Castelli Perfetto RoS 3 jacket

Planning for shine over rain, the Perfetto 3 prioritises ventilation

-  Laurence Kilpatrick

Cycling in the rain is so last year. So say the head honchos at Castelli. 'We've seen a dramatic decrease in the number of cyclists intentionally riding in the rain,' says Steve Smith, Castelli's brand manager.

'Working with Polartec, we've approached the new Perfetto RoS 3 jacket with that in mind. It's functionally waterproof but primarily breathable and windproof.' Castelli attributes this change to the growing popularity of indoor training and better weather forecasting, and it's significant that a brand such as this has demoted the importance of waterproof garments. The key admission surrounding the Perfetto 3's design is that, in the brave new world of PFAS-free materials, breathability and waterproofness are almost mutually exclusive something many brands have skirted around.

'The Perfetto has a 5,000mm water column rating [the level of water pressure a fabric can withstand before being overwhelmed]. Other brands are producing rain wear with a 10,000mm water column rating,' says Smith. 'That's excessive and doesn't allow for much air transfer.'

Spinning a yarn

Castelli's new Gabba R in 2024 addressed demand for a race-going, aerodynamically cut weatherproof garment, leaving the Perfetto to cater to more all-round performance. Or as Castelli frames it, the best jacket 'for most conditions'.