Castelli Elemento 7x(Air) jacket

Castelli's new Elemento 7x(Air) is an innovative jacket for cold, dry winter weather.

What you can't miss about this jacket are the ridged 'Windshear inserts' of the 7x(Air) fabric, used for about 50% of the panels.

'What are Windshear inserts?' you ask. Well, the outer layer of the fabric used here is windproof and, while breathable, it's not THAT breathable. That's always the tradeoff with windproof fabrics. So what Castelli have done here is stitched it into rippled panels. All the little stitching holes add up to make the fabric much more breathable in those areas. Castelli say that it's seven times more air permeable than the Windstopper fabrics that they use, hence the 7x(Air) name. See, it all makes sense.

Castelli also reckon that the pockets of air formed within the ridges provide extra insulation without adding to the weight. Plus, the fabric is very stretchy so you can get a close fit to stop excess air getting in and cooling you down.

It's pretty clever, and what you end up with is a jacket that's warm enough for winter use but also noticeably more breathable than a normal windproof. Castelli make other jackets vaguely similar to the Elemento but without the 7x(Air) fabric, the closest relation probably being the Espresso Due.  The Elemento isn't quite as warm as the Espresso, but it is significantly more breathable so you can wear it in slightly milder conditions or when you're doing a more intense ride.

I've been wearing the Elemento a lot over the past few weeks and I'd say that it's suitable for when the temperature is somewhere between 2°C and 10°C – a bit lower if you don't tend to feel the cold.

While the 7x(Air) Windshear inserts are definitely the big selling point here, the Elemento is by no means a one trick pony; it has high-quality features throughout. Wrist zips allow you to get a good seal around your gloves, for example, and you can open them up for extra cooling. That's a really effective way to reduce your temperature if you start to overheat. The zip on the left side of the chest is for a pocket but it's mesh lined so you can use it as a vent too, rather than opening the front zip.

You get three more pockets in the lower back along with a zipped fourth one for storing your valuables. There are a couple of small, reflective tabs back there too.

The tall collar stops cold air getting in up top and there's a flip-up panel at the back of the neck to add a little extra warmth. The only small amount of wear on this jacket after several weeks of use is where the elasticated waistband has rubbed a little on a label of a pair of Castelli tights that I've been been wearing. It's virtually nothing.

The flipside to all the breathability provided by those needle holes is that water can get through them. The fabric's DWR (durable water repellent) finish helps shed light rain but this is certainly a jacket for cold, clear days rather than damp ones.

The price (yes, we always mention the price) is clearly high, but there's a lot of innovation on display here and that doesn't come cheap.

Verdict

Innovative breathable jacket for cold, dry winter weather.