TESTED: Pearl iZUMi Summit Gloves

Words and photos: Georgina von Marburg

The Summit glove has easily been my favourite of the new Pearl iZUMi range, and one I reach for daily. The Summit is their mid-weight trail line, placing more emphasis on coverage than breathability in comparison to the Elevate Mesh. It truly fits “like a glove,” without any palm material bunching up while gripping. The palm is a single piece of faux suede, giving the gloves a luxurious feel every time you pull them on. The upper is a mix of polyester and elastane, providing the perfect amount of stretch when wrapped around your handlebar. 

This is all bound together by a single Velcro wrist strap which has maintained its efficacy over multiple washes. The pull tab on the strap does appear flimsy, so I’m interested to see its performance in the long term. However I’m reassured by their lifetime warranty; Pearl iZUMi have long been an industry leader in terms of quality control and warranty, and it’s their philosophy that lasting apparel is sustainable apparel. 

On the trail 

Several brushes with branches didn’t phase the Summit, reiterating that it’s designed for daily trail use. While the sweat didn’t evaporate as quickly as the Elevate Mesh, the Summit gloves maintained ample breathability in humid, coastal conditions. Silicon triangles on the thumb, index, and ring fingers provided grip against brake and shift levers. I didn’t have the opportunity to test the Summit gloves in the rain, but these grippers are undoubtedly designed for such conditions. 

The Summit fingertips are also touchscreen compatible. And although they were thicker, I found the dexterity on these to be more refined than the Elevate Mesh. This was likely due to their slightly snugger fit. 

Read our Summit Pro Glove review 

Read our Elevate Mesh LTD Glove review

Every time I used the Summit gloves, I was impressed by how flawlessly comfortable they were. Folding these gloves inside out exposes where the real magic happens. The only stitching making contact with your palm is the reinforced web between the thumb and index fingers. This means the only thing between you and your handle bar is a single piece of uninterrupted pleather. 

And of course, the colour scheme has to be touched upon. The retro 80s aesthetic is a niche crowd pleaser, but especially for those who appreciate the colours’ origins. “Screaming Pink” and Yellow have been in Pearl iZUMi’s range for decades as a practical – albeit dated – high vis option. We can only assume this is a subtle, tongue-in-cheek homage to these iconic colours. And we dig it. 

RRP: $39.99

From: pearlizumi.com

Hits

• Perfectly fitted 

• Minimalist design

• Consistent touch screen performance 

• Colour range

Misses

• None so far!