Ciovita Apex Pachetto Waterproof Jacket review

The Ciovita Apex Pachetto Waterproof Jacket offers a relaxed fit providing instant comfort.

It fits well in the body and has a longer tail at the rear which gives good protection, enhanced by the elasticated section to keep it in place.

The sleeves are long with shaping around the wrist to provide extra protection to the back of the hands whilst having a small elasticated section  on the inside of the wrist. 

Ciovita Apex Pachetto waterproofing

The jacket achieves its waterproofing through a Nylon outer treated with DWR. This effectively encourages the water to bead up and run off the jacket. It kept me dry and warm despite the weather conditions.

All the seams are  sealed to ensure no ingress at the potentially weaker points of the jacket. 

Excellent ventilation

The ventilation on this jacket is second to none. The large mesh panel located under a protective flap on the rear of the jacket allows for adequate  airflow. This prevented any moisture build-up inside the jacket during testing. 

The Pachetto’s hood is a fabulous feature. Primarily designed as an under helmet hood to give better neck mobility whilst keeping your head and neck dry, I found that it does fit over the helmet. The elasticated edges enable you to pull it up mid-ride with the  confidence that it will sit in the right  place. An instant good fit – no flapping and no reduction in peripheral visibility for that sudden downpour. 

The two-way aquaguard zip has sturdy YKK zippers which are easy to grab with wet gloves facilitating one-handed zipping up and a comfort cover at the top to prevent rubbing. I couldn’t find any use for the two-way zip that justified the extra fiddle required. The storage pockets are generous so there was no need to access the pockets in the jersey below.

The Apex Pachetto offers both a breast pocket (large enough for a phone plus some gels) and a large rear pocket that also cleverly doubles up as a neat storage pouch for the jacket. The zipper on the back pocket doesn’t have the aquaguard feature but is well  protected by the rear ventilation flap and Inever had any issues with water ingress even in windy wet conditions. 

There is a good reflective strip on the base of the rear of the jacket and others on the sleeves, front and back. The dark coloured jacket would benefit from a few more given it’s for wintery conditions. 

 Ciovita Apex Pachetto bottom line

In conclusion? The Ciovita Apex Pachetto is one of the best cycling jackets. It fits fantastically and sits tidily in its own pouch when stowed away but opens out into a versatile outer layer in rainy weather.

Its long tail, great breathability and good pockets facilitate an enjoyable, comfortable ride.

Ciovita Apex Pachetto specs

Price:	£261 / $318
Material:	DWR-coated Nylon / Spandex outer with inner membrane
Size range:	Women’s XS-XXL, Men’s S-XXXL
Features:	YKK two-way, waterproof zip; back zipper pocket; reflective trims; hood
Waterproof rating:	10,000mm