RAIN OR SHINE. BRING IT ON

When we came out with the original Alpha Jacket, we wrote, Throw out everything you think you know about cycling jackets. We’ve done it once again. So throw out everything you think you know about cycling jackets.Until now, your cycling wardrobe has consisted of clothing for dry weather and separate clothing for wet weather. You never wore your wet-weather clothing in dry conditions because it was too clammy inside and too flappy outside. And your dry-weather clothing just didn’t hold up to rain.The Gabba and Perfetto family helped bridge that gap, but the Alpha RoS takes it to another level.

We started by keeping everything that made the original Alpha Jacket your favorite dry-weather jacket: the two-layer construction to separate the insulation layer from the outer shell, the double front opening to diffuse the cold air when you open up to ventilate, the excellent breathability, the flat wrist and waist openings, the articulated collar, the insanely soft stretch fabrics, and the great fit.

By using Gore’s new Windstopper® light rain-resistant membrane and DWR treatment, selective seam sealing, careful seam placement and construction, and a waterproof YKK® Vislon® zipper, we’ve made the jacket essentially waterproof while not compromising the characteristics that made it such a great dry-weather jacket.The outdoor industry has traditionally determined what counts as waterproof: minimum 10,000mm water column and complete seam taping. But that definition means too many compromises in the overall usability of the jacket, in the softness, in the fit, and in the jacket’s overall ability to keep you dry and comfortable by maximizing breathability.

So we set our own definition of real-world usability and went out and tested this on the nastiest days of our Italian fall. An occasional drop may come in through a seam, but you’re going to stay warm and dry because the jacket keeps nearly all water out from the outside while letting most moisture out from the inside.This jacket feels like a game changer. It’s a significant step toward Castelli’s goal of making clothing that performs impeccably in the dry but offers complete water protection in the rain. And it will make your riding enjoyable, rain or shine.