Castelli have forged a well-earned reputation for their wet weather gear in recent years, with the Gabba a favourite among professional and sportive riders alike – now the Italian brand has launched a lightweight version of the weatherproof jersey.
The Perfetto was one of two wet weather pieces launched by Castelli at Eurobike, along with the Tempesta waterproof jacket, which we’ll come on to.
First, the Perfetto, which is essentially a Gabba-lite. Whereas the full-blown Gabba, which combines a windproof, water resistant and breathable fabric with a race-ready, aero cut, is designed for cool to cold conditions, the Perfetto is designed for when it’s still damp, but the temperature is a little milder.
With lower weight comes claims of improved breathability, while the jersey is also more compact and Castelli say it can be stowed in a pocket if, say, you were to wear it over a typical, lightweight short sleeve jersey. Pair the Perfetto with Castelli’s excellent water resistant Nanoflex arm warmers and you should have a pretty solid combination for changeable conditions.
Castelli say the Perfetto isn’t only reserved for wet and damp conditions, though, with the Gore Windstopper fabric also suitable for when it’s cool and dry.
Like the Gabba, the Perfetto is a race-inspired piece and has a slim cut as a result. Features include a full-length zip, high collar, a generous dropped tail to protect your rear end from road spray, and three pockets. There’s also plenty of reflective detailing on the pockets and hem.
The Castelli Perfetto will be available from March 2016 for £125.
New Castelli Tempesta offers full protection from ‘the storm’
While the Castelli Gabba is excellent in damp conditions, it is a water resistant piece, rather than waterproof, and has its limitations when is hosing it down. That’s where Castelli’s second new piece comes in and the clue is in the name – ‘la tempesta’ is Italian for ‘the storm’.
You might have spotted the Tempesta already, as a number of riders from Castelli’s two sponsored teams, Cannondale-Garmin and MTN-Qhubeka, used the jacket during another wet edition of Milan-San Remo in March (pictured below, with Moreno Moser wearing the jacket). The rest went for the Gabba.
The Tempesta is a full-on waterproof jacket but, like the Gabba, Castelli have sought to combine that weather protection with a race-focused fit suitable for the likes of Cannondale-Garmin and MTN-Qhubeka – or anyone who likes their cycling clothing to be close-fitting, really.
The Tempesta will replace the popular Pocket Liner jacket and is made from an eVent fabric, which is said to offer full waterproofing without compromising too much in the way of breathability (to avoid that boil in the bag feeling that comes with many waterproof jackets) or weight (it’s designed to be less cumbersome that a typical hardshell waterproof).
Other features include an extended collar to keep the elements out, elasticated cuffs, a full-length zip, two rear pockets and plenty of reflective detail on the front and back.
The Castelli Tempesta jacket is available now and is priced at £290.
