Along with their custom and off the rack clothing for the warmer months, Pactimo has been helping cyclists warm as well. Pactimo’s Alpine Thermal RT jersey remains one of my favorite cold weather pieces, but this time Pactimo sent along a couple jackets that sit on either side of the Alpine in terms of warmth and weather protection. They also included two pieces from their lifestyle collection that will help you stay warm before or after a ride – or just hanging around…
Pactimo’s Ouray jacket sits at the top of their cold weather lineup for the most miserable days on the bike. Intended for temperatures in the 20-40°f range, I found this to be pretty accurate with a little wiggle room on either side with the right layers. To obtain warmth in cold and wet conditions, the Ouray is constructed with Italian Cortina laminate fabric which combines a fleece lined inner layer with a wind and water resistant shell. A high collar, Velcro cuffs, and a drawstring at the waist helps keep out the cold, while a full zip allows you to control the ventilation.
Depending on your desired angle of attack, the rear features a single large pocket with three zippers that all access the same space. There’s also a zippered chest pocket hidden on the inside of the jacket. The back of the jacket includes two shoulder expansion vents while the undersides of both sleeves have a more breathable fabric to aid in ventilation. The fit of the jacket is loose enough to allow for layering, though I found the small to a little too tight around the chest. Pactimo then sent out a medium to try which was better, though I still found it a bit too tight around the armpit area. As I’ve touched on before, I often struggle with fit as I’m a small just about everywhere except my chest which puts me in the large category for Pactimo.
Personal fit issues aside, the Ouray does what it’s supposed to and provides a fantastic barrier to the elements with the usual Pactimo quality. Priced at $190 it’s an investment, but it’s one you’ll be glad you made, especially as the mercury drops. The jacket does include reflective piping for visibility, but if the black is a little too subtle, it’s also available in Manic yellow or black and orange for better daytime visibility.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, the Pactimo Flagstaff RT jacket is a lightweight winner. The jacket is light enough that you could stuff it in your jersey pocket if you need to, but it’s substantial enough to block out the chill. Its lightness also hides the fact that the jacket has wind and water proof front and sleeves. Pactimo makes it work with TotalFit fabric with ClimaStretch Laminate and BreathLITE mesh that make up the back and under arm panels. The fit is tight enough that it doesn’t buffet violently in the wind, but not so tight that it’s constricting which is due in big part to the stretchy fabric.
Being as light weight as it is, adding pockets to the back simply wouldn’t work since the fabric wouldn’t provide enough support. Instead, the jacket has two openings that have magnetic closures and allow easy access to your jersey’s pockets underneath. To top it all off, the waistband features 360° of Reflective technology for increased visibility. Available in Blue, Black, or Manic yellow, the jacket sells for $140 and seems to be worth every penny.
Finally, whether you’re warming up for a cross race, or just trying to warm up after a cold ride, Pactimo has a few new options in their lifestyle category. Their Sport Hoodie is exactly what it sounds like. The body uses a thermal fabric with a fleece interior and a tight weave that makes this one of the warmest hoodies I’ve ever tried on. The full zip makes it easy to take on and off, but there are still large hand warming pockets and a zippered chest pocket for storage. The hood is designed to fit tightly around your head and when fully zipped up the hoodie covers up to your chin. This is another piece I had to size up to a medium as the fit is fairly snug, but now that I have it dialed in it’s become my go-to hoodie for the winter months. $95, XS-2XL.
For the full warm up kit, simply add the Sport Warm-Up Pants. These are pretty simple – they have a mid weight warm, breathable fabric and a drawstring waist to make them comfortable for riding around for warm ups. They also feature a massive zippered leg opening that allows you to get them on or off over your cycling shoes. Two standard front pockets join a zippered rear for storage, and at $70 they’re pretty reasonable in terms of price. These seem like the perfect pants to throw in your gear bag so you have something to hop into after the ride especially in cooler weather.
