by geedawg on Fri Nov 01, 2013 7:47 pm
been trying to do some research on the capo lombardia jersey. . .i know that the bikeradar article mentions a full windproof / waterproof membrane up front, but i am not seeing that in any other descriptions on a couple of online retailers. if it's not completely windproof and it is just dwr treated roubaix material, then it will definitely not be as warm as the gabba.
the craft version looks pretty similar to the gabba, but i have a feeling that it might be lighter / thinner. i have had other craft garments with ventair material. . .windproof but imo not as water resistant as windstopper. most reviews i have seen say that this jersey is a "cheap" alternative to the gabba.
i have a santini long sleeve jersey that is made of the same material as the h20 jersey. it feels and breathes just like a typical roubaix jersey, except with a smoother outer finish. same warmth as you would expect from a normal roubaix jersey as well. NOT windproof. but it sheds light showers and spray very well. pretty much equivalent to the castelli nanoflex line of clothing. i got caught in a 10 min downpour with the jersey, and put on a rain vest. the heavy rain soaked through the uncovered arms pretty fast. but in lighter rain and showers it works great.
the advantage of the santini over the gabba though is definitely its breathability. no windstopper material is going to breathe as well as roubaix fabric. but then again roubaix doesn't block wind. when it is just threatening showers and is otherwise mild, i almost always wear the santini and pack a rain vest with it. if it is already showering i'll take the gabba. if it is downpouring or if it is lighter rain but my ride will be 3+ hours, i'll wear my pocket liner rain jacket and call it good. the gabba is great, but i don't trust it in extended rain for an all day ride, as it will soak through eventually after several hours of constant rain.
in the end, i really like both my santini as well as my gabba. but they serve different purposes. i'd say the gabba is more versatile in that it is warmer with the windproofing, will keep you dry longer, and will stay warm even when wet (at least for an hour or two, giving it a 3-5 hour window of warmness even in constant rain) without being too warm for more mild days.
as a side note, how are the capo or craft jerseys cheaper than the gabba? here in the US they all go for $150 retail. it does seem that PBK has the craft weather on sale now though. . .