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review

Castelli Pave Waterproof Jacket

7
£230.00

VERDICT:

7
10
High performance waterproof at a pretty eye-watering price; the pattern might make your eyes water too
Weight: 
221g

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The Castelli Pave is a high-performance lightweight waterproof shell, made of eVent fabric. That's expensive stuff, but still the price here is a bit of a shocker. It performs very well, though, keeping even heavy rain on the outside with an impressive level of breathability to keep you reasonably comfortable.

Castelli says the Pave is a simplified version of its (even more expensive) Tempesta waterproof, lacking that jacket's pockets and adjustable cuffs. The RRP is probably enough to put quite a lot of people off, no matter how much they like the pavé photoprint, but the fact is it can be found in many places at much-reduced prices, when it becomes a really decent option.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

A number of brands use eVent fabric, with the goal of providing the holy grail of rain protection combined with breathability. It uses Direct Venting technology to allow water vapour to pass through microscopic pores even when the fabric is dry – eVent says that conventional polyurethane breathable membranes only allow moisture transfer when the fabric is wet, meaning that you need to get hot and damp before the sweat really escapes. This, it is claimed, makes eVent 30 per cent more breathable than its closest competitor.

Castelli Pave Jacket Label

Castelli says that the eVent fabric used in the Pave is an exclusive ultralight version. We weighed the large size at 221g, which is indeed a decent weight for a "proper" waterproof, though it appears there is lighter still – Dhb's eVent ASV waterproof jacket has a claimed weight of 133g for a medium, although I've not tried one and can't verify this. The Dhb jacket is, as you'd expect, rather less pricey than the Pave too, at £100. Vermarc's Extreme Rain Jacket, which Mike tested last year, is slightly lighter and significantly cheaper, being made of a less high-end membrane, which I suspect isn't as breathable as what we have here.

I wore the Pave in a wide range of conditions and it did an excellent job of keeping me dry, shrugging off rain and road spray for rides of a few hours without a problem. The zip is a waterproof YKK Vislon with a storm flap behind it, and this didn't let anything through either.

Castelli Pave Jacket

The jacket really does breathe particularly well, too – wearing it over a baselayer I stayed comfortable even when riding at pace with the temperature around 8-12°C. With most waterproof jackets, I tend to use them only when it's already raining when I set out, otherwise favouring a gilet or a softshell, depending on temperature. With the Pave I was happy using it even if there was only a threat of rain, as the usual downsides of a hard shell were largely absent.

It packs down very well - it was no trouble fitting it in a jersey pocket, so if you do find you're getting too warm, it's easy to stow. One thing you can't do is to wear it with a rucksack; Castelli says so explicitly. This is most likely because of risk to the externally-taped seams, but it may be that the fabric itself won't cope with the abrasion. I was initially concerned about the durability of those taped seams, but after a few months of pretty regular use they've not shown any tendency to peel or lift.

Castelli Pave Jacket Back

The eVent fabric feels softer and more comfortable than traditional hard shells – more like a thin windproof than a waterproof. It feels okay against the skin, but I'd still always opt for a long-sleeved baselayer or jersey underneath. It's quiet too, which is welcome, so you don't hear it flapping as much as some. Unlike the fabric used in the Bontrager Velocis Stormshell it isn't stretchy, but it is well fitted. It's certainly not race-tight, though – I had plenty of room for a couple of layers underneath with the large size. What happened to "Italian sizing"?

Castelli Pave Jacket Arm

I've not yet really mentioned one of the most striking elements of the Pave, namely the rather bold photoprint across the torso. Pavé is French for cobbles, as seen every spring in the Classics races like Paris-Roubaix, and here, all over your jacket. I hated it at first, but feel less strongly by the end of the test period; other people's views could best be described as mixed. If it's not your thing, there are plain black and blue versions available too.

> Check out our guide to the best winter cycling jackets here

Only the cobbled version has the bright fluoro tail, but they all have the reflective tape at the very bottom around the back, which helps with night-time visibility. There is also silicone gripper strip to stop it riding up, located above the fluoro bum panel. The two scorpion logos are printed as part of the design rather than stuck on or stitched in place, so they won't come off.

From a performance perspective, then, the Pave certainly delivers. Excellent protection from wind and rain combined with high breathability means it is a viable option for any cool weather riding even if rain is but a distant risk. Personally, I preferred the fit of the less expensive Bontrager Velocis, which I was testing at the same time. The Velocis also has more comprehensive reflectives, a useful pocket and is better looking to my eyes. But now that the Pave can be bought for a lot less than RRP, it is on more even terms with the competition, and I'd say it is certainly worth considering.

Verdict

High performance waterproof at a pretty eye-watering price; the pattern might make your eyes water too

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Castelli Pave Waterproof Jacket

Size tested: Large, Photo Print / Fluo

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Castelli says: "The Castelli Pave Jacket is simplicity at its best, take an exclusive ultralight breathable eVent fabric use it to make a fitted pro quality rain jacket and stop. This is a rain shell for riders who want maximum protection but without the Tempesta race jackets, bells and whistles. Sometimes less is more. The Castelli Pave Jacket folds up small so it fits in your pocket when not in use. Please be aware that this jacket isn't suitable for using under a rucksack. The Castelli Pave Jacket pure performance; Less is more."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

The Pave Jacket the lightest fully waterproof jacket we do.

Exclusive eVent ultralight microfiber fabric

External seam taping for a total waterproof construction

Waterproof YKK Vislon zipper

Silicone gripper elastic at waist

Extra-long tail with reflective trim for 360degree visibility

Minimalistic lightweight construction - packs up small

Sizes Men's S-3XL size is snug designed to fit over a couple of thin layers,.

Weight 189g (L)

Comfort range 6-20c for racing/training in wet conditions

Please note the Castelli Pave Jacket is a ultra-lightweight waterproof jacket designed for road cycling and racing DO NOT use with a rucksack, always follow the care instructions supplied with the jacket.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Premium fabric and neat stitching. High-quality YKK Vislon zip with a baffle behind, letting neither wind nor rain through. If you look really hard (e.g. on the inside of the sleeves) there are a few loose threads, which there shouldn't be at this price.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Very impressive protection for such a lightweight jacket. Reasonably well fitted but not ultra aero (but very few rain jackets are). Italian sizing isn't what it used to be.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

No issues during fairly extensive testing (including plenty of runs through the washing machine) so maybe I was wrong to be a little nervous about the external taped seams. Instructions say "wash me often", unusually.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
10/10

Very lightweight for a proper waterproof jacket. This is down to the lightweight eVent fabric but also the absence of details like pockets, vents and so on.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
7/10

Thoroughly decent for a waterproof jacket.

Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

At the RRP, any way you look at it, this doesn't seem like amazing value. Yes, it's a premium fabric and a primo Italian brand, but that price...

But it tends to be available heavily discounted online, at which point it is decent value.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It did a grand job of keeping me dry and pretty comfortable through some pretty horrible weather.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

It's lightweight, packable, keeps the rain outside and breathes pretty well.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I'm not a huge fan of the cobbled print.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes, if discounted (currently around £140).

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

I was really impressed by the performance of the Pave and used it much more than I expected as a consequence. The fact that you can now buy it with almost £100 off suggests that Castelli rather misjudged the RRP, and it becomes a more convincing option, but at RRP it loses a mark for value.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 190cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: Commuter - something with disc brakes, drop bars and a rack  My best bike is: Rose X-Lite CRS

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

Jez spends his days making robots that drive cars but is happiest when on two wheels.  His roots are in mountain biking but he spends more time nowadays on the road, occasionally racing but more often just riding. 

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17 comments

Avatar
Jasiog@poczta.o... | 6 years ago
0 likes

Hi
Sorry but I have to say that but this review is big lie as this jacket is not waterproof at all. I've just had a first ride for 2 hours in constant rain (not heavy rain) after 10 minutes water started sinking over the arms and few minutes later over my shoulders. So I just wonder how reviewer managed to stay dry? Did he get paid from Castelli? On positive side I can say that I was warm over this 2 hours ride, only felt coldish going fast downhills. Seriously I won't trust any of reviews on this website. Big disappointment

Avatar
fenix replied to Jasiog@poczta.onet.pl | 6 years ago
0 likes
Jasiog [at] poczta.onet.pl wrote:

Hi
Sorry but I have to say that but this review is big lie as this jacket is not waterproof at all. I've just had a first ride for 2 hours in constant rain (not heavy rain) after 10 minutes water started sinking over the arms and few minutes later over my shoulders. So I just wonder how reviewer managed to stay dry? Did he get paid from Castelli? On positive side I can say that I was warm over this 2 hours ride, only felt coldish going fast downhills. Seriously I won't trust any of reviews on this website. Big disappointment

Or maybe yours is faulty ? I've some poor quality Castelli kit too. Send it back.

Ridiculous to say all reviews on here are bad due to one incident.

Avatar
Luv2ride | 8 years ago
0 likes

First ride out in this today, and in the dry (albeit bloomin' windy and about 2 degrees). Wore it with a long sleeve DHB baselayer and a Castelli Prologo Summer jersey. Absolutely windproof and now officially "the breathable jacket I own", dry as a bone inside and stayed very comfortable after a good 2 hour training ride. Very impressed. Hargroves are doing these at £135 at the moment, but could get Evans/Wiggle to price match for their easier returns if needed. 

Have tried many hardshells with claims of impressive breathability and this is the best so far....can't wait to try it in the wet.

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Wilts Cyclist | 8 years ago
0 likes

Does anyone  know if it will fit into Gabba rear pocket ? I ask because Gabba pockets are quite small compared to others. Thx.

Avatar
Luv2ride replied to Wilts Cyclist | 8 years ago
0 likes
Wilts Cyclist wrote:

Does anyone  know if it will fit into Gabba rear pocket ? I ask because Gabba pockets are quite small compared to others. Thx.

Just tried this in the centre pocket of my mk1 LS Gabba.  The Pave just about fits if rolled very tightly.    If the comparison works for you, it's certainly not as compact as my Sportful No Rain Hot Pack shell which scrunches down into its own rear pocket no bigger than (two) small apples.   I tend to take that with me when I need a stowaway "just in case" waterproof.  I plan to use the Pave if constant rain is unavoidable.  Hope this helps...

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Luv2ride | 8 years ago
0 likes

Mine turned up today (drive blue with flouro yellow taping).  Excellent fit and surprisingly soft feel to the material, with some stretch.  Water proofing seems top notch too.  Think it may be a keeper (bought at sale price a good £100 below list).  Impressed.  Forecast is rain for middle of the week so will get a proper test then.

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Rixter | 8 years ago
0 likes

That is hideous, they couldn't pay me enough (well I do have my price) to wear that!

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Luv2ride | 8 years ago
0 likes

I've got on better with Event fabric than other hardshell fabrics (I.e. goretex) in the past for balance of weather protection vs breathability.  Just ordered the blue and flouro yellow version for £135, from a certain online retailer about to merge with its main competitor!  Still pricey but in the competitive ballpark at sale price.  I quite liked the pave print though (takes all sorts I guess)

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don simon fbpe | 8 years ago
0 likes

Gopping!

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Kadinkski | 8 years ago
1 like

I'm getting one for Halloween...

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rnick | 8 years ago
0 likes

Looks like a kids "super hero" outfit, but for grown ups.  But if less lurid versions are available for reasonable prices & it keeps you dry then worth a look??

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Rapha Nadal | 8 years ago
1 like

What an awful looking jacket!

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stenmeister | 8 years ago
2 likes

I think this version is horrific but then again I'm not worrying too much about how I look when cycling in rain, as long as I am as dry as possible.

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ibr17xvii | 8 years ago
0 likes

I like Castelli stuff generally but that is dreadful & don't even know where to start with the price tag................

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maldin replied to ibr17xvii | 8 years ago
1 like
ibr17xvii wrote:

I like Castelli stuff generally but that is dreadful & don't even know where to start with the price tag................

I found it on sale online for £100 less as well as in a decent colour, so perhaps you only need to pay full price if you want the "unique" version that no one else is going to wear!  3 

Avatar
ibr17xvii replied to maldin | 8 years ago
1 like
maldin wrote:
ibr17xvii wrote:

I like Castelli stuff generally but that is dreadful & don't even know where to start with the price tag................

I found it on sale online for £100 less as well as in a decent colour, so perhaps you only need to pay full price if you want the "unique" version that no one else is going to wear!  3 

 

Don't think I'd buy it even at that price!

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Danger Dicko | 8 years ago
0 likes

I love it!

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