It’s rare for a jacket to balance weatherproofing with packability, but the ethereally light and slightly fitted Pearl Izumi P.R.O. Barrier Lite is exactly the type of jacket I was admonished to take on every ride by the old-timers guiding me in my early days in the sport. That admonition was based on the old saying: “Don’t like the weather? Wait five minutes; it’ll change.”
The Barrier Lite packs down to about the size of a couple of beer coolers, so it won’t take up too much space in a jersey pocket or weigh it down and make it sag. It’s cut slim and fitted through the torso, with a nice tall collar to block the wind, and stretchy wind and water resistant Softshell Lite panels in the shoulders and along the spine so the jacket doesn’t bind.
The sleeves have a seam at the elbow that can constrict a bit off the bike (when you bend your arms deeply) but that nuisance disappears when you assume a riding position.
Reflective accents throughout keep you visible in low-light riding conditions, a double zipper helps with venting and getting stuff from a jersey pocket, and a small pocket that falls near the base of the spine is ideal for a bar or other small items.
RRP: $199
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