Castelli Perfetto RoS gloves review

The Castelli Perfetto RoS are slim-fitting winter gloves, pitched to offer essential protection from the elements.

On that score, they work very well and the fit is excellent, with a slimline construction. They do a good job of keeping your hands warm on cold dry rides too.

However, the thinner design means once they wet through, cold hands aren’t too far away.

Castelli Perfetto RoS gloves specs and details

The Castello Perfetto RoS (Rain or Shine) is the lighter of Castelli’s two Perfetto glove options, which both use Gore’s excellent Infinium softshell fabric.

The Gore-Tex Infinium fabric wraps around the whole of your hand, making the Perfetto RoS a modern interpretation of classic neoprene winter gloves.

Inside, there’s a gridded-pattern fleece lining for warmth.

In lieu of a palm piece, the Perfetto RoS gloves feature bonded silicone grip panels with a bobbled grid print.

They also incorporate CDS (Castelli Damping System) gel padding, designed to distribute pressure from the heel of the palm. It’s the same technology you’ll find on Castelli’s summer gloves.

There are also touchscreen-friendly inserts included on the forefinger and thumb tips.

The RoS gloves are available in a wide range of sizes, from XS through to XXL. I tested a size XL.

Castelli Perfetto RoS gloves performance

The outer Gore-Tex Infinium fabric was hardy in testing, proving itself both highly water-resistant and windproof.

The fleece lining adds essential warmth, without sacrificing tactile feel when you’re holding the bar by being too thick. The gloves kept my hands impressively warm down to low single-digit centigrade temperatures.

That said, once you introduce moisture, that comfort and warmth is time-limited. If your idea of a winter ride is a rapid blast out for, at most, a couple of hours, they'll excel.

However, extend your riding much longer, or get caught out in a serious extended downpour, and the Perfetto RoS gloves wet out and stay that way.

They retain some warmth, in a manner similar to a classic neoprene glove, but eventually I was left with cold and wet hands.

The slimline fabrics and second-skin style fit make light work of operating handlebar controls, working zips and using a phone touchscreen.

The fabric has plenty of stretch, but my test pair never felt overstretched on my large hands.

Castelli Perfetto RoS gloves bottom line

The Perfetto RoS glove is great for high-tempo winter training rides, with the low bulk and generous warmth in cold, dry conditions impressive.

For longer rides, or in severely adverse conditions, there are better options, though.