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Castelli Perfetto RoS 3 Brings Polartec AirCore Tech to Cycling

  • Ron 

If phrases such as innovative and groundbreaking get included in press releases more than they arguably should, Castelli’s new Perfetto RoS 3 Jacket is the exception.

Constructed from a genuinely revolutionary new fabric called ® AirCore™, the Perfetto (Italian for Perfect) RoS (Rain or Shine) 3 redefines what ‘breathable’ means. Taking innovation to a whole new level, the Perfetto RoS 3 Jacket proves that performance cycling will never be the same again.

We are still in the early days of testing this jacket, but I can say that on a recent ride on a cool morning the Perfetto RoS 3 performed admirably keeping me comfortable in and out of colder shady spots and times of higher or lower efforts.

AirCore™ – which has been developed for Castelli in partnership with Polartec® – ticks every box when it comes to being , highly breathable, windproof and water repellent.

The fabric is 100% free from PFAS-based chemicals* and engineered from recycled Polyester yarns. The membrane is produced by a process called electrospinning where a hydrophobic proprietary polymer is pushed through a hypodermic needle charged at 20,000 volts. Under pressure, it emits a thin jet of microscopic filaments – approximately 100 times smaller than a human hair – which falls like snow to create an incredibly tight membrane that still allows air to permeate it.

As a result, the Perfetto RoS 3 Jacket performs as well in the dry as it does in rain, in temperatures ranging from 4-14°C (39-57°F). One jacket, endless possibilities. The new Perfetto RoS 3 Jacket can do it all, ushering in an
important new era for the cycling industry.

Cold weather cycle has long taken its lead from the Outdoor market that prioritizes water proofness over breathability. Cyclists know though, that getting wet from the inside through sweat is as big of a problem as getting wet from the elements. That’s why AirCore™ has been engineered – to keep cyclists dry from the inside-out. Instead of just blocking rain, the Perfetto RoS 3 Jacket’s AirCore™ construction takes a more intelligent approach. It actively ventilates sweat away from riders’ bodies using the of airflow, creating a microclimate that keeps the core stable and performance high, even during the most intense rides.

The unique combination of air permeability and Polartec’s nano-fiber membrane lets Polartec® AirCore™ keep you dry while still maintaining the windproof and water repellency of the fabric. This state-of-the-art technology leverages air to
maintain a dry microclimate by evaporating sweat from the outside-in. Which, when you think about it, is the primary warmth management mechanism that truly matters for an active user. The harder you work, the harder the fabric works.
Motion fuels ventilation that carries moisture away from the body. By staying drier and more comfortable users can experience air powered, permeable, enhanced performance.

AirCore™ is essentially windproof, and it is that “essentially” part that makes this jacket so special. It has been engineered to let in a very small, imperceptible amount of air that picks up sweat moisture and carries it outside the garment, ensuring that riders stay drier than ever thought possible with a membrane jacket.

As confirmed by In laboratory tests, AirCore™ has been engineered to deliver air permeability of 0.7 cubic feet per minute (CFM), unlike most competitive fabrics that have zero air permeability. It also scores highly in terms of its Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR), achieving 35,000 g/m²/24 hour. This industry standard MVTR rating, however, does not take air permeability into account, and therefore, has very little correlation to real life.

Castelli Perfetto ROS 3

 

AirCore™ is essentially waterproof too. Again, the word “essentially” is used because in many countries fabrics must achieve a hydrostatic pressure test score of 10,000mm (i.e. a column of water 10,000mm tall can be placed on a fabric before water starts permeating through it) to be defined as waterproof. In reality, rain only falls with a hydrostatic pressure of around 800mm, so the 5,000mm test score AirCore™ achieves means normal rain would have to fall with 6.25 times more force than it usually does to permeate the fabric. That means AirCore™ is functionally waterproof, allowing riders to stay drier in the widest range of conditions.

This ingenious fabric also has industry-leading claims. It’s 100% PFAS free* with the face and backing textiles knitted from recycled polyester. It’s easy to make a PFAS-free garment waterproof, but adding in breathability is devilishly hard. In the push to go PFAS free, the rest of the industry has concentrated exclusively on waterproofness and essentially thrown in the towel on breathability. AirCore™ brings objectively better breathability with industry
leading sustainability.

AirCore™ is incredibly stretchy too. Its membrane can be extended to over two times its original size, which once again, is taking breathable membrane technology to an entirely new level. That means the Perfetto RoS 3 Jacket adapts to riders’ shapes and is extremely comfortable. The harder you ride, the more it helps regulate your core. Like we said, groundbreaking.

“, Head of Cycling, MVC Group, explained: “Entering into the new PFAS-free era, we wanted to start with a blank canvas when designing our Perfetto RoS 3 jacket. Traditionally, there has always been a compromise between breathability and water protection. We bucked the industry trend by refusing to choose one over the other. By speaking to a range of fabric suppliers, engineers, and scientists from around the world, we found in Polartec® a brand that truly understood what we were trying to achieve. What we’ve delivered with Polartec® on the AirCore™ project has far exceeded what we ever thought possible. Not only have we developed a fabric that is off-the-charts in terms of breathability, it is also highly water repellent, lightweight and windproof, as well as being incredibly stretchy and comfortable.”

Castelli and its sister company Sportful both have exclusive rights to utilize AirCore™ technology in the cycling industry, with a host of global outdoor clothing brands set to adopt AirCore™ from fall/winter 2026 onwards.

“It’s hard to fully explain how revolutionary this fabric is,” Steve Smith added. “Its properties achieve something that’s never been done before, which is why we’re re-writing the gold standard of what high performance cycling gear can do. No one else is anywhere close.”

Ramesh Kesh, Business Manager at Polartec®, said: “AirCore™ is a perfect example of our ongoing mission to merge cutting-edge performance with sustainability. Unlike traditional waterproof-breathable membranes that rely solely on moisture vapor diffusion, our advanced air-permeable laminate uses highly engineered nanofiber membrane technology to enable controlled airflow. This allows AirCore™ to actively maintain a dry microclimate during intense aerobic activity to keep the cyclist riding longer. In addition to setting a new paradigm in air-permeable and breathable, weather-resistant fabrics, it reflects our unwavering commitment to reducing the environmental impact of the textiles we create.”

Available in both men’s and women’s styles, the Perfetto RoS 3 Jacket is cut for comfort and speed. Additional features include:

  • Reflective taped shoulder seams for extra rain protection
  • Zippered ventilation openings on the sides of the chest
  • Top-and-bottom opening YKK® Vislon® zipper for easy sliding, covered for additional wind and rain protection
  • Three rear pockets with drain holes
  • Longer tail for coverage from spray
  • Reflective detailing at the pocket bottoms
  • High collar to keep out drafts

The men’s jacket is available in the following four colorways: Rich Red/Black Reflex, Black/Silver Reflex, Mocha/Black Reflex and Pool Blue/Black Reflex.
RRP €249,95 | $320,00 | £280,00

The women’s jacket is available in the following four colorways: Hibiscus/Black Reflex, Pool Blue/Black Reflex, Mango Mojito/Black Reflex and Light Black/Silver Reflex.
RRP €249,95 | $320,00 | £280,00

Castelli will be launching additional AirCore™ garments in the near future. When your kit helps you push further – regardless of the weather – that’s perfection.

For more information visit: Castelli
castelli-cycling.com/AirCore

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Tags: Castelli, Cyclists, Innovation, Italian, Jacket, Lightweight, Polartec, Polyester, Polymer, Steve Smith, Sustainability, black, breathability, clothing, cycling, cyclist, fabrics, light, men, microclimate, natural, performance, power, protection, speed, technology, ventilation, waterproof, wheel, winter, women
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