Pactimo Ultra-Lite Rain Jacket

Pactimo's take on the rain cape theme, the Ultra Lite is a lot less boil in the bag than others and also offers a decent level of water resistance.

The Ultra Lite's material is a woven elastic fabric which gives it a decent semi-form fit as they describe it. It's cut close enough to be able to race in, and even time trial at a push in the rain, as the transparent material keeps your number be visible. I found it a good close fit over the shoulders especially and the arms are plenty long enough for using on aerobars.

The material itself is waterproof but due to the lack of taped seams and vented armpits Pactimo sensibly refer to it as water resistant. It does a good job of keeping out drizzle and light rain although anything too prolonged or heavy will soak through through.

Once wet you do stay warm though, with the jacket keeping heat trapped against the body. The underarm vents do a very good job of keeping the air flowing through but you do need to drop the front zip a bit to let the air enter in the first place.

The cuffs and waistband are elasticated keeping them in place and offering some sealing against the elements. The tail is dropped also giving plenty of coverage from wheel spray and the shorter front doesn't bunch when you're in a racing tuck.

The full zip makes for easy removal while in the saddle and the Pactimo folds up quickly into a pocket sized bundle so you can carry out the whole procedure from the saddle if you're confident riding no handed for a short time.

Overall the Pactimo Ultra Lite is one of the better rain capes thanks to the performance-orientated cut and easy stowing. It breathes pretty well too. It's the usual Pactimo quality we've seen from their other kit and neat touches like the soft high collar and reflective strip across the back help it stand out from the rest.

The £55 price stands up well against similar jackets we've tested from Solo (£85), Sugoi (£70) and RH+ (£65) all of which are decent quality with much of the same attributes as the Pactimo. Sizing ranges from S to 3XL and there is also a black version.

Verdict

Good quality windproof and water resistant jacket with a racer's fit