With the Ridgeline Hoodie, Pactimo flips the usual, “works great on the bike, looks good at the bar,” mantra 180 degrees. Instead, the brand notes the Ridgeline is designed as “an attractive and utilitarian off-bike accessory, or for those who want a jacket that is ideally suited for cold and wet mountain biking.” So, it looks good, and also happens to work for mountain biking? Color me intrigued.
The look
The Ridgeline is available in black, blue, green camo, and black camo (tested). The black camo pattern caught my eye immediately, and on closer inspection, the pattern is made up of shapes that look like mountain silhouettes. Even if I weren’t a mountain biker I think I would be into the look of this jacket.
Hoodies seem to be popular at the moment, and the Ridgeline’s got a hood. It’s a big part of the look, though unfortunately, it’s not super functional on the bike. The hood itself is made from similarly thick material like the rest of the jacket, which means it doesn’t comfortably fit under a helmet. Not only that, it’s just a normal-sized hood so it’s not going over the top of a helmet either. Not that I’m disappointed or surprised; after all, Pactimo clearly designed the Ridgeline for off-the-bike use first.
I’m tall (6’3″) and skinny, and the size medium I’ve been testing offers a slim, sleek fit. Overall I would say it’s a little short on me, especially in the front, but I dig the overall shape.
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