Castelli Sottile Jacket

We Liked

The stretchy T-Core LX fabric is very unique. I have only seen a handful of companies that are offering rain jackets with this type of material. In the Portland rain, this fabric performed very well offering plenty of breathability and wind protection. While there are no zipper vents on the Sottile, the jacket is vented with mesh fabric in the armpits. Most cyclists are used to having big zipper vents to undo during a ride and this jacket does not have that. However, when caught in a downpour, this jacket will definitely protect you. The high tech Sottile offers a very lightweight and packable rain jacket for a mere $80. While there is no reflective piping on the Sottile, there are 2 reflective tabs on the back of the jacket located near the seams which gives added visibility. According to an online Italian-English dictionary, Sottile means thin, delicate, slender, slim, small, sharp, fine, subtle, and slight. Weighing in at 3.3 oz, those words sum up Castelli's smart new cycling rain jacket in more than one way.

We Didn't Like

The fabric is so lightweight that it can easily get caught in the zipper. The tiny side pocket zipper tab is also hard to find and grab with gloves on.

The Final Say

The Castelli Sottile is the perfect go to jacket when the skies are overcast. When space and weight are a premium on race day, this jacket packs small enough that it doesn't occupy an entire jersey pocket. Castelli's designers did an excellent job creating a membrane material that truly breathes, even in post-rain humid conditions. Get your hands on a Sottile, and you may be arm wrestling to see who gets to wear it that day.

crossbikereview.com

This product is used for cycling on rainy days. The overall quality is great. However, the fit is a bit small. I bought the size large which seems more like a medium.

I wear a size 44 jacket. I'm not that big a person, but I don have some muscles.

I understand that Castelli uses Euro sizes...however the size chart says the 2XL fits 43-45...so it should fit me...GUESS AGAIN!!! It was so small and tight I could barely put it on my arms...and forget about zipping it up! Seems to me that 43-45 is not Euro versus America...it's a number that should count for something. Customer service was no help....I feel like I was cheated out of shipping costs for getting it and returning it...all because they have a grossly inaccurate size chart. There are many mail order bicycle companies....look around before you get stung by shipping costs here.