Castelli announces newly updated Gabba and Perfetto range
Amongst the e-bikes, indoor bikes, aero bikes and gravel bikes in the hangers of Eurobike last week, Italian clothing brand Castelli had something important to share – an update to its much-loved Gabba and Perfetto ranges.
There are few items of clothing that can claim to have invented a category, but the Castelli Gabba is such a product. A project that began in 2009, the Gabba was developed with input from Cervelo Test Team riders – including Gabriel Rasch, from whom the product takes its name – who were looking for better cold- and wet-weather clothing. The answer was a water-resistant jersey – a product that slowly grew in reputation through word-of-mouth. The Gabba’s break-out moment was 2013’s infamous snow-affected Milan-San Remo, where much of the pro peloton rode in the garment with non-sponsor-correct logos blacked out with permanent marker.
Four generations on from the original Gabba and Perfetto products, the foul-weather garments get their biggest performance upgrades to date in a bid to improve function across a range of conditions. They’ve also picked up an acronym along the way, and are now called the Perfetto RoS and Gabba RoS – ‘Rain or Shine’ – to reflect their improved dry-weather comfort, alongside the near-waterproof protection they offered before.
In partnership with GORE, two new exclusive-to-Castelli fabrics have been developed for the latest Gabba and Perfetto, making them more waterproof, more breathable, and better fitting. The Gabba RoS ($199.99 USD) features a lightly insulated, windproof and waterproof fabric on the front panel, with a lighter, stretchier fabric on the back helping regulate temperature.
The Perfetto RoS products offer lighter-weight protection from the elements, forgoing the insulation of the Gabba RoS. The long tail and reflective panel on the back carry over from the previous iteration, but the rear pockets have been reconfigured – there are now two larger pockets, allowing easier access for gloved hands – with a pump sleeve on the centre-right hand side to keep things organised. Shoulder seams are now taped, and the Perfetto RoS long-sleeve ($229.99 USD) and convertible jacket ($259.99 USD) now get side-zipped vents.
The Perfetto RoS convertible jacket has had a redesign of its removable sleeves, with the zippers now sitting just above the elbow and circling three-quarters of the circumference of the arm. The zippers are discreetly covered so that they’re not really visible from the outside.
Completing this round of updates is the Perfetto RoS Light jersey ($189.99 USD) and vest ($179.99 USD), introduced to the range as a lighter-weight alternative to the Gabba. As with the Gabba, the back has a water-resistant fabric but without brushed fleece, improving breathability. This is paired with a 25% lighter fabric on the front, reducing overall weight. Castelli describes the Perfetto Light jersey as being akin to a Perfetto Vest with sleeves, making it suitable for “spring and fall training and racing in cool conditions.”
All products are available now from Castelli.
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