Pearl Izumi Summit AmFIB Alpha pants and Santini Ovis jacket

I ride bikes all year round. When the temps go low I bundle up. Back in my pre-bike pant era I would wear warm XC ski pants or roadie leggings under shorts. It was less than ideal both aesthetically and functionally. A few years ago I got myself a pair of NF Bezerkers and my winter ride life improved immensely. Last winter when the Turkish Delight showed up with fleece-lined NF pants and proceeded to brag about his warm, cozy inner vibes I immediately had fleece FOMO. When a pair of Pearl Izumi Summit AmFIB Alpha pants showed up, I dropped trou immediately so I could pull on the Pearls for that fresh fleece feel. I have used these pants on several rides, hikes and trail building days ranging from 7° C down to 0°C.

Features and Fabric (as listed by Pearl Izumi)

• Pedal to Zero: Going by bike 42mi / 67km offsets the climate impact of this garment
• Polartec Alpha panels on the thighs and seat
• 360-degree AmFIB softshell protection from wind and cold
• Fabrics made from recycled materials
• Kneepad compatible
• Zippered Trail Access pockets for secure storage and pedaling comfort
• PFC-free Durable Water Repellent treatment sheds light precipitation
• Main Body: 89% recycled nylon, 11% spandex Liner: 78% recycled polyester, 22% polyester Pocket Bag: 95% recycled polyester, 5% polyester

One feature not listed by PI in the features is the tapered lower legs with zip closures. I like this feature as I struggle with getting my feet into and out of tight ankle openings like the 7Mesh Glidepath pants I reviewed.

Water resistance and breathability

The AmFib softshell material kept the wind and cold out on high speed road climbs on the eMTB. The DWR coating worked at keeping puddle splashes away from my shins and socks but my butt did get a bit wet on particularly wet trail days. I never rode these pants in the rain (nor would I) so I cannot comment on water resistance from sky water. These are pants for dry, cold weather in my opinion.

The pants heat up when climbing, which is to be expected, but they breathe enough to make wearing them comfortable. I would not want to be doing big climbs in anything but cold weather conditions while using the AmFibs.

Comfort and Warmth: Polartec Alpha Fleece

Polartec was the first to mass produce polar synthetic fleece going way back to 1981. They came up with a way to knit, nap (make it fuzzy) and shear synthetic yarns into the original fleece. It’s always been well-suited for outdoor activities because of its fast drying, lightweight warmth, durability, softness, and breathability.

The PI Summit AmFib Alpha pants are lined with Polartec Alpha fleece which was originally developed for the US special forces.

It feels so comfortable next to my skin. They are like a cozy PJ lounge pant. It has kept me warm on the aforementioned rides and builds and I pack them for apres ride hangs as well.

Fit and function

The AmFib pants fit well over my low profile Chromag Rift kneepads and my bulkier 666 knees.

Unfortunately, I had to choose between size 34 and 32 because I am usually a size 32.5 or 33 and I would rather have a slightly loose fit. The extra room granted by the size 34s made pedaling easy with minimal fabric bunching but no binding. The fabric has some built in stretch which helps with the comfortable feels. The front has a fly but no button nor velcro and there is a single cinch hook and ladder closure. This means you'll have some bunched up fabric if the waist isn't perfectly to your size, as I have found with the size 34, but this hasn't been uncomfortable. Access to the fly is difficult because it is blocked by the flap connected to the cinch hook. This makes it hard to grab the zipper pull tab without unhooking the loop. If the zipper was longer it would be an easier task.

This brings me to the one miss amongst all the hits with the Summit AmFibs which is the small zipper pull tabs. Since the pants are for cold weather, it makes sense that the wearer will be wearing warm gloves, which have thicker fingers that make grabbing the small pull tabs difficult. Longer, wider tabs would definitely help with pocket access. While the two zippered pockets are positioned well, the lack of un-zippered open pockets was inconvenient for me. During rides, the zippered pockets are key, especially for keys and phone, but I like easy access to these items and others when I am not riding.

The bottom line: P+1?

When it comes to bikes and riding gear I confess to my gluttonous desires for +1 especially in the case of these fuzzy warm and cozy pants. So yes to P+1 where P is the current amount of riding pants and the AmFIBs are my plus one. These pants are an excellent addition to my cold weather pant quiver.

Summit AmFIB Alpha pants retail for 250 CAD.

Santini Ovis jacket

The Santini Ovis jacket is the most comfortable riding jacket I own, probably because it doesn’t feel like a riding jacket. It is more like a comfortable fleece jacket for urban or outdoor use. The Polartec® Thermal Pro Shearling Fleece is soft, warm and cozy. Obviously this is not a tarp for wet weather rides but a bit of back and butt splash is absorbed by the fleece without it hitting the under layers. I was hesitant to wear it on my first ride because I knew there would be a lot of puddles on the trails, but I soldiered on in the name of gear science. The jacket washes well with warm water and needs to be hung to dry which is fine because it has maintained its original look and feel after several washes.

Features (as listed by Santini)

- Suggested for temperatures from from 0°C to +10°C / 32 to 50 °F
- Polartec® Thermal Pro Shearling Fleece- Windproof nylon layer on chest and shoulders
- Double-slider front zipper
- Two front zipped pockets and one chest pocket
- Made in Italy

Polartec Thermal Pro Shearling Fleece

Can a jacket keep you warm while still offering enough breathability to avoid it turning into a sopping wet blanket with arms? On all 8 rides I wore the Ovis, it was cold enough outside (between 2° and 8°C and one warmer ride at 11°C) that I did not sweat enough to feel uncomfortable, except on the warm day that I over-dressed and had to clamp the jacket to my bars for the ups and sweat it out on the downs. Santini has layered the fabric using recycled and synthetic yarn creating what they call “thermal air pockets to retain heat and allow breathability.” The Ovis has a windproof nylon layer on the upper chest and shoulders to help with blocking the cold winter air. The nylon did its job and worked most of the time, but not while speeding down the trail or road at temps below 5 °C. The rest of the jacket lets cold air through, making it a nice cooling option bordering on a chilly experience on the downhills and speedy eMTB uphills.

Hard core logo

Small note of interest or disinterest in this case: the large label seems like a patch that would go on the inside of the jacket as it has the fine print taking up about a third of the real estate. I do not understand this fashion forward(?) front placement but it is a small note for a stylish, comfortable jacket. I like subtle logos like the one on the rear of the jacket but hey I also wear dark, bike-related clothing most of the time so who am I to judge fashion?

Pre and post ride and during ride?

After about a month with this jacket I found the best use for it is pre- and post-ride, around town and the occasional cool and dry shuttle day. I wear shell-style jackets on cold days because of their wind blocking characteristics, which the Ovis lacks. I reach for this jacket for all but the rainiest days when I am off the bike because of its warmth, cozy comfort and relaxed style and fit.

Santini Ovis jacket 180 EUR or about 265 CAD