty well and was comfortable to ride in.

Rate the product for durability:
 
5/10

Technical fabric and only washable at 30 does mean it could start to smell fairly quickly.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

Neither heavy nor light.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10

Slightly on the warm side for the hottest days, but soft fabric and easy fit.

Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

Good value for money for the features and style.

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

Performed very well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Style, cut, colours.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Lack of zipped pocket.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Definitely.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

Nicely featured, attractive technical riding top for those not looking to shell out a fortune.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 1.65m  Weight: 67kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, general fitness riding, mtb,

 

Pearl Izumi Ultrastar Women's jersey
Women's jersey
Summer jersey
Pearl Izumi
Lara Dunn

Lara has been riding bikes for longer than she'd care to admit, and writing about them nearly as long. Since 2009 she has been working as part of the road.cc review team whilst championing women's cycling on the side, most notably via two years as editor of the, sadly now defunct, UK's first and only women's cycling mag, erm, Women's Cycling. 

Believing fervently that cycling will save the world, she wishes that more people would just ride a bike and be pleasant to each other. 

She will ride anything with two wheels, occasionally likes to go fast, definitely likes to go far and is always up for a bit of exploring somewhere new and exciting. 

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