Reveiw: Ibex Pingo Jacket

[KnottedYet]

I have finally found the jacket of my dreams!

http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/Product...t=Pingo-Jacket

Fabric: This is a softshell, which I've never owned before. I was hoping a softshell would let my super-sweaty self be active without getting cold and clammy. And it does! I deliberately tried to overheat today on my bike, and while I did get mighty warm, I did not get damp. I've walked the dog in the rain in this jacket, and the rain tended to bead up and roll off. The outside is polyester, the inside is wool. The fabric stretches and gives enough that I've not yet felt it bind at all.

Styling: Oh, baby, what style it has! It looks so sleek, sexy sexy sexy! Sleeves are marvelously long and keep the wrists covered even while riding in the drops. The back tail drops just enough to keep your back covered on the bike. The front is short enough to prevent the jacket from bellying out. The hem fits over my generous hips nicely. Jacket as a whole drapes well, and the raglan sleeves sit beautifully.

Pockets: Three good-sized pockets with the nice water-resistant welded zippers. Each zipper has a "zipper garage" to go into when the zip is closed. The Napoleon pocket has a little port-thingy in it to let you feed your iPod earphones thru. And there is a ribbon loop to guide your earphone wires out the collar.

Sizing: I wear Large in Ibex, but I ordered an XL for my Pingo jacket. The XL fits great over my L Norgie crew and L fullzip Switchback. It also fits well over a thick wool sweater.

[Triskeliongirl]

How does it layer over a shak one size smaller? It looks a tad short in the pic on the website, so I was wondering if it would cover a shak. I have a small shak, and all my ibex is small, so I am thinking of ordering the pingo in a medium to layer over my small stuff. You said water beads up on it. Would you think it would be waterproof if you were riding in the rain, or would the rain eventually get through? Its so purty, and the blue matches my bike..........

What temp range would be suitable to wear this in without overheating?

[KnottedYet]

I just put the XL Pingo on over my L Shak.

The hem of my Shak was completely covered. If I raised my arms up over my head, the Shak hem peeked out, but when I put my arms back down the Pingo slid back over the top of the Shak. No Shak showing, and I didn't even have to adjust anything, it just did that by itself.

I don't expect this to be waterproof on a long very heavy rainy bike ride. But from what I've seen so far it is very very water resistant. I have every intention of wearing this on rainy bike rides, I think I'll be much more comfortable in this than in my GoreTex. (I sweat far too much even for GoreTex or Triple Point Ceramic or any other "breathable" membrane or coating. I am a sweat monster!)

Not sure what temp range folks could wear it in without overheating. Everyone is so different, I can only speak for myself. I'd be comfy wearing this walking or cruising on the bike with a t-shirt underneath up to around 60-65 degrees or so. With the Norgie and Switchback underneath I could be happy in the snow. (25-30 is about as cold as we get around here)

[trickytiger]

Ohhh, Knott- I'm feeling a little guilty now- like I did this to you! Not that owning a Pingo is terrible- in fact it's anything but! What color did you get? Can I mention that I SLEPT in mine the other night? (Was tired from work and house was freezing cold, and I just fell asleep before taking it off and woke up the next morning all warm and comfy but I digress).

And triskeliongirl- I wear a small in just about everything, and found the medium Pingo fits nicely- not too big nor too short but just right, and room for my fleece vest underneath if I need insulation. Sleeves are long- which is a definite bonus for anything active or for my freakishly long arms. It's trim without being confining.

[Triskeliongirl]

The pingo doesn't have a back pocket, does it? Its soooo pretty, but I already have so many jackets.............

[KnottedYet]

No back pocket.

Two front pockets and a Napoleon pocket.

It's niiiiiiiice.... you waaaaaaant one... really, you dooooooo...

Tricky - I got a black one just like yours. Only a whole lot bigger!