We present a method for preparing laboratory-scale proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) that have high power and high current densities despite their low platinum loadings. This performance is achieved with membrane electrode assemblies featuring a commercial PtCo catalyst supported on high surface area carbon and a short-side chain, low equivalent weight ionomer binder in the cathode catalyst layer; these are then compressed with dry-laid paper type gas diffusion media. The PEMFCs with a Pt loading of 0.08 mg(pt) cm(-2) produced comparatively high power to similarly loaded state-of-the-art PEMFCs. This methodology can be used for further research on high performance catalyst layers.