Pearl Izumi Women's Pro Amfib Jacket review

Pearl Izumi describes its Pro Amfib jacket as its most versatile layer - this is a softshell which has been created to tick as many boxes as possible in one garment, without compromise.

It's boxes that can be found amongst some of the best winter cycling jackets, so it's in good company already in our book. 

To create this all-purpose piece of kit, Pearl Izumi has used a three layer construction promising windproofing and water resistance - whilst reportedly offering 50 per cent more breathability than "typical membranes".

Without knowing which typical membranes are being used as the control, it's hard to put a concrete yes or no on this claim. However, despite occasionally overdoing my layering on some of the milder days we've had this winter, I rarely felt I was overheating when pulling this jacket over the top.

The closest I came to discomfort was when I teamed the Pro Amfib with a short sleeved base layer, and felt a little sweat collecting on my forearms - after this, I always paired it with a long sleeved base layer and the problem never repeated itself.

At the other end of the scale, when I abandoned my road bike (and the risk of ice, which took down several riding buddies) to head out on a mountain bike adventure, this jacket kept me warm - despite temperatures refusing to stray far from 0 throughout the day. I began the ride with a gilet over the top, but stowed this away early on, and only really felt the chill when the activity was over and it was time to get the jet wash going.

In terms of keeping the rain off, Pearl Izumi has employed its PI Dry water shedding technology to with the goal of combating spray as well as showers. Whilst there's no fabric in the world that will keep you completely dry in a deluge, this proved suitable in light rain and coped well with the spray hiding in the Kent lanes during a particularly flood heavy December.

If you're wondering where this ranks within the best waterproof cycling jackets then head over to the buyer's guide to see our pick of our current favourites. 

There's also a 2-way water resistant Aquaguard zip, created by Vislon. This is quite a chunky creation, the idea being that it's easy to operate when wearing thick winter gloves. Whilst I can't say the zip let any water in, I did find the operation a little bit jerky compared to the smooth running I'm used to, and combined with the light material, it didn't sit flat as I'd expect.

At the back, there's two standard pockets plus a zippered middle compartment. I found plenty of capacity for storage, and there were no issues reaching for kit, even when wearing the chunky gloves of winter riding.

A bonded neck, cuffs and hem are used to minimise bulk, and the fabric is soft to skin with four way stretch material. The fit was quite boxy, with quite a lot of breathing room built in. This could be seen as a positive or negative attribute, depending upon personal preference. Testing a size small (sizes run from Small to XX-Large), the Amfib was far from aero, but it did allow me to layer up when required and afforded a relaxed fit  which is sometimes welcome in the off-season months.

>>> Buy now: PEARL iZUMi Women's PRO AmFIB Jacket at Freewheel for £199.99

At £199.99, this is a considered purchase, punching in the arena of popular creations such as Castelli's Women's Alpha ROS Jersey (£210). Pearl Izumi's offering does provide plenty of protection, and the breathability claims ring true - whether it's the right choice for you comes down to the style you're after. This isn't a race fit piece of kit, but if you're seeking something with a bit more breathing space, it could be just right.