Pearl Izumi OpTik Jacket
Review: Pearl Izumi OpTik Jacket
By Scott Mares | Published Nov 29, 2009
We Liked
We loved how versatile and light this jacket is, along with it's ability to pack smaller than a water bottle for easy jersey pocket stuffing. Way cool! The athletic cut of the garment was really form-fitting as well, so it was not baggy or flapping in the wind in any way.
We Didn't Like
While we were evaluating the Otpik jacket on a run, we were caught in a typical Pacific NW downpour. While it's not intended to be a rain jacket, the Optik is water resistant. However, once it was soaked, the jacket stuck to our skin like a membrane. We would like to see the jacket be a bit more water resistant. On the plus side, after returning home the jacket dried very quickly post-run.
The Final Say
I had run across the Optik jacket on Pearl Izumi's website and catalogs, but did not know what the big deal was about. Starting with the Zyfer jacket, Pearl's line of lightweight cycling jackets has evolved over the years. The Optik jacket is truly the next level. When we first received the jacket for evaluation, my first thought was “Wow, this thing is light!” The Optik is made from ripstop nylon that has been treated to be water resistant. For a light rainfall, this is not a problem. But as previously mentioned, if you get caught in a downpour, it will offer some protection from the elements, but will not ward off the rain saturation. Pearl designed this packable jacket for cool mornings or when the temperature drops during your ride. The Optik had to be doing just that. I am absolutely impressed with how lightweight and packable this jacket is. It is really amazing to see how easily the Optik jacket goes into a jersey pocket.
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Vitals
- Manufacturer
- Pearl Izumi
- Model
- OpTik Jacket
- MSRP
- $90.00
- Website
- Pearl Izumi
- Weight
- 51 grams per square meter
- Materials
Constructed with Optik fabric (ripstop/nylon), which is extremely lightweight and windproof along with Optik-WxB fabric on the side panels. This provides stretch, waterproofing, and breathable protection for all conditions. Full-length zippered front with wind-resistant flap
- Sizes
- S, M, L, XL, XXL
- Fit
- Athletic
- Colors
- The garment comes in 3 colors: Water Blue, Screaming Yellow and Pearl with accent colors.
- Design
The jacket offers an elastic waist and cuffs, which creates a seal between the body and the elements that prevents heat loss. The Optik is also highly packable, with an interior mesh pocket to stuff the jacket into for compact storage. Additional details such as athletic cut and reflective logos on the front, back and sleeves of the garment provide increased visibility on cold winter nights.
Photos (1)
