The start of 'cross season signals the arrival of crisp, chilly mornings and warm afternoons with plenty of colorful foliage in between — if you ask us, perfect racing weather. It's also the time of year when your pre-race warm-up takes on a more literal meaning, and getting your engine up to speed on chilly mornings can sometimes be a challenge. Save the hooded sweatshirt for post-race lounging, and make sure your body is as ready to race as your mind is with Castelli's Cross Prerace Jacket.

Simplicity is consistently a hallmark of Castelli's designs, and the Cross Prerace Jacket is no exception. The jacket has a sleek, functional design that isn't weighed down by unnecessary extras that only distract from pre-race rituals. Castelli recommends it in temperatures ranging from 41 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but our experience suggests it can go colder than that during stationary warm-ups.

The jacket's front panels and sleeves are packed with insulating PrimaLoft 60 and a Toray 30g water-repellent coating — because not every race morning is going to be sunny. The PrimaLoft ensures the heat you create during your warm-up laps stays inside your body's microclimate, while water-repellent Nano Flex fleece provides ventilation and keeps the jacket breathable along your back to help lessen the likelihood of overheating.

Castelli gives you plenty of room to store keys, gels, or any other pre-race essentials in the jacket's zippered front pocket and three external rear pockets. Expect the Cross Prerace jacket to fit streamlined but with some extra room compared to some of Castelli's slimmer, race-cut apparel. This jacket is made to be worn over your race jersey, so it gives you room to move around while warming up and is quick and easy to slip off when it's time to head to the start line.