The Castelli Espresso Vest is top of the Italian brand’s non-race spec gilets, with pricier options including name brand fabrics and, in some cases, extra insulation.
At 108g in size M, it’s fairly low in weight. It’s also easily pocketable and, unlike many gilets designed to be removed and carried, comes with three rear pockets.
Castelli Espresso gilet features
Chris Teagles
The front panels of the Castelli Espresso Vest are made of almost-windproof, stretchy woven fabric that keeps the bulk of the wind off. At the rear, the fabric is lighter and more stretchy. In fact, Castelli says it’s the same as used for its Espresso summer jersey, so it offers the wicking performance you’d expect and Castelli claims it’s aero too.
Castelli includes a two-way zip, although without a storm flap behind it, except at the collar to prevent irritation of your chin. The top puller has a sizable cord loop to make it easy to use.
Chris Teagles
The three pockets are a good size for the usual ride extras. Although they’re made of the same lightweight, stretchy fabric as the rest of the rear of the gilet, I didn’t find them prone to pocket sag or bouncing even when laden up.
Size-wise, there are seven options from XS to 3XL for men and five from XS to XL for women and there are seven colours for men and five for women too.
Wearing the Castelli Espresso gilet
Chris Teagles
With plenty of stretch both front and rear, the Espresso Vest sits close without being restrictive. This helps to trap air and avoids any tendency to windflap, even on fast descents.
Along with a high collar, the wind-resistant front panels provide a level of warmth that’s greater than the lightweight construction would suggest.
I found the size M a good fit for me. I’m usually a size M for cycling kit, so it was good to find that Castelli’s gilet was consistent. The brand’s reputation for ‘Italian fit’ seems to be a thing of the past and I’ve found its other clothing I’ve tested more recently to be true to size too.
There’s little drop to the tail, so the Espresso Vest provides limited protection from wheelspray. Reflectives are limited to a small tab at the bottom of the central pocket, so on-road low-light visibility isn’t that great.
Chris Teagles
It’s handy having pockets in a lower weight gilet, making it much easier to reach stuff when riding than hoicking up the lower hem to access jersey pockets, as is the norm. If you do decide to double up and use your jersey pockets too, the stretch in the gilet doesn’t make this uncomfortable.
Despite the extra features, the Espresso Vest is competitively light and it packs away small enough to comfortably fit in a jersey pocket if not needed.
Castelli Espresso gilet review verdict
The Espresso gilet offers a good level of protection for a packable gilet and plenty of stretch. It’s comfortable to wear, the pockets are useful and it packs away small enough to carry when it’s not needed. It would be nice to have more reflectives though.
Castelli Espresso gilet details
Price: £130
Weight: 108g (size M)
Sizes: XS – 3XL men’s, XXS – XL women’s
Colours: 7 men’s, 5 women’s