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review
Base layers
Pactimo Long Sleeve Base LayerPactimo Long Sleeve Base Layer Men's

Pactimo Long Sleeve Base Layer

8
by Stu Kerton
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Dec 18, 2014

3
£35.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Three season baselayer with good close fit & whiff-killing properties; man-made alternative to merino
Weight: 
133g
Contact: 
www.pactimo.com
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The Pactimo Long Sleeve Base Layer feels more like a summer garment considering how thin and lightweight it is but with the mercury dipping below freezing for the first few times this winter it is unbelievably warm; impressive wicking too.

Pactimo's Transfer-C fabric is a lightweight, stretchy fabric that uses 5% carbon to reduce odour and body heat. That's as about much detail as they go into but I'm guessing the carbon works like activated charcoal which is a known stink killer.

It seems to work as putting the Pactimo to work for ten hours without washing didn't leave it walking to the corner of the room on its own. You could smell it'd been worn but it didn't have the bacterial-colony stink of many man made fabrics.

The Transfer-C fabric is breathable too and wicks sweat away from your body to your outer layer quickly. If it does get overwhelmed by poor layering choice it stays warm even when wet and soon dries once the pace eases.

The material is very soft and feels great against the skin and even though it is form fitting it doesn't feel clingy either. It comes in a range of sizes from small to 3XL which is a 45-inch chest according to the website's size chart.

I found the fit to be pretty spot on to the chart with plenty of length in the body and arms as well. The dropped tail is a welcome addition as a lot of manufacturers don't bother with this on a baselayer.

Thirty-five quid isn't that extreme for a long sleeve baselayer and going by the quality and performance its worth the long term investment. The material looks and feels robust so with a bit of TLC when it comes to washing and stuff it should last for years.

Overall the Pactimo is versatile enough to wear in early spring and late autumn while still being warm enough to wear in the depths of winter. It keeps you warm without being overly hot or clammy and removes any sweat very quickly. The fit is close and well proportioned with plenty of quality to back up the price.

Verdict

Three season baselayer with good close fit & whiff-killing properties; man made alternative to merino

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Pactimo Long Sleeve Base Layer Men's

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

It's a long sleeved baselayer that is ideal for three season use thanks to its lightweight and thin fabric making it ideal for layering. The added benefit of using carbon in its production is that it doesn't start to smell as quickly as most man made fabrics.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Material: Transfer-C which uses 5% Carbon Material

Colour: White

Sizes: S - 3XL

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
9/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It's a very good baselayer which is soft and comfortable against the skin. Good wicking properties too.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The feel of the material.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing really stood out to be disliked.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

The Pactimo performs well and is very comfortable which is pretty much what you want from the baselayer. Its a solid, well designed wardrobe staple without being anything overly special.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Kinesis T2  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithien

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

 

Pactimo Long Sleeve Base Layer
Pactimo
Stu Kerton

As part of the Tech Hub here at F-At Digital, our senior product reviewer Stu uses the knowledge gained from putting well over a 1,000 products through their paces (including hundreds of bikes) to write in-depth reviews of a huge range of kit. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 160,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. Although, as he spends a fair bit of his time reviewing ebikes these days he's becoming an expert in letting the motor take the strain. He's also waiting for 23mm race tyres to make a comeback!

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