Pearl Izumi now offers the Elite Pursuit LTD, which boasts limited edition graphics. Though these shorts have a different color scheme now, the design and materials remain the same.
May 2020
The Elite Pursuit is a solidly made short with reinforced seams that fits a cyclist like a glove. From the well-made six-panel design, the wide waistband and the longer length, there's no denying this is a quality short. The long legs offer compression, and the colored/reflective strips provide for visibility in low-light conditions.
The wide waistband tames the tummy, keeping it securely fastened for the duration of the ride. Wide silicone bands around the thighs keep the shorts in place, while the extra width keeps the shorts from “squeezing” and preventing the “sausage thigh” look.
There are two basic rules when it comes to determining whether or not your short's chamois is worth the salt you are going to sweat all over it: 1) the amount of padding it provides, and 2) its ability to bounce back after a tough pounding (a.k.a.: your ride). While the chamois is certainly thicker than some shorts in this review, it's also the Achilles Heel of this otherwise excellent short.
While one would expect the orange chamois to have a contoured landscape—thicker below the sit bones and thinner elsewhere, the Elite Pursuit's chamois is as mountainous as Kansas. Because of this, the chamois doesn't “move” with the rider, but tends to bunch awkwardly.
That's not to say it's downright awful: the short does fine for rides under two hours. Once the miles start to accumulate, though, the chamois bunches and becomes quite uncomfortable. The short is protective in other, important ways: high-visibility reflective strips add much-needed safety on early-morning or evening rides, and SPF 50 protection keeps your thighs from getting fried.
Our testers appreciated the nylon lycra blend that offers swift wicking and quick-drying responsiveness. It wicks away sweat with ease, keeping you nice and dry, even on a hot, summer day. In the soak-test, the Elite Pursuit stood its ground against other shorts included in this review. The short performed among the top 30% of shorts we tested.
Not too tight, not too smooth, not too cheap: Pearl Izumi offers comfort and compression that will last you for your cycling life. We were incredibly impressed with the warranty policy that will keep your shorts in tip-top condition for years after you purchase them. Pearl Izumi offers a lifetime guarantee on their shorts for anything other than road rash. These shorts are sure to be your go-to short if you want a short that will probably last longer than you will.
If you want more than basic black, Pearl Izumi offers you several options to coordinate your cycling kit. We also appreciate that Pearl Izumi offers cyclists more than just one option: in addition to basic black, stripes down the side of each leg comes in a small variety of colors.
This is the short that can handle day-in, day-out training. From short rides to longish rides, the Elite Pursuit has you covered. We wouldn't recommend taking this short on 100+ mile rides, however, due to the chamois which, after several hours, starts to slouch.
We expected something more out of the short. It's good, but with better performers costing similar or even less, it's hard to say the Elite Pursuit brings excellent value to the table.
