Last September, Castelli announced a new “revolutionary” fabric that was said to tick every box for performance while being free of PFAs-based chemicals.
Developed in collaboration with Polartec, the fabric that is made from recycled polyester yarns debuted on the Castelli Perfetto 3 jacket. It replaced the Gore-Tex Infinium fabric that contained the ‘forever chemicals’, which don’t break down naturally.
Now, Castelli has updated the Perfetto, following consumer feedback, and brought the Aircore fabric to its Gabba jacket.
New Castelli Perfetto 4 and Pro
Castelli says it designed the new Perfetto 4 “from scratch to be the benchmark for all-condition performance”.
The cycling jacket continues to use the highly breathable, windproof and water repellent Aircore fabric. However, Castelli’s global manager Steve Smith says the company increased the fabric’s weight from 150g per square metre.
“We’re incredibly proud of the Perfetto RoS 3; it truly is a groundbreaking jacket that raised the bar for all-condition performance. The feedback we kept on hearing from customers, though, was that it was lighter weight than previous Perfettos, and that they wanted more warmth,” Smith says.
“That’s why, with the Perfetto 4, we’ve listened to that feedback and introduced a new 219g Aircore fabric to this jacket which has more loft and provides added insulation.”
This means while the Perfetto 3 had a recommended temperature range of 4–14˚C, the Perfetto 4 has a recommended range of 4–12˚C.
If you were a fan of the previous, lighter Perfetto, Castelli has also announced the Perfetto Pro. This version of the jacket is described as a “sleek, minimal race piece” and uses a 150g Aircore fabric for temperatures from 6–14˚C.
Both the Perfetto 4 and Pro keep the jacket’s recognisable shoulder tape, but this is now made from a transparent material.
They also have metal drainage holes in the rear pockets, which is a reference to the very first Gabba jacket, which spurred Castelli’s range of wet-weather cycling kit.
The Castelli Perfetto 4 costs £280 / $330 / €260 and the Perfetto Pro costs £300 / $350 / €280.
Castelli Gabba Pro
Although the Perfetto dropped Gore-Tex Infinium last September, Castelli removed it from the Gabba back in 2024. Instead of Gore-Tex, the Gabba R used a fabric with a Japanese-made membrane and a hydrophobic treatment.
But now Castelli has released the Gabba Pro, a new version of the jacket, which uses Aircore.
Castelli says: “The jacket takes the same technology, 150g fabric and close-to-body fit that’s been applied to the Perfetto Pro jersey and makes it available in a short-sleeved option.”
Smith says: “It’s always an exciting moment introducing a new Gabba into the range as it’s a jacket that revolutionised the cycling apparel market in the same way Aircore transformed how modern cyclists dress for colder conditions.
“This, and the Perfetto Pro, are jackets you want to wear when you need breathability, mobility and a competitive edge."
When Aircore was revealed, Castelli said the fabric’s focus on breathability was partly a result of cyclists spending less time riding in the rain due to the increase in indoor cycling, and climate change.
But Smith says that if torrential rain is forecast for your ride, Castelli would recommend the Gabba R “for complete waterproof coverage”.
The Gabba Pro costs £230 / $320 / €260.
