First Impressions
Pearl Izumi continues to delivers on the product mantra of “ride, tri, run” this season with a full range of products for each sport. The company excels in the delivery of lightweight offerings with some cutting edge styling. In all three categories, Pearl Izumi provides a wide range of tops, bottoms, baselayers, footwear and accessories. Case in point, biking gloves. Pearl Izumi’s line up includes 24 different products, for cold weather, hot weather and everything in between. We chose the Divide full-fingered glove for our test.
Features
Pearl Izumi positions the Divide as “ready for your next epic trail ride with superior fit, functionality and style.” Our sample arrived in basic black and not much else. It’s a very lightweight package that feels fairly stripped down and minimal.
The Divide uses synthetic leather in the palm. There’s a small touch of padding in the heel of the hand. Double-thick leather covers the high-wear areas like the inner thumb. But there’s minimal added bulk. Pearl Izumi makes the thumb from microfiber strip for wiping away sweat. Stretch fabric covers the back of the hand and fingers for increased mobility. And unfortunately on our test pair, the geometric pattern on the back started to pull and peel away from the fabric. The good news is that never effected performance.
Specs
Palm: Synthetic leather/Airprene padding
Back: Nylon/polyester/spandex blend
Fingers: Full
Wrist closure: Hook and loop
Finally, the index and middle fingers get rubberized coatings for grip. And there’s a hook and loop closure to cinch down the glove at the wrist.
Fit
After testing a series of Pearl Izumi products – including shorts, shirts and footwear – I can safely say that the company typically runs small in their sizing. The Divide Glove is no exception. My men’s medium felt small on my hand (I typically straddle the fence between a medium and large) and the Divide definitely skews toward the smaller end of medium. I’d feel safe going up one size.
Final Verdict
The Pearl Izumi definitely delivers a lightweight, stripped down glove in the Divide. No frills, no flash, just straight-ahead comfort and protection. We were a little dismayed that the graphics on the back of the glove didn’t hold up better, but that’s a pretty small complaint. Overall, we liked the Divide and if keeping the weight down is a major consideration for you, definitely give the Pearl Izumi Divide Gloves a try.