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Over the past five years, Castelli has made a name for itself by continuously redefining what we expect from race worthy, breathable weather protection. The Gabba, the Tempesta, the Perfetto these names have come to define the genre. The Idro Men's Jacket is this heritage's latest addition it's also possibly the most impressive. It's the result of a partnership with W. L. Gore and Associates, and with Castelli proudly proclaiming it the lightest Gore Tex jacket in the world the Idro combines the best and lightest features from across the Italian brand's line. The jacket's key construction element is Shakedry, a breathable membrane that enjoys the water and windproof qualities that made Gore Tex a legend in the general outdoor industry. It'll block the wind like your Gabba, but it's also literally waterproof, so heavy, prolonged rain that exposes the Gabba as merely water repellent doesn't penetrate the Idro. This is backed up by the GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY policy, a promise that Gore Tex rolls out in CapsLock for its official literature. Considering the enormity of that statement, we've opted to preserve Gore Tex's jarring textual choice in our own copy especially since the Idro pairs that huge claim with a correspondingly tiny one: it only weighs a claimed 123g for a size large. This low weight is possible because Shakedry eliminates the usual face fabric, so it's a two layer membrane that preserves an uncompromising balance of breathability and protection while reducing bulk to expand Gore tex's appeal to include elite cyclists. Castelli's penchant for very targeted innovation means that navigating its catalogue can occasionally be as tricky as negotiating damp corners on rainy descents. For comparison's sake, we'd situate the Idro as an ideal blend of two of Castelli's leading anti weather tops: the Riparo Rain Jacket and the Tempesta Race Jacket. The Riparo is a few grams lighter than the Idro, but it's also far less breathable. Castelli's Tempesta...
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