Castelli Elemento 2 7x(Air) Jacket

When two become one!

Take two of Castelli's best technologies and combine them in one jacket. We think you'll find a jacket that now offers a new standard in balancing light weight, stretch, breathability and warmth.

In 2013 Castelli developed the 7x(Air) fabric—a proprietary windproof fabric that provides seven times the air permeability of existing membrane fabrics. In 2014 they then invented the Alpha jacket with a number of innovative construction techniques to revolutionize the performance and comfort of a winter cycling jacket. In 2015 they bring those two technologies together. You’ll thank them.

And here's the Tech stuff...

Alpha Construction

With the double-layer front you have far greater control over ventilation, and when you’re working hardest you can open the external zip to allow airflow to dry the thermal layer. It’s hard to imagine until the first time you crest a hill and close the zipper back up and realize you’re totally dry. You’ve never felt anything like it. Also coming from the Alpha jacket are the innovative wrist and waist closures. The 3D knit fabric looks and feels like neoprene at first glance, but it’s a fully breathable woven stretch fabric that dramatically improves these critical areas of the jacket.

7x(Air) Technology

7x(Air) technology was developed to offer the very best breathability possible. Starting with a fully wind- and waterproof external layer and then quilt it to a fleece inner layer using the trapunto technique. This results in an extremely stretchy wind-resistant fabric, but the stitch holes give just the right amount of air permeability and allow for a continuous exchange of air on the inside of the garment, which carries away moisture much better than fully sealed fabrics. This actually makes it warmer because there’s less unwanted air flowing on the inside of the garment.

There must be a downside, right? It's not a jacket for those rainy days, since rain will come through the quilting stitching, though the fabric is DWR treated and will shed light spray. But it’s ideal for your cold weather five-hour base fitness rides as well as your one-hour lunchtime world championship rides.