Pactimo Torrent Rain Jacket Review

The ever-elusive waterproof/breathable jacket has come a long way in the past 30 years. In the past, “breathable” really hasn’t really been true, but these days there are a number of fabrics that make good on that promise. The Pactimo Torrent Rain Jacket is built with a modern waterproof and breathable material that makes it great for cold or wet weather riding.

Pactimo Torrent Rain Jacket Features:

• Seam-sealed 37.5 Technology fabric
• 4-way mechanical stretch
• Form-fitting aero design
• Drop tail and shaped cuffs for added coverage
• Mesh split back pocket and right hip waterproof zippered pocket
• Two-way waterproof zipper
• Weight: 193 grams (actual, large)
• MSRP: $225

Versatile, stretchy rain shell

While Pactimo touts the Torrent as a rain shell, it’s much more than that. With tons of versatility and coverage, the Torrent can easily be layered up for year-round use. And that’s just what I did on a wide variety of road and gravel rides this winter. 

The Torrent uses 37.5 Technology fabric to deliver waterproof and breathable performance. While there still are waterproof fabrics that don’t breathe well, most modern shells actually deliver on the waterproof/breathable promise. This is my first go at 37.5 fabrics and the natural stretch and performance has been outstanding. Compared to GORE-TEX Active or Polartec NeoShell, it performs in the same ballpark as those materials. Without a truly controlled test, it’s difficult to say one is more or less breathable, but the Torrent didn’t ever get overwhelmed in my testing. 

When climbing, there hasn’t been much need to unzip the jacket other than just a few inches. For the most part, I kept it zipped and just climbed right along without overwhelming the fabric. If you stop at the top of a climb before descending, you’ll notice a little more chill than you would if you just kept going. Like all waterproof/breathable membranes, you have to get your body up to operating temperature for proper moisture management. 

To maintain the proper on-bike performance, Pactimo has given the Torrent an efficient cut that’s enhanced by the 4-way stretch of the fabric. The result is an aerodynamic fit that doesn’t flap around and stretches with you on the bike. Of course, the sleeves and overall design are optimized for on-bike performance and it shows. No matter the body position or movements, the Torrent comfortably moves with you. 

I really appreciate the collar height and diameter. It’s not too tall or wide and works well with a winter jersey or mid-layer like the Pearl Izumi PRO Alpha Layer. The two-way zipper offers easy access to jersey pockets and provides a waterproof closure. 

Admittedly, I haven’t been caught in the rain yet. I’ve had some light sprinkles on the road and have further tested it with water bottles and such. The DWR treatment allows water to bead right up and the membrane will maintain a protective barrier. The seams are taped on the front and shoulders, but not the back. That should be fine as long as you’re moving, but after extended periods in the rain, the back seams may allow water to enter. 

Out back, the split mesh pockets do a great job of not interfering with proper breathability and drainage, but don’t offer the typical security of a jersey pocket. They also sit pretty low on the back and can be difficult to find when stashing or retrieving items. I feel like it usually takes 2-3 tries to find the opening. For better security, use the waterproof pocket on the right hip. It’s great for a phone, wallet or other items that need to be kept dry. The drop hem provides awesome coverage for both rain and mud splatter. I’ve been grateful for that on some splashy gravel rides. 

Everyone has their own flavor of sleeve cuffs for wrist coverage and Pactimo has gone with a top flap design. With a low-profile set of gloves, it works great and provides extra protection. However, with thicker winter gloves or mini-gauntlet gloves, like the Pearl Izumi AmFIB Lite Gloves, it can be a little tricky deciding whether to put the cuffs over or under the gloves. Thinner or more standard-cuffed gloves are much more straightforward. 

You can see my quick overview video or read on for the bottom line on the Pactimo Torrent Rain Shell. BTW… it is properly pronounced “Pac-TEAM-O” if you’re wondering. Sorry for the slight mispronunciation below. 

Fit: I’m 5’11” and 175 lbs, wearing the size large. 

Buy Now: Available from Pactimo.com