Internal Mono(b)log

I’ve been meaning to write this review for almost a year(!), but having waited has given me more training and racing experience with this kit.  So rather than doing a review and a subsequent follow-up, I can now roll it all into this one post.  So… yea it was intentional… really 😛    So lets get into it!

Finding the Pro In-R-Cool Tri Set

I first heard about the In-R-Cool clothing from an article about Pearl featuring Angela Naeth and wind tunnel testing. The results of the testing showed a drag reduction similar to what you’d expect from a set of race wheels.  I needed a new suit and I was “sold”.  I started looking, but to my surprise, I couldn’t find the set in my size anywhere (online, brick-n-mortar, distributors, etc.)  Eventually the folks at Shimano Canada who are also the Pearl Izumi distributor up here found me a display set, in my size, AND allowed me to pick it up on my way to Ironman Mont Tremblant.

Tremblant was a great 1st test for this kit: we got it all, hot, cold, windy, still, rain, sun, overcast, even a double rainbow (sure the clothes had nothing to do with that, but it was still pretty amazing).  I’ve since also worn it for gallons of training and for the Leadman Marquee 125 in Tempe, AZ (yes, it was very hot there 🙂 ).

Comfort and Fit

The In-R-Cool tri set just feels fast.  Kind of like the 1st time you wear a speed suit swimming, this suit just feels like it moves through the air better.  Unlike many tri sets, the Pearl Izumi In-R-Cool set is also super comfortable.  The tri-top has no zipper to rub and chaff.  I was concerned about the inability to open the zip for cooling, but in practice I was cooler where the tri-top covered than where it didn’t.

The tri-short chamois is, minimal (as you’d expect):

As minimal is it is though, it’s pretty darned comfortable.  Would I want to race RAAM on it?  Well, no, but I wouldn’t do that with a tri-short at all, so yea… for its purpose in life, its well done.

I was a little skeptical of the claims that the suit is cooling and reflects UV but, in practice, it was definitely proven true.  I do wish there was a men’s “shrug” (to cover the arms, shoulders and back of neck where the tri-top doesn’t cover), but unfortunately these are strangely only available for women.   When I raced in Tempe I actually only wore the shorts and wore a cooling long-sleeved shirt to prevent sunburn on all the exposed skin.  I wish I’d had some sort of solar protection in the In-R-Cool materials because I’d have loved to wear the full kit.

Finish and Durability

Pearl warrantees all their clothing with a lifetime guarantee!  That’s confidence in your product and having put a lot of hours into this kit I now understand that confidence.  This kit is bombproof: all the seams on the tri kit are welded and have no threads to pull loose, break or fatigue over time; the materials the clothing is made of feel “space-aged” and super technical, but rugged.  Again, when I first got the kit I was a little nervous that the technical nature of the material would make it fragile, but it’s tough… really tough.  Like, survives road-rash tough!

Conclusion

Pearl Izumi make many pretty outrageous claims about this clothing line.  I approached the claims with a skeptical eye, but was proven again and again that they were true.   Does the tri-suit save me as much time as my Madfibre wheels or my disc?  I can’t say, but it sure feels fast 🙂  Beyond that though, the suit feels good, cool and comfortable and has proven itself to be very durable.  Nice job Pearl Izumi!