Pearl IzumiMen's Elite Escape Shorts(Return to Product Page)

In my opinion, these are the best cycling shorts currently on the market. They provide great cushioning although some may find the pad a tad big. They wick moisture better than any shorts Ive ever worn...and thats 40 years of riding. Theyre a snug fit and feel great on the legs. They wash up superbly and dry as soft as new. I have 3 pairs of these...and will buy more. That said, theyre pricy. But, if you can buy them on sale you will not be disappointed.

WASH THESE A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE RIDING. THE ELITE HAS A LITTLE MORE PADDING THAN THE PRO.

This is my second pair of these shorts, because I liked the first pair so much. They fit just right, you only feel them where you want to be sure you are wearing them if you know what I mean. Very comfortable. Enough padding to get a thin person through a century. Also reasonably priced especially in year-end clearances. Leg-grippers hold up my leg warmers better than other shorts.

Bought this shorts on sale. Very comfortable even though the padding appears to be too thick but was not cumbersome at all when riding.

I wear Peral Izumi's whether I'm riding 10 miles or 110 miles. They fit great and I never have a chafing problem. It is a quality product and you can't beat the price when they're on special. I

The short material has a nice, quality feel. The padding is not what I expected. Looks more high tech than my 10-year old bike shorts. No chafe. Seams comfortable.

The color doesn't appear to be a true, deep black. More of a dark dark charcoal. Not really noticeable unless you are wearing a jersey with black. No big deal. Only you would likely notice, or care.

Sizing appears consistent with what I would have expected. I don't think there is a need for sizing updown.

The fit of these shorts is exceptional although some may find the pad a bit large a inflexible...that is until you begin riding. Its anatomical cut is great and, in my opinion, this is the best non-leather pad Perli has ever created. And, the pad dries quickly after washing. I already have two pair of these and will be getting a third so that I can get rid of and older pair of shorts and keep my wear rotation in place.

This is a good quality and comfortable short. I can ride comfortably for long distances in these shorts.

For me these shorts are true to size. With the Italian shorts (Castelli) I order 2 sizes larger. My ONLY complaint is for me the inseam is longer than I like. I work hard to develop my quads and it is a shame to cover them up!! These shorts come to about an inch above my knee cap.

These have been great shorts for longer rides. I use them on 100k & 200k rides and have found them to perform better than any other shorts. The leg grippers hold well and the waist doesn't seem to drop much, the chamois is also thick enough and doesn't shift or bunch. These have be come my shorts of choice now.

I prefer the heavier weight of the earlier generation of Elite

These shorts have a new design chamois pad which functions just as described. Rotating three pair, biking 600 miles a month, no problems with shorts, or saddles..(rotating 2 saddles.). Pearl Izumi has come up with a nice design, including the leg grippers, perfect! BTD plus sale price recommended buy for the Pearl Izumi shorts!

Very comfortable. Comparable to Assos.

I love the new chamois in these shorts. I sweat pretty heavily and this new chamois did an excellent job of staying dry unlike some of the old liners. That said, they are just a bit thicker and may take a ride or two to get accustomed to it. I have five pair of shorts that I rotate and always look forward to the next time I get to use them. As to the price, I bought these shorts when they were on sale. I'm not sure if I'd feel the same if I had paid full price or even bought them.

comfortable and fairly priced

I have an earlier version but is wearing out. This is fantastic. I can do 100 mile days with confidence and no chafing.

Replaced several pairs of old Pearl Izumi shorts with chamois inserts. These have thicker synthetic padding but does not feel bulky. Very comfortable.

Have bought one pair each of the past 5 yearsI ride a yearly total of 1800-2200 miles on Trek Madone 5.9 .I ride 5 times per week April - Oct. (less in the rest) in Ct. I would consider myself to be a serious recreational rider combining it with running, daily intense gym workouts and focus on maintaining above average physical conditioning. The Pearl Izumi Elite bike shorts are extremely well made, very comfortable yet durable fabric and seat padding. Fit is excellent. They don't rid up, pinch or loose elasticity. A quality product. I'm 6'2 and 192 ilbs with a fairly aggressive riding style. I rotate the latest pair of shorts with usually two to three rides rides every two weeks with last years shorts ( shorter rides only). The first time I put on a pair of Elite In R Cools, I felt total satisfaction .. rare for me . The best part is every year each parameter remains the same ( with only changes being in color scheme. Knowing the product remains the same in all features year in and out makes it a no brainer to continue buying. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

These are expensive shorts but they do deliver what they promise. They breathe exceptionally well and are very comfortable. Look for a sale to take some of the sting out of the price.

I have never owned a pair of $100 short before. When I saw these on a good sale I had to try them to see if they are really worth the money. I have to say the comfort of these shorts beats any other shorts I own including less expensive Pearl Izumi's I own. They run a bit small so don't believe the size chart. I am 5'10, 170 lbs and have a 33 waist and with these shorts I need an Extra Large. I still don't think I could spend over $100 on a pair of shorts but if you catch these on a good sale they are hard to beat.

These are my 3rd pair of PI shorts I bought over the last 6 years. I find PI shorts Elite and Pro models to be well constructed and designed. The material feels nice and the construction is solid but the fit on these seemed a tad tight compared to the Elite and the Pro shorts I purchased in the past. I realize they are tight right out of the package but I don't think my older ones were this tight when new. It wasn't a deal breaker for though. Once I got going, they felt fine. I wore them on San Jose to Big Sur (220 miles round trip) packed bike tour and I forgot that I had them on. The padding was certainly good enough but not as exotic or anatomically sculpted like the ones on my high-end Catelli racing bibs but for general riding and touring, it's a solid performer.