Pactimo Alpine Jersey review

Based in the US cycling heartland of Colorado, Pactimo has been producing custom clothing for more than ten years, and has steadily built a good reputation among UK clubs for providing good quality garments at a respectable price point, all turned around in a relatively short time period. But 2015 will be a year of expansion, with the Pactimo Alpine jersey being part of the first range of off-the-peg clothing to be released into the UK market.

Pactimo gives the Alpine jersey a stated temperature range of 4-21ºC – a pretty big window, and we’d say that the extremes of this range are probably out of bounds. The jersey offers a decent level of insulation, but we were in need of a couple of additional layers when the mercury dropped into single figures, especially when descending as the windstopping credentials of the jersey leave a little to be desired.

This would be more of a problem were it not for the relaxed style of the fit. This is far from an aero jersey, and it is easy to fit extra layers underneath as desired, although for smaller riders the bagginess may mean they can only use loose-fitting jackets over the top.

The three open rear pockets on the Pactimo Alpine jersey provide enough storage space for all the food and extra kit you could need for the longest rides, and zip pocket, which provides secure storage for phone and keys, is centrally-positioned meaning that heavy items don’t fall to one side, pulling on the jersey in the process.

The high collar, reflective accents, and the sturdy full-length zip are nice touches, but other final details don’t quite hit the mark. We had problems with the cuffs on the Pactimo Cascade jacket, and they're also irritatiing here, with the angled design meaning they fall short at the bottom of the wrist, leaving a gap when worn with gloves.

For more details visit the Pactimo website.