Castelli Volo bib shorts review

Flat lock stitching, superb quality ‘Affinity Lycra’ and mesh grippers on the legs work in unison to give a comfortable, close fit, with no irritation against the skin. The mesh grippers, do an excellent job of staying in place and they don’t dig in like older, thin silicone bands can. The pad is Castelli’s ‘Kiss Air’ which has a multi-layered and variable density construction. The top layer is a soft microfiber with an antibacterial treatment designed to help prevent saddle sores and improve comfort and it appears to work very well indeed.

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Comfort is where these bibs score highly. Having put these bib shorts to the test on some long hot rides over 100 miles, I have found them to be superb at looking after your ‘undercarriage.’ Although not Castelli’s most expensive short, the performance is so good, that it becomes hard to justify the extra outlay for their more expensive shorts. They are quite thin though, with lots of venting, so on colder days, I would recommend something a little warmer.

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After several washes the mesh grippers on the legs have become a little looser, but these bibs remain an excellent lightweight and highly comfortable option. There are also some subtle reflective hi-vis details built in too. But, if the luminescent, Tron styling isn’t your cup of tea, there are several other colours options to choose from, which should mean you have no problem matching them to some existing kit.

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People often complain that Castelli clothing comes up small, so as a frame of reference, I am 6’1, 69kg and a size medium fitted perfectly.

For more information, head over to Saddleback.