Fall Gravel with the Pearl Izumi Expedition PRO Bib Shorts

One of the things that gravel cycling has given us is cargo bib shorts. Up until gravel really took off, cyclists would overload their jersey pockets or would add saddle and frame packs for everything they needed. Pearl Izumi offers their Expedition PRO bib shorts for your longest days on the road and providing some extra cargo space.

I’m guilty of it myself when I used to ride centuries on the road and would start off with all of the food and drink mixes on my back, along with tubes and tools under the saddle. But now, gravel bibs offer side pockets, and in some cases, pockets on the lower back. I tried to resist the trend as long as I could, but eventually took the plunge with my team kits, getting bibs and a road suit with cargo pockets, and actually found I like them for long rides as a place to securely stuff my phone and other small items.

Pearl Izumi sent over a kit for us to put the Expedition PRO bibs through their paces. It included the PRO Mesh jersey, Expedition PRO Bibs, Expedition Full Finger Gel gloves, Transfer Air 7″ socks, and I added a Transfer base layer I had previously.

The Expedition PRO bibs start with the new Levitate PRO Chamois and Italian PRO Transfer fabric. The chamois is a triple layer foam design that provides more support than other multi-density designs. There is plenty of ventilation and sweat-wicking to keep you fresh, and a relief channel that acts similar to saddle cutouts to help reduce pressure on the sensitive areas. Infinite Edge helps to reduce any hot spots, and there is plenty of stretch to move with your body. The PRO Transfer fabric made from 46% recycled nylon, 38% polyester, and 16% elastane, is soft with just enough stretch to provide support while riding. Pearl Izumi added PI Dry technology to help shed water and keep you dry. Laser-cut raw edge leg hems keep the fit smooth and comfortable on the legs.

The straps use the same laser-cut as the leg hem, providing support and comfortably staying in place with or without a base layer. There is a drop-tail design to make it easy to hit the bathroom without having to pull down the straps.

For cargo, the Expedition PRO has four pockets. The two thigh pockets easily carry items like a phone, baggies of food or drink mixes, gels, and things like that. On the back panel below the straps, there are two smaller pockets for ID, money, credit cards, gels, and other small items.

My first impression on the bibs is they are all about comfort. The PRO Transfer fabric feels soft, but a little thick compared to other bibs I have, even gravel-style bibs with cargo pockets. Compared to the Ornot Work bibs we recently reviewed, the material feels a little softer, but a touch thicker. There aren’t a ton of seams on the shorts portion, more than the GORE Long Distance 2.0 bib, but less than other bibs I’ve worn. This will help with durability and reduce the possibility of chaffing.

I was able to put a number of rides in on the Expedition PRO bibs, paired with the rest of the kit Pearl Izumi sent. The PRO Mesh jersey was great for the summertime, offering plenty of ventilation in hot temps. It worked deep into the fall, but once temps started to get into the low 50’s, I was looking for something a bit more, or used it with a heavier merino wool base layer. The Transfer Mesh base layer helped keep me cool in the hot temps and added a bit more versatility to the PRO Mesh jersey. For the gloves, the Expedition Gel Full Finger gloves were great for longer rides. I typically wear full-finger gloves all year long, but the gel was a nice addition for longer-distance gravel rides to help dampen some of the vibrations. The Transfer Air socks are great for warmer temps. They were plenty breathable, especially with the open mesh Ekoi Ultralight Carbon shoes.

During hot summer rides, the Expedition PRO bibs were a little warm, but wicked sweat away quickly. For the hottest days, I’d probably opt for the Ornot or my Vie13 team cargo bibs (or just skip the cargos altogether), but from about the low 80’s down to the high 40’s, the Expedition PRO’s would be fine, especially when paired with some nice ELITE Thermal Knee warmers for colder temps. They didn’t see much precipitation during the rides, but having ridden PI Dry in the past, they will help keep you dry from road spray and light showers. The soft Transfer fabric felt luxurious against the skin, similar to my favorite GORE Long Distance 2.0 bibs. There was still plenty of compression, providing the support I sought for longer rides.

The Levitate chamois was definitely thicker than I am used to, but was comfortable for short and long rides. The cutout matched well with the Velo Angel TT and Revo I used on my rides. My max ride was about 6 hours, but it would not have been a problem to put at least a few more hours in on them. The Infinite Edge was noticeable in a good way, as in there were no chaffing or hot spots and I couldn’t feel where the chamois ended.

The laser-cut straps and leg hems were really nice, something I have experienced with Pearl Izumi bibs in the past. I rode them with and without the base layer and didn’t have any issues with the straps rolling or pulling on my chest hair. I never tried the drop hem for hitting the bathroom, but if it is something you’re looking for, it is good to know it is there.

The pockets were great too. I mainly stored my phone in the leg pockets, but I also would throw in a snack on the other side, or put my gloves in them when stopped. I kept the back pockets for my ID and some cash, which worked well and remained comfortable, even with a jersey overtop loaded up with drink mixes and snacks. The whole kit was extremely comfortable and fit well.

The bibs are available in size XS through XXXL, and currently in four different colors. Personally, I went with the subtle black, but Pearl Izumi offers different patterns if you want to go for a bolder look.

At $265, they are a little bit of an investment, but also reasonable for the quality of the bibs compared to some high-end brands. Pearl Izumi bibs have always worked well for me, but I can see some improvements from my older models. They kept the laser-cut straps and hem, but the Infinite Edge chamois is a nice addition.

There’s still some time to get some fall gravel rides in, or start to get prepared for next spring’s rides. Either way, the Expedition PRO bibs will cover you potentially across three seasons of riding. They are great for road, gravel, and even mountain biking for those not looking to wear baggies. They will stay in my rotation for spring and fall riding, especially for longer rides.

www.pearlizumi.com