Market: The traditional manufacturer of performance cycling clothing, Pearl Izumi, which is now based in Colorado, has a very interesting innovation to report for the fall. The brand new and exclusive Pearl Izumi PI DRY material is a big step forward in the field of rainwear and breaks away from the often unfavorable compromise of DWR impregnation for sporty use.
It's a topic that has always been the subject of much discussion among cyclists: what is the right clothing for rainy weather? A lot has happened here in recent years and the excuse "bad weather" hasn't really counted for quite a while. Ever better and stronger impregnations also make sporty clothing resistant to wind and weather and keep the driver dry.
Most manufacturers rely on a so-called DWR impregnation for their materials (DWR stands for Durable Water Repellency). Each of us is familiar with the application and effect: the water simply rolls off the surface and does not even penetrate the material. However, almost everyone who has used such a piece of clothing over a longer period of time is probably familiar with the disadvantages: the impregnation wears off over time, washing it in particular does not do it any good - but abrasion can also impair weather protection. The only thing that often helps is to re-impregnate yourself. It's not easy - apply too little and water will penetrate, overdo it and breathability will suffer.
Pearl Izumi PI DRY: Coating of every single fiber
In the future, Pearl Izumi would like to address this problem with the new PI DRY material. This is also a coating and the result is comparable to that of a classic DWR impregnation - water and moisture roll off and do not even penetrate the fibers. So everything as usual? No, not at all - because if a normal impregnation is placed over the fabric like an additional layer, with the PI DRY technology each individual fiber of the fabric is encased individually. In particular, the durability should be improved - Pearl Izumi speaks of a lifelong durability, even more than 100 wash cycles.
The first products with Pearl Izumi PI DRY technology will go on sale in September. In addition to arm warmers, leg warmers and knee warmers, there will also be different bibs and tights: While the Pursuit Thermal Cycling Bib Tight is something for warmer, damp autumn and winter days, you can wear the PRO Escape Thermal Bib Short and 3/4 Bib Tight thanks to the Fleece inside also train on otherwise uncomfortably cool days. Prices are not yet known.