Castelli Tempesta Lite review: great performance but at a price

Gore-tex Active Technology gives the Castelli Tempesta Lite impressive breathability and weather protection but the price will deter all but the most committed wet-weather riders

Rider wearing a Castelli Tempesta Lite waterproof jacket riding towards the camera
Castelli Tempesta Lite
(Image credit: Andy Jones)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

Great weather protection, interesting fabric and a premium price tag make the Castelli Tempesta Lite a bit of a conundrum. It has a couple of quirks, but if you are serious about your wet weather gear and can stomach the outlay, then it will keep you riding in any weather.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Very breathable

  • +

    Highly weatherproof

  • +

    Not black

  • +

    Room for layers

  • +

    Decent amount of reflective

  • +

    Light for the performance it offers

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Expensive compared to most alternatives

  • -

    Low stretch so not close fitting

  • -

    Open sleeve design

  • -

    Only a one-way zip

  • -

    No hang loop

  • -

    No stuff sack

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Although the PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) ban that has affected USA and EU manufacturers has seen the demise of many waterproof fabrics and garments, including the much-lauded Gore-Tex Shakedry, there is still sufficient stock of some fabrics for Castelli to offer the Tempesta Lite with Gore-Tex Active Technology for the next few seasons.

In direct contrast to the Castelli Squall Shell which you carry in case you are unlucky with the weather, the Tempesta Lite is the kind of jacket that you put on at the start of a ride and take off if you get lucky with the weather. The branding on the jacket simply says ‘Gore-Tex’, but the swing tag says ‘Gore-Tex Active Technology’, which was the brand’s most breathable fabric before Shakedry, and one which I was a fan of.

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