Soft shell pants are an indispensable part of an active outdoor wardrobe, and when it comes to soft shell pants that can handle the crappiest weather while keeping you warm, dry and comfortable no matter what you're doing, Pearl Izumi has you covered. From the waist down, in this case, with the Summit AmFIB bike pants, PI's warmest bike pant for cold weather riding, skiing or anything else that involves charging hard in cold, wet and windy conditions.
Let's talk performance first. AmFIB is PI's soft shell technology, and it delivers reliable wind and water resistance. It was darn close to waterproof in our testing, while still remaining highly breathable to help you dump heat when the going gets tough. This is helped by the breathable panels behind the knee, which also make articulation easier while pedaling. The thickness of the material means this is cold-weather gear for active pursuits, although we also found ourselves pulling it off the shelf for shoulder-season weather where we might be standing around more.
What we really want to talk about is the fit. The Summit AmFIB displays Pearl Izumi's typical great fit, with wonderful articulation and a customized feel. But that is definitely not all. PI pulled out all the stops to make these pants a work of art expressed in the details: even the ankle zips have zipper garages! Thoughtful details extend to the handwarmer pockets, which have the zipper at the front of the pocket so when you're in the seated position you can put a hand straight down into the pocket. There are two front snaps for security, and on each side are two thin strips of hook-and-loop material with tabs so you can really dial in the fit.
There's a thigh pocket good for a smart phone or equivalent on the right side, and inside the left waistband is a small hang loop. The only caveat we have is that they definitely run a notch small, so you might want to order a size up if you're near the cutoff. Wearing the Summit AmFIB pants is truly a pleasure, they are just that well designed and executed. The overall fit and finish feels like it was custom tailored, and the performance is equally good. We have no hesitation is saying this is a high-end product that justifies every penny you spend on it.
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