Castelli Superleggera Kit Review

The Castelli Superleggera jersey and bib shorts set is specially designed for hot days, on flat terrain or in the mountains. A technical, pleasant, and comfortable outfit that facilitates cycling in sweltering conditions.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: 3bikes.fr

For Castelli, the challenge was to design the lightest possible jersey and bib shorts without sacrificing the essential characteristics of this type of garment, namely fabric opacity, sun protection, good support, and preserved comfort, especially around the chamois.

The Superleggera 2 jersey is made of an extremely lightweight fabric, with great breathability and good stretch, but good support is maintained around the pockets so that they are not too loose, allowing you to carry essentials for racing or training without being bothered. Some practical details are not forgotten, such as a zippered pocket for house or car keys, or a seamless construction around the sleeves.

Compared to the Climber’s 3.0 jersey designed for the same hot conditions (up to 40°C according to the brand), the Superleggera 2 is not much lighter in reality (86 g vs 102 g), but it is slightly less fitted and indeed feels lighter to wear, especially thanks to its thinner and slightly more flexible fabric on the upper body. Technically high-end and in terms of finish, this jersey is offered at a price of €119.95.

A lightweight and compressive bib short

The Superleggera bib shorts are about thirty grams lighter than the high-end model frequently used by Team Ineos professionals, the Free Aero Race 4. For this, a woven rather than knitted fabric is used, to save weight while maintaining good support for the chamois position, good resistance, especially in terms of friction with the saddle, and without causing transparency. This fabric also features a decreasing denier level depending on its placement along the leg.
This extremely lightweight fabric also absorbs 30% less moisture according to the brand, which would save about 150 g in situations of full perspiration, such as during a hot climb.

A flat, woven, stretch retention band keeps the bib shorts securely in place, while the flat mesh straps are particularly comfortable to wear. The chamois is Castelli’s high-end model, the Progetto X2 Air Seamless.

The straps are taken from the Free Aero Race model, with their vertical mesh, flat construction, and even the small radio pocket on the back. A pocket that could, why not, be used for something else. In terms of finishes, we also note the care taken in applying the Castelli logo with a silicone printed marking. These bib shorts are sold at a price of €199.95.

The outfit is completed by the Superleggera socks, which are thin and feature a mesh fabric around the ankles, with a height of 12 cm. Their price is €15.95.

Tested in heat and humidity

The bib shorts are put on with caution, as the fabric seems less flexible and stretchable than simple Lycra. Around the thighs, they are particularly tight, at least during the first few uses. The leg length is quite noticeable, as we find them longer than average, even if this is somewhat of a current trend. The compression sensation is quite present, more so than other bib shorts from the brand.

The fit of the straps is ideal, and we immediately appreciate their comfort, as well as that of the Progetto X2 chamois, perfect for long rides. Glued to the anatomy and slightly stretchable, it follows the body’s movements and prevents chafing.

After a few tens of km, you forget the compression of the bib shorts, and you can even feel the slight ventilation around the thighs when passing through cool areas (such as in undergrowth during early morning summer rides).

The jersey also feels very light to wear, at least on the upper body, around the torso and shoulders. With this kind of model, there is often a fear that the pockets’ support will be too loose, but this is absolutely not the case here, as the fabric is reinforced and different in that area.

So, even if the Superleggera jersey is a tiny bit less fitted than a Climber’s or a Free Aero, especially around the shoulders and sleeves, it stays perfectly in place around the stomach and lower back, and there’s no risk of losing the contents of the pockets while riding.

The perfectly fitted and thin socks prevent chafing and cause no pressure points in the shoes, making them comfortable to wear even in 35°C.

While it’s difficult to truly compare impressions related to climatic conditions, it’s clear that this outfit is comfortable to wear in hot weather, even if we would have preferred shorter sleeves and shorter legs. Sweating is, of course, not avoided, but on flat terrain, it dries immediately thanks to the wind with this outfit.

Nevertheless, it was after a long and intense indoor trainer session with the Superleggera kit that we wanted to verify Castelli’s claims regarding moisture retention and the potential weight gain on climbs. After two hours on Zwift without a fan, the bib shorts and jersey were soaked as if during a hot, windless, and slow climb. We weighed the soaked kit, then checked if a quick rinse in the bathtub and a simple hand wring were enough to return to the same weight. This protocol allowed us to compare the dry/wet weights of other high-end Castelli jerseys and bib shorts and to verify the advantages of the Superleggera kit.

Superleggera Jersey
Weight in size S: 86 g
Wet weight: 200 g

Climber’s Jersey
Weight in size S: 102 g (+ 16 g)
Wet weight: 264 g (+ 64 g)

Free Aero Race Jersey
Weight in size S: 114 g (+ 28 g)
Wet weight: 294 g (+ 94 g)

New Gabba
Weight in size S: 220 g (+ 134 g)
Wet weight: 420 g (+ 220 g)

Superleggera Bib Shorts
Weight in size S: 138 g
Wet weight: 276 g

Free Aero Race Bib Shorts
Weight in size S: 170 g (+ 32 g)
Wet weight: 348 g (+ 72 g)
The weight differences are certainly not huge, but we are already comparing lightweight models with excellent cuts and perfectly selected fabrics. While the Superleggera kit is 60 g lighter than a complete Free Aero Race kit, for example, it extends its advantage to 166 g in extreme sweating conditions, such as during a summer climb, thanks to its fabrics that retain less moisture. We know some who would be willing to spend a lot to save 166 g on their bike! Beyond its comfort and finish, the Castelli Superleggera kit therefore fulfills its promises and is aimed at those who often ride in hot, dry, or humid conditions.

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