The most impressive thing about this jacket in my opinion is that it is insanely light and thus very packable. Many times when jackets claim to be packable they still feel bulky in a jersey pocket. With this jacket, you might not even notice that it is in your pocket!
I am 5'9" and about 190lbs (not small), as with all Castelli clothing, you should size up. I would normally order an XL (in Castelli), but for this I ordered a 2x. The 2x fits well, but it is a little loose while still maintaining the form. The reason I went with the 2x is that I foresee using this jacket most when I might have a long sleeve jersey, but need just a little more protection (more than a Gabba).
Castelli claims a small amount of waterproofing with the jacket, but it is definitely not a rain jacket. I would trust this if there was a little mist in the air, but for any real precipitation, you would need a real rain jacket.
I really like this helmet! The comfort and fit make it a pleasure to use. Most of the time while riding I don't even know it's on. The straps grip my head lower than other I have used and it stays put without sliding down. (thinking of you Giro.) I have also worn Specialized and Lazer helmets and the MET tops them. The magnetic clasp is cool and there is good ventalation.
I tend to ride in cooler cilmates, so unsure how it would be in warmer temps.
Glad I purchased it when I did, since it looks like the prices have gone up dramticaly. Must be the new tariffs. Thank you Mr. President. ??
The Vanquish helmet has MIPS, a magnetic Lens shield that is also polarized, and is the most comfortable helmet I've ever worn. I opted for the rear attachable light gives 30 lumens of awareness in blinking mode. You can wear glasses with this helmet as the detachable magnetic Lens has enough clearance to do so. I've been using this helmet for the past 6 weeks (I ride 4-5 times a week), it's lighter than my previous Lumin helmet, more comfortable, and haven't had any cons on my purchase.
Nice fitting shirt/jersey for casual gravel or just plain casual bike rides of any type where you don't need the hardcore aero skin-tight jersey. Nice to have a shirt like that with 3 rear pockets like a jersey, but not be too "roadie" when you don't want/need to be. It's 65% cotton and 35% poly so not the best thing to wear if you are heading out for a ride in high temps or going for an intense ride. Not the coolest material in hot weather overall. Nice cycling shirt of good quality.
