Pactimo began in 2003 in Denver, Colorado and continues to manufacture custom cycling clothing from their factory in China for a huge number of teams worldwide. Alongside their custom apparel, they now offer a branded line of well-thought out gear with plenty to tempt us ladies to part with our cash.
The Women’s Ultra-Lite Rain Cape comes in two colours – black and a see-through white number that’s designed for your team kit to show through.
Initially, I had my reservations about this jacket – it looked worryingly like a prophylactic when first unwrapped, and having tested some really horrid clear rain jackets, I was concerned it would feel unpleasantly rubbery.
Thankfully, Pactimo have used a very soft, stretchy fabric, which is not plasticky at all. It is slightly noisy, but you get used to it.
Once on, the fit is so-so, depending on how you’re intending to use it and your own preference. My size Small is fairly roomy over a road cycling kit, and to me seems more like a medium in the torso. If I was layering this over my team kit at a race, I’d definitely prefer it to be cut a little leaner. Sleeves are on the baggy size and a rather long and the neck is a little tight, though it is elasticated.
Over a few layers, or if you prefer ‘comfort fit’ to ‘race fit,’ then the cut makes more sense. It would be very useful as an emergency jacket to keep in your work bag in case the weather played havoc with your plans.
The neck is lined with a soft material and the end of the zip is covered so that it doesn’t irritate. Cuffs are simply gathered and elasticated and the drop tail has a rubber strip to help hold it down over your derriere. The wide reflective strip is incorporated nicely into the design, so it’s both effective and unobtrusive.
The jacket is ideal for British Summer, where mixed weather is inevitable and you want to be prepared for all eventualities. It weighs practically nothing and packs into a tiny size that can be easily stowed in a jersey pocket, meaning you’re never caught out when the weather turns.
The jacket does a remarkable job of keeping you warm considering how thin it is; it’s so windproof that it makes a real difference to your temperature. It’s also manages to be very waterproof whilst still being breathable – something that many lesser jackets fail to achieve. Mesh under the arms helps, but the fabric itself doesn’t make you sweat like with some lesser jackets do.
Verdict
Despite my reservations about the fit, this jacket is a winner given the price and the performance. And if you’re not keen on the clear white colourway, why not try Pactimo’s slinky black offering? I know I’d like to!
Price: £55.00, available from Pactimo.
By Juliet Elliot.
