Castelli Jackets Information

Castelli cycling jackets are made for rides that are just as epic as their showy Italian names make them out to be. Leggerezza, Sottile, Goccia... yes, in bike-speak it just all means warm, dry, comfortable, fast, and pro-looking. Each biking jacket is designed to work within a range of weather conditions, which gives you a lot of versatility. You might want every Castelli jacket, but you won’t necessarily need them all!

A Castelli wind jacket gives you a lot of flexibility. A jacket with a wind-proof membrane protects you from cold gusts and is water repellant in light showers. If you are not going out in a rain storm or an all-day soaker, this type of jacket will keep you mostly dry. The advantage to wearing a wind jacket is that it is more breathable than a cycling rain jacket, so you are less likely to overheat. The most breathable Castelli jackets are light shells, that are intended for cool weather use, and can be compact enough to be stowed in a jersey pocket for emergency use. Castelli winter biking jackets are best in very cold conditions, because they have a wind-proof membrane that is lined with insulated thermal fabric that traps heat next to your skin. All Castelli wind jackets feature vents in the armpits, sides, or back for increased breathability.

If you are riding in rain all the time (hello Northwesterners!), will be commuting through showers, or you just want something that you can depend on to keep all of the water out, try a Castelli rain jacket. These use a completely waterproof membrane and feature taped seams and waterproof zippers. The waterproof fabric is less breathable than a wind-proof material, but vents in the armpits, sides, or back make Castelli rain jackets more comfortable. The colder the temperature, the better a waterproof jacket works: if the temperature next to your body is hot, and the temperature outside the jacket is cold, then the warm air wants to escape through the jacket’s pores to the outside. See, there is a science behind it!

Don’t be concerned that Castelli has sacrificed fashion for function! Castelli men’s jackets and women’s jackets have the same unmistakably sexy, Italian style as their entire cycling apparel line. The colors are chosen so they combine well with any Castelli kit -- usually black or white, with contrasting colors as accents. Castelli rain jackets come in bright yellow for visibility, and have ample reflectivity. All Castelli jackets are designed to fit closely over your cycling kit, and are contoured to your body in an aggressive riding position.