Castelli Espresso Bib Shorts review

Castelli makes some incredible cycling and triathlon kit (its PR 2 tri-suit is one of the best around), but like all brands, not every product is a hit.

So what’s it going to be with the Espresso Bib Shorts? Well, they’re among the best bib shorts, if I’m honest. 

Castelli Espresso Bib Shorts fit

Fit proved true to size and feels compressive and supportive. In fact, I’d say this is one of the tighter fits I’ve tested. That’s no bad thing if you enjoy more of an aero fit and it provides great muscular support, while at no point does it feel restrictive. 

You get raw-cut hems at the end of the legs, which is a further boost to comfort, and these are supplemented by small strips of silicone to help keep them in place. It’s less silicone than you get with many other bib shorts but, combined with the compressive fit, I had no issues of movement at all on test rides. 

Staying with the theme of comfort, the shoulder straps are seamless and heavily perforated, ensuring both zero irritation and fine breathability. 

At the rear, the back panel is formed of an even lighter mesh that delivers the best airflow of any shorts on test. This panel is also one of the thinnest on test, measuring just five inches wide, which is great as it helps keep things as cool as possible on really warm days. 

At the front, the waist comes up to around an inch below the belly button, so not necessarily that high or that low, but it’s certainly not going to contribute to you overheating. 

The cut, and the elasticated shoulder straps, also help make toilet stops reasonably trouble-free, though it did put a bit of a strain on the stitching. 

Castelli Espresso Bib Shorts chamois

Now, onto the chamois. Castelli has used a Progetto X2 Air Seamless pad in these shorts, which it calls ‘the most comfortable seat pad on the planet’. That’s a bold claim, and one that I’m not necessarily going to stick my neck out and agree with, but the cushioning definitely worked for me over varied distances. 

The pad is entirely smooth and uses a ‘bacteriostatic layer’ that’s designed to adapt to the shape of your body without causing any folds in the fabric. I certainly didn’t experience any of the latter, while the varying zones of thickness offered adequate support and comfort, though it does tail off quite thinly at the front. 

Choice is a fine thing, so it’s great to see a size range running from XS to 3XL, plus 11 different colour options including everything from black and blue to beige and red (I’d love to see the sale stats on those!). 

Additional features include small reflective details on the rear of the leg and a reasonably large radio pocket on the lower back. The latter may be useful for a couple of cards or energy gels, but I’m not sure I’d want to consume them after a couple of warm, sweaty hours in the saddle. 

Castelli Espresso Bib Shorts specs

Quick specs
Price	$179.99 / £175
Weight	182g
Sizing	XS-3XL men’s, XS-XL women’s

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