Gear Review: Pearl Izumi AmFIB tights

My wise-cracking wife saw me slipping into my new Pearl Izumi AmFIB tights. She walked over, pinched the material around my thigh, laughed and said, “What’s this? Is it your new scuba suit? Ha ha ha ha!” I had to admit with a chuckle that my wife – a harsh critic of bike geekery - was right. The tights are made of a thick, almost rubbery-looking material that seems better suited for deepsea diving. I was worried they would cause some serious chaffing and discomfort on long rides. But that hasn’t been the case at all. They’ve been extremely comfortable and warm. So far, they’re my best investment this winter. They provide excellent protection from the wind (I really don’t feel it) and my legs stay warm. Best yet, I don’t need to stick a wool sock or mitten in my crotch area to keep my junk from freezing. The tights protect me there, too.

I’m a frugal, patient shopper who rarely pays the retail price for gear. I tend to wait for the end-of-the-season sales and stock up with the bargains. I was tempted to wait for the Pearl Izumi tights to be marked down next month or in March. But it quickly became apparent that the leg warmers and Lycra tights that served me well in subtropical southern China were no match for the Michigan winter. So I pulled the trigger early and paid $120 for the heavy-duty tights through REI online. The price was lower than competing brands, and Pearl Izumi has NEVER disappointed me when it comes to design and durability. The stuff wears like iron. I’ve had three pairs of Pearl bib shorts in my regular rotation for the past five years!

I had three options: 1) bib tights 2) bibless tights with a chamois or 3)bibless without a chamois. I went with option No. 3 - bibless without chamois - because I’m a huge proponent of flexible layering. I wanted to be able to strip off the tights if there was a drastic change in weather. That would have been hard to do with the bibs. I also planned to wear bib shorts under the tights for extra warmth. There also might be times when I wear the tights for snowshoeing or running, and the chamois would just be unneeded bulk.

Technical details: The tights are made of “Elite softshell” that serves as a wind barrier. They’re lined with fuzzy “thermal fleece,” which provides warmth and moves moisture away from the skin. The legs have a long bottom zipper, and reflective stripes that provide 360-degree reflectivity. Grippy silicone material around the ankles keep the tights in place. The panel construction with the flat seams helps the tights hug the legs. The legs are cut with a slightly bend, which looks weird on the hanger but makes sense when you’re on the bike. A medium was the best fit for my body (1.83 meters tall, 78 kilos). The only thing I don’t like about them is that the waist line feels like it’s riding a bit low. But when I feel back there to see if I’m rocking a plumber’s butt, everything seems to be fitting fine. It’s weird but minor. I’ll get used to it.