Pearl Izumi Men’s Pro Barrier Jacket 2020

The Pearl Izumi Men's Pro Barrier Jacket is a great lightweight option that'll keep you dry should you need it in the summer, and will also work well as an outer layer as the days get cooler.

Unlike Pearl Izumi's Zephrr Barrier jacket (review to come), which has a fairly relaxed fit ideal for the commuter or those who like to take things steady, the Pro Barrier is designed for performance riding; it's for getting hunkered down on the bar and smashing out the power.

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The cut is close, and you get a dropped tail for good coverage when it's raining, and plenty of length in the arms.

The high-stretch fabric not only provides an excellent fit, it's windproof and uses PI Dry, a hydrophobic technology that makes it both water repellent and breathable.

You can read more about PI Dry here, but essentially the individual fibres are coated with the treatment before being combined into yarns and then knitted into a fabric. This means the water resistance runs right through the material rather than just being sprayed over the outer surface, like many durable water repellent (DWR) coatings.

One major advantage is that it won't wash off like some DWR coatings – Pearl Izumi claims that it will retain the majority of its water resistance over the life of the jacket, with at least 90% of it remaining after 100 washes.

Performance-wise, it'll withstand light showers and drizzle for about an hour, half that if things do get heavier, though it still does a decent job of keeping you dry. Eventually water will get through the untaped seams, but as long as it isn't too prolonged then the majority of your upper body will remain dry. For a lightweight jacket it does a very good job overall.

Another benefit of the PI Dry surrounding individual fibres rather than being sprayed over the fabric is that it increases breathability. This time of year, when it rains it can still be pretty warm, but the overall wicking capabilities of the Pro Barrier have been impressive. Things only became a little damp when I was working really hard; backing off a touch on the climbs or just regulating a bit of airflow with the full zip (which is two-way) soon sorted things out.

When it stops raining, or if it's forecast but hasn't arrived, the Pro's small size means it can easily be stuffed into a rear pocket.

Speaking of pockets, it would be nice to have one or two on the jacket itself; this would make it more versatile for autumn and spring use where you could get away with wearing it with just a baselayer underneath rather than going for a jersey as well.

The overall quality is really good. The fabric feels great and the whole jacket is very well made.

Price-wise, it's the same as the Chapeau Club Windstopper and offers similar performance, although the Pearl Izumi is a lighter, thinner jacket, which means it's more useful year-round. The Chapeau does have plenty of pocket space, though.

It is more expensive than the £128 ashmei Men's Cycle Emergency Jacket, but you are getting a better fit and the added benefit of water repellency.

> Buyer’s Guide: 28 of the best waterproof cycling jackets

It's a similar weight to the packable Shakedry options from Rapha and Gore, which both offer full waterproofing, but they'll also set you back another £70 and £100 respectively.

Overall, the Pro Barrier isn't the cheapest packable jacket on the market, but it is hugely versatile and very lightweight. The quality and performance are very good too.

Verdict

A great performance fit, with impressive breathability and weatherproofing, ideal for showery summer days