Castelli ALPHA RoS 2 jacket

WHAT IS IT
Top jacket from Castelli, which brings warmth, breathability and a high level of protection from rain, softness and comfortable wearing. Thanks to the innovation of the third generation, this jacket demonstrates and shows the way how a winter jacket should work.

PRODUCT FEATURES
RoS - Rain or Shine design, provides the best properties for driving in cold and dry weather, but also effective resistance to water and moisture.
GORE-TEX INFINIUM ™ WINDSTIPPER® 150 provides wind protection, high breathability and effective rain protection.
Reduced number of seams and taped seams on the shoulders, reduce the possibility of water penetration into the interior.
The construction of the Alpha jacket has separate layers that protect you from wind and water and that provides insulation, thus achieving better ventilation control.
The waterproof YKK® Vislon zipper slides smoothly and makes ventilation easier.
Flat elastic ending on the waist with silicone, fits snugly to the body and prevents the passage of cold air to the bottom.
The double cuffs on the wrists are in perfect harmony with the cuffs of the gloves and prevent the passage of wind or water.
Stretch materials with an improved cut create excellent adaptation to body shape and can suit a wide range of body proportions.
Ventilation openings on the back.
3 back pockets with reflective holes for water drainage.
Extra zippered pocket for transporting valuables.

Colors: 414 - dark blue, 622 - dark red, 656 - orange-red, 085 - light black
Sizes: S - 3XL
Weight: 525g. (L)
Temperature range: -5 - 10 ° C

Material composition:
base material 100% polyester
collar top, inner collar, lining, inner sleeve top 88% polyester 12% elastane
lower fuselage, cuffs 78% polyamide 22% elastane
mesh 100% polyamide

Cyclingnews.com says that this jacket "sets a whole new standard in what a winter cycling jacket can achieve" and that is exactly what we think the perfect winter jacket should be. We started with a list of things that we didn't like about the current jackets, and we set about solving them, so we made our best jacket so far.

The first issue we addressed concerned moisture management. Even the best materials currently available provide a good level of breathability, but fail to wick away moisture generated when driving at high intensity. So we've come up with a two-layer construction that allows you to open the outer wind-resistant layer while keeping the insulation layer closed and close to the body. This allows air to flow inside the jacket and remove moisture, while preventing cold air from coming into direct contact with the skin. With a long climb, you can open the outer layer completely so that the moisture can escape, and when you start to fall, you will close the outer layer and we will be completely dry and warm inside. It works so well that sometimes it acts like a charm. New for this year is a softer, warmer 3D insulation layer that provides more heat, better moisture wicking and a better fit.

We also focused on the holes: on the neck, around the waist and especially the wrists. The tall collar is shaped to move with you, whether you are standing or lying in an aero position and as a January hero and attacking your friends. We created an elastic part with a silicone hem around the waist, which completely prevents air from penetrating under the jacket, without shrinking or sucking. A novelty this season is a completely new two-layer wrist cuff. The inner cuff goes under the glove and adheres tightly to your wrist, while the outer cuff covers the glove in case of rain so that drops falling over the jacket do not end up inside the glove.

Of course, the perfect winter jacket should protect you well even in humid conditions, which is why we used GORE-TEX INFINIUM-WINDSTOPPER® together with waterproof gluing of the seams on the shoulders. The other seams are hidden from the direct flow of water and the water-repellent treatment of the fabric is sufficient to prevent more moisture from entering the bottom. We call it "essentially waterproof" and, through our own subjective judgment, we have found a balance between water protection, breathability and comfort. We do not claim that no drop will ever penetrate the bottom, but we have undergone long rides in real rain and stayed completely dry. Thanks to all these features, it is the favorite jacket of the INEOS Grenadiers team and the most versatile performance jacket for training in cold weather that we have ever created.