Feels Like I’m Wearing Nothing at All
Anyone who has done a triathlon, knows how much of a difference your clothing choice can make. It can make your race an absolute dream or a cruel nightmare. The highest compliment I can think of when it comes to triathlon clothing, is that when you wear it it feels like you are racing naked – something you probably would like to do, but can’t for obvious reasons.
I’ll be honest, I was more than a little skeptical about a one-piece triathlon suit. It seems a bit pretentious, and I didn’t think it would fit comfortably – especially if you don’t wear the same size on top as you do on bottom. One thing I love about the 2XU tri-clothing I bought was that you can get a customized fit for the top and bottom. So, when I bought this tri-suit I was concerned that it wouldn’t fit me like I wanted it to.
I can’t believe how wrong I was. The Pearl Izumi P.R.O. fabric is incredible. It fits like a glove. In fact, probably a little too good. I purchased a medium and I have say the sizing was spot on. I really like the more “tank-top” cut of the top of this suit. I didn’t feel like it was tight around my neck or shoulders like some triathlon tops can be.
The P.R.O. tri-suit features IN-R-Cool technology that provides optimal cooling and sun protection. It’s something proprietary that Pearl Izumi developed, and I have to say that this fabric kept me noticeably cooler. I also loved not having to worry if i would get a sun burn on my lower back – you know the section of your back that gets exposed during the bike when you wear a two piece tri suit? I’ve heard some horror stories of bad sun burns on the lower back.
The chamois in this tri-suit is awesomely thin. It feels like it isn’t even there during the run, but provided plenty of comfort on the bike, and dried out perfectly after the swim. I did the 2012 Wildflower Triathlon in this suit and loved every minute – at least from a clothing perspective. I never once felt like I had a diaper on, and didn’t get any rashes or chaffing from the suit.
Another feature I love about the single piece suit is the option to go topless, during the run for extra ventilation. I didn’t have to struggle to get my top off, over my head, and I never had to worry about dropping my top along the route. During the Wildflower Triathlon, the run was HOT – to say the least. I loved being able to quickly, and easily slip down the top of my tri-suit and get a little extra ventilation as well as work on my awesome tan.
The Bottom Line ~
This is an incredible tri suit that you won’t regret buying. The unique fabric fits great and feels good on your body. The In-R-Cool Technology helps beat the heat. The legs don’t have any tight elastic bands either, thankfully eliminates sausage legs. The design is sleek and classy. The best way to sum up this suit is that it feels like you are wearing nothing at all – and that is awesome. Note that this was a 2011 suit, because it was on clearance. These things are super-expensive. I’d love to try the new suit, but will have to wait until I save up the money or Pearl Izumi decides to send me one to test.
I got an email of this awesome video that Pearl Izumi recently made about the technology of their triathlon clothing – very cool stuff!
