Castelli Adds Aircore Fabric to Gabba and Refreshes Perfetto Line Based on Rider Feedback
Back in September, Castelli unveiled what it called a breakthrough fabric — one designed to deliver top-tier performance without relying on PFAS-based chemicals. Created alongside Polartec and built from recycled polyester yarns, the material, named Aircore, first appeared on the Castelli Perfetto 3 jacket. It took the place of Gore-Tex Infinium, a fabric that contained so-called “forever chemicals” that do not degrade naturally in the environment.
Now Castelli has returned with a revised Perfetto, shaped by rider input, and has extended Aircore to its Gabba jacket as well.
The Perfetto 4 and Perfetto Pro
According to Castelli, the Perfetto 4 was engineered “from scratch to be the benchmark for all-condition performance.” The jacket keeps using the highly breathable, wind-blocking, and water-repellent Aircore fabric, but the brand has bumped up its weight. Steve Smith, Castelli’s global manager, explained that the fabric now starts at 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,” Smith said. “The feedback we kept on hearing from customers, though, was that it was lighter weight than previous Perfettos, and that they wanted more warmth.
“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.”
As a result, the Perfetto 4 carries a recommended temperature range of 4–12˚C, a narrower window than the Perfetto 3’s 4–14˚C.
For riders who preferred the older, lighter design, Castelli is also offering the Perfetto Pro. This model is pitched as a “sleek, minimal race piece,” built with 150g Aircore fabric and suited to temperatures between 6–14˚C.
Both jackets retain the signature shoulder tape, though it is now made from a transparent material. They also feature metal drainage holes in the rear pockets — a nod to the original Gabba, the jacket that launched Castelli’s entire wet-weather cycling range.
Pricing for the Perfetto 4 sits at £280 / $330 / €260, while the Perfetto Pro comes in at £300 / $350 / €280.
The Gabba Pro
While the Perfetto ditched Gore-Tex Infinium last September, Castelli had already removed it from the Gabba back in 2024. In its place, the Gabba R used a fabric featuring a Japanese-made membrane paired with a hydrophobic treatment. Now Castelli has introduced the Gabba Pro, a fresh take on the jacket that employs Aircore.
Castelli describes it this way: “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 added: “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 first announced, Castelli noted that the fabric’s emphasis on breathability stemmed partly from cyclists spending less time training in the rain, a shift driven by the growth of indoor cycling and by climate change.
That said, Smith points out that if heavy rain is in the forecast, Castelli would steer riders toward the Gabba R “for complete waterproof coverage.”
The Gabba Pro is priced at £230 / $320 / €260.
