Specification

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This is a tailored garment, aimed at a 12C-20C temperature range. It has a stretched woven front – designed to let enough air through to disperse moisture, but not so much – and a back made form the same fabric as the Espresso 2 Jersey, Castelli’s Air O material. It is described as waterproof, which is handy in keeping core warmth. It is breathable. Both front and back stretch, but the Air O fabric is particularly stretchy.

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The sturdy zip opens from both the bottom and top, allowing greater climate control. There are three rear pockets, but no zipped security pocket. There’s a gripper strip around the rear of the vest, and the full waist is elasticated. The armholes are elasticated, too. The collar is broader than on a jersey, giving a tad more protection from the headwind. As you’d expect, hems and seams are neatly finished. The seams are chunkier than those on a jersey, but they are not designed to fit closely to your skin. They certainly look robust.

 

Branding is subtle, with a tiny Castelli scorpion on the zip fob and the two brand names toned in with the colour of the fabric. On that front, there are a number of colour options that should enable you to compliment or contrast with your jersey, if that is your thing. There are colour options, although not as extensive as those for its jersey cousin. However, they do seem to have been picked to allow coordination with both jersey and bib shorts.

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Size and fit 5/5

 

The fit is sporty without being skin-hugging. That’s very much in line with the Espresso 2 theme and it's clearly an ideal partner to the Espresso 2 jersey (although it goes well with similar jerseys. Initially, I thought I’d just go for the same size as the Espresso 2 jersey I was testing at the same time. As it turned out, this would have been correct, but I if shelling out a sizeable wad of cash, I’d measure twice and hit the pay button once. The sizing chart allows you to measure up in two ways, I tried both and got the same result. So XXL it was. It certainly meets Castelli’s sporty-but-everyday mantra.

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The back is long enough – and I’m told that I am pretty evenly proportioned – to give good coverage when on the drops. If you are very long in the back, you may want to consider going larger. Less of an issue of you are in to bib-shorts. In any case, the stretchy fabric, especially at the back, makes for a really comfortable fit, regardless of position on the bike; no pulls, no pressure. Overall, size and fit are just what they should be to meet the spec.

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Care and durability 3.5/5

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Fundamentally, this is the usual stuff. 30C wash, line dry, don’t tumble, don’t iron, don’t bleach. Once washed and spun, drying is rapid, especially outdoors on a breezy day. There you are talking an hour or so. Hand wash and it should dry overnight on the back of a chair or on a towel rail. As you’d hope, frequent washing seems to have no significant impact on colour – it may do eventually – nor on the condition of the fabric. Threads and hems are ship-shape and Bristol fashion. The fact that they are unlikely to come into contact with brambles and briars –hopefully not asphalt either – should make for a long life and many miles of use.

 

Performance 4/5

 

First up, note the temperature range. This is very much a vest for when the weather warm up. Having said that, on tour with the mornings starting off around 6 0r 7C, it functioned very nicely as a mid-layer – even if my arms were on the chilly side for a while. When things did get into the mid-teens centigrade, the vest felt really good, just keeping the breeze a bay and working well with the Espresso 2 jerseyCastelli Espresso2 Jersey | cycling-not-racing to wick away moisture when working harder on ascents.

True, it did equally well when combined with the POC Cadence jersey.

 

Both are, of course, technical garments with great wicking. Combining the vest with a less technical bit of gear – the great value and very comfortable Lomo jersey (which I really like, by the way, although less suitable for layering) and things may feel damper for longer. Bib shorts are a natural companion for this type of gear. I have paired the vest and jersey with shorts and coverage of the kidneys is still decent enough.

 

The gripper strip holds things in place around the lower back. At the front, the looser fit allows the two-way zip to come into play for added climate control. The two-way function has helped keep things comfortable when crouching over the drops for longer periods. The pockets hold up well when stuffed with cycling accoutrements – or packets of jelly beans. The lack of a security pocket on the vest isn’t much of a problem, in my opinion. I am unlikely to be seeking a credit card or the £5 note Mrs. Steve has allowed me to have for a day out unless I have come to a halt and can easily access the one on the jersey. Some may regard it as a minor missed opportunity, but I could not see it as even that significant.

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There’s no water-resistance coating, which makes care easier, but also means that, if caught in a quick shower, you’ve got two layers to dry. Neither will take long if the rain is light, but you may want to remember that lightweight shell. Can it be worn on its own? Why not? Well, you could, but I wouldn’t. that is personal preference and the two-way zip riding-up may expose on-lookers to unwanted glimpses of your abdomen.

 

Value 3.75/5

Lusso offer their Perform Insulated Gilet at £105. Designed for slightly lower temperatures, it has the advantage of water-resistance, but, having some fleece lining, it is likely to be a bit bulkier than the Castelli Vest. However, Lusso do describe it as packable. Around half the price is the Oxford Venture Windproof Gilet. This is made from heavier fabric and was described by Michael as “less conducive to stuffing into pockets.” Equally, he was impressed by its overall performance.

 

Altura and BTwin offer models around the same price point. Around about the £80 mark is the Victory Chimp Packable Gilet, which comes in a variety of colours and looks to have some nice features. Beyond that I cannot comment. More expensive than the Castelli, at least on rrp, are the range offered by Le Col. They have three on offer from £95 to £160.

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Summary

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Initially sceptical about vests or gilets as a concept, I have come to see their relevance. This one is especially useful as it functions well as a mid-layer as well as a top layer when circumstances require. It is pricey, although not outrageously so compared to some, and will suit the sportier enthusiast who wants to get in some fast miles. So, a useful addition to your riding wardrobe.

 

 

Verdict 4/5 Neat vest for summer lightweight trips

Steve Dyster

https://www.castelli-cycling.com