Loved and hated: Pas Normal Studios, PNS for short. The trendy brand Pas Normal Studios divides the road bike scene. There are ardent fans and haters. And there are actually many road cyclists who don’t even know the brand, which is mainly due to the fact that Pas Normal Studios is present on social networks, especially Instagram. However, Instagram primarily serves a young audience and many cyclists were already on their bikes before Instagram was “invented” and don’t even have an account. There are many skeptics among Instagram users who find Pas Normal Studios simply overpriced. So I wanted to find out what Pas Normal Studios can do and what the hype is all about.
The Danish brand Pas Normal Studios was founded in 2014 as a start-up by Peter Lange and Karl-Oskar Olsen. Peter Lange is employed as CEO and Karl-Oskar Olsen as Creative Director at Pas Normal Studios ApS, Creative Director of Pas Normal Studios ApS (as of 2024 according to the press release). ApS is the abbreviation for (Danish) Aktieselskab, which is the most commonly used form of company in Denmark – analogous to the German GmbH. The name of the brand is based on French. The adverb pas means not and pas normal means not normal. The founders set out to create technically perfect clothing combined with visionary aesthetics. In addition to classic looks, the PNS range includes a variety of garments with distinctive designs. While success is achieved with simple designs in Germany in particular, eye-catching cycling clothing scores highly in the Far East. Pas Normal Studios wants to convey a lifestyle and offers off-bike clothing, so-called streetwear, as well as alternative products in collaboration with other brands such as Salomon or Oakley. There are flagship stores around the world that give the International Cycling Club a greater presence. There is now also a significant second-hand market, as the garments are very expensive and can be easily resold. PNS has even set up its own resale platform in Denmark. And PNS states: Our mission is to become the most responsible version of ourselves through informed action and honest communication.
I tested the three most popular jersey variants: the PAS Mechanism Pro Jersey, the PAS Mechanism Jersey and the PAS Essential Jersey. I had already presented the PNS Solitude Mesh Jersey in a test (here).
PAS Mechanism Pro Jersey
The top model is the PAS Mechanism Pro Jersey, which is available for 220 euros or 240 euros depending on the design (as of 2025). At 51 grams, it is extremely light and is one of the lightest jerseys on the global market. The fit is very tight and aerodynamic. It fits like a time trial suit. Nothing flutters and not a single bit of fabric sticks out. It fits like a second skin. It is therefore perfect for high-intensity rides and races. The jersey is made from special stretch fabric that is not only stretchy, but also wraps the body perfectly to minimize wind resistance. The collar has been minimized for less chafing and more comfort. Pas Normal Studios has developed a special structurally mapped fabric for the Mechanism Pro Jersey, which is made from Italian fabric (produced in Portugal). The aerodynamic effect would have to be measured in a wind tunnel, which of course I can’t do. The sleeves are slightly longer, are laser-cut and are held in place without silicone carpet pad. The jersey has three back pockets and an integrated hem gripper at the back. However, the jersey rolled up right at the beginning, both at the back and at the end of the sleeves. If you adjust the jersey a few times, it more or less holds. I have rather narrow upper arms. For riders with larger arms, the sleeves could sometimes be uncomfortably tight, in which case you may have to roll them up.
If you adjust the jersey a few times, it more or less holds. I have rather narrow upper arms. For riders with a larger circumference, the sleeves could sometimes be uncomfortably tight, and you may not be able to roll them up. The fabric is only dyed on one side so that the white inside is visible when you roll it up. Due to the tight cut, the back pockets can only be stretched to a limited extent. This makes it difficult to carry larger items, but this is generally not necessary for short races. Although the fabric is tightly woven, it is extremely breathable and, thanks to its tight weave, also appears to be robust against “light thread pulling”.
My conclusion: The PAS Mechanism Pro Jersey fulfills the criteria for which it was developed: fast rides and races. There is no flapping. It is stretchy yet close-fitting and resembles an aerosuit. However, the fabric on the sleeves and back should not be rolled up at this price and the fact that the fabric is only dyed on one side makes it visually unattractive. The back pockets are only of limited use.
PAS Mechanism Jersey
The PNS Mechanism Jersey is the core of the PNS jerseys and probably the best-known jersey. The price is 190 euros (as of 2025). At 93 grams, it is also one of the lightweights. It has an aerodynamic race fit. Like the Mechanism Pro Jersey, it is also made of lightweight and breathable fabric (Made in Italy). However, the fabric is woven in a completely different way. The Mechanism Jersey also has a low cut collar for less chafing and more comfort. In contrast to the Mechanism Pro Jersey, the Mechanism Jersey has fully dyed elastic cuffs at the waist and sleeves, which fit perfectly and are also longer. In addition to three back pockets, there is also a side zippered pocket with a standing seam zipper for easy access. A distinguishing feature of the PNS Mechanism Jersey on some models are the white or bubble seams on otherwise plain-colored jerseys. However, there is a weak point here. These seams are sensitive to friction. For example, wearing a wind vest once on my first ride with a PNS Mechanism jersey caused a seam to come undone. Overall, the fabric is also thin and somewhat more coarsely woven, which makes it more susceptible.
My conclusion: The PNS Mechanism Jersey is extremely comfortable to wear and extremely breathable. It fits snugly but is very stretchy. It dissipates the wind well, which means that you don’t get chilled even in cooler temperatures despite the thin fabric. Unfortunately, the fabric and especially the seams are a little delicate, which is why I would only wear the jersey with a vest or jacket to a limited extent and never with a rucksack.
PAS Essential Jersey
I had the biggest reservations about the PNS Essential Jersey, as I had found the Essential/Training lines on other manufacturers’ jerseys to be uncomfortably warm. The PNS Essential Jersey also has a thicker weave than the Mechanism Jerseys from PNS. At 120 grams, the PNS Essential Jersey is still relatively light. The fabric is tightly woven and yet surprisingly highly breathable (made in Lithuania). It is abrasion-resistant to prevent the fabric from fraying and, according to PNS, is resistant to corrosive substances in sun creams. Just like the Mechanism Jerseys, the PNS Essential Jersey is also quick-drying. The manufacturer PNS speaks of a looser fit compared to other road-optimized jerseys. In fact, the Essential Jersey is not quite as tight, but is much more aerodynamic compared to other manufacturers. The very short cut of PNS jerseys can also be found here. In addition to three back pockets, there is also a zippered side pocket with a protected insert. The sleeves are slightly shorter than on the Mechanism jerseys.
My conclusion: The PNS Essential Jersey is a sporty jersey and impresses with its robustness and breathability. Due to its thicker weave, it is only suitable for hot summer weather to a limited extent (with airstream, but not for longer climbs).
In short: the Pas Normal Studios brand is good. However, the high-priced models seem overpriced to me. I was very pleasantly surprised by the Essential Jersey. It is the clear price-performance winner. The Mechanism Pro Jersey is ideal for short, hard rides and races. The Mechanism Jersey is extremely comfortable to wear and is one of my favorites. However, it is quite sensitive. Overall, you have to like the very short cut of the PNS jerseys. There is only limited space in the pockets, which can be a limitation on longer tours. Overall, all jerseys are characterized by high breathability.
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Sources:
https://pasnormalstudios.com/eu/pages/about
https://www.textilwirtschaft.de/business/sports/pas-normal-studios-gruender-im-interview-es-geht-um-orte-die-es-wert-sind-seine-zeit-dort-zu-verbringen-241711
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