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SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING
LATEST UPDATE: FEBRUARY 4th
HOW DO WE DECIDE OUR OVERALL RATINGS FOR PRODUCTS WE REVIEW?
Castelli Espresso Air Jacket Deep Bordeaux
354g (Large as Tested) £180
The Castelli Espresso Air Jacket Deep Bordeaux is a snug fitting, lightweight winter jersey-cum-jacket that offers an excellent balance of warmth and breathability. Designed for temperatures between zero and ten degrees, there’s a useful DWR (durable water repelling) coating to keep lighter, showery rain at bay and three large pockets for stowing stuff. In keeping with the Espresso range generally, it does most things very well and the compromises are minor.
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Pros: Snug fitting, large, well-designed pockets, insulates effectively, highly breathable, performs well in a broad range of temperatures.
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Cons: Price, no zippered valuables pocket, still requires a waterproof shell type jacket in more persistent rain.
Specification
Now, despite a PFAS free DWR coating, Castelli have opted to focus upon cold, dry weather performance, rather than striving for an impervious garment. One which might be waterproof but leaves us feeling clammy and it’s a decision that resonates very nicely with me. Bordeaux not your bag? There’s Vivid Orange, Belgian Blue and Light Black. All feature subtle, yet effectively positioned retro-reflective detailing and of course, the Castelli Scorpion logo.
Detailing, as I’d expect from this end of the market is reassuringly good. There’s a large, looped zipper tag for effortless mid-ride adjustment, three large “flat” rear pockets with silicone tops to minimise the likelihood of cargo being eased out - mini pumps can be particularly prone to said evictions, especially across battle scarred tarmac. Staying with this, there’s ample room for 750ml trade bottle, bananas, packable jackets and/or spare pair of gloves.
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The back is lower cut than the photos suggest, offering the vitals good protection from chill. As we’d expect, a silicone hem is designed to prevent annoying creep. Getting good, seamless overlap with gloves is another important feature of winter, or mid-season jerseys. Castelli has gone the double layer cuff route, which seems highly effective but without being bulky, or otherwise obvious. Much the same for the collar, high enough to retain some warmth and keep wet, soggy stuff from creeping inside.
Sizing/Fit 4.25/5
I’m not unusually tall at 1m81, but I am long limbed, broader at the shoulder than my build would suggest and short in the torso. Our large was perfect for my frame, offering ample length in the sleeves.
There’s a broad range of sizes from XS to 3XL, but unless you are very unusually proportioned, the sizing chart is equally comprehensive, taking guesswork, dare I say risk, from buying online. Fit is snug, ruling out annoying flutter but allowing full freedom of movement, although in common with the Madison Isoler Thermal Jacket long sleeved base layers resulted in annoying bunching, so I stuck to short sleeves and vest types. The low pile fleece lining is super tactile, and I’ve been riding in minus 4 without feeling chill.
Performance 4/5
Ours arrived during the second week in January-bitterly cold, with lashings of ice, freezing fog and all that good stuff. I’ll admit to being child-at-Christmas, donning it and heading out in minus 3 without referring to Castelli’s suggested temperature range. Admittedly, I’d also donned the Oxford Venture Jacket to prevent me getting blasted with wet, slushy stuff.
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That aside, I was astonished by how temperate I felt - warm and toasty but without the clamminess that can strike at a decent tempo for a sustained period. Admittedly this tends to be relatively faint and generally wicked away on cheaper garments.
​​The point I'm making here is a palpable improvement over traditional polyester weaves-even with budget base layers. I could feel the wind plucking at the outer shell mischievously but always frustrated, leaving me feeling uncharacteristically smug in my comfort.
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The cut and grippy silicone hem rules out “ride up” when hunkered low on the drops, battling headwinds, or indeed, alternating between tops, hoods and drops- even with pockets brimming. There’s plenty of scope for super zoom compact camera, 6-inch Smartphones, spare tube and compact mini-inflator. Indeed, it’s also proved a secure mounting point for LED lights.
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Though everything is very secure, there’s been no issues with retrieving stuff mid canter, even wearing midwinter “duvet” type gloves. Similar story at the sleeves - no issues with wind getting blown inside, which was particularly welcome when wearing gloves with shorter cuffs. Much the same story up top - the collar offers good defence against chill and creeping wet, without feeling intrusive when glancing about, checking over the shoulder etc. ​
Now, the durable water repelling coating. I’m glad it doesn’t engulf the jersey, thus not compromising breathability. It’s effective in the sense of getting caught out in a light, drizzly rain, sleet, or indeed snow. Bargain on 25 minutes, so for the most part it’ll buy time for you to reach for micro jacket, gilet etc.
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It has also done a decent job of keeping muddy spatter from sticking, too. If Android, or similar app has fibbed and you find yourself caught in a shower, the fleece lining will keep you warm and with a break in the clouds, dry quite promptly, so not a bad compromise.
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Moisture management and breathability have remained consistently good when conditions have thawed. OK, at ten degrees or so, there was a little faint misting around the lower back, pits and chest but it didn’t linger, vanishing as quickly as it became noticeable. If you run a bit hotter, or you’ve hit a balmy micro-climate, dropping the zipper a bit is a quick fix and again, easily done courtesy of the big, curvy zipper tag.
Care/Durability 3.75/5
Very straightforward, so long as you follow the time-honoured rules - 30-degree machine wash, minimal detergent and line (or at least allow to dry naturally). Drying times will vary but bargain on 90 minutes-2 hours at room temperature, an hour if on the line with a decent breeze and some sun. While a road garment, I’ve not shied away from hossing along bridal paths and unmade roads. Not so much as a bobble a month or so down the line. Not that I’d expect so from this end of the market, but interestingly (given I’d recently wrecked a pair of bib tights in a wintry tumble) there’s a crash replacement scheme.
Value 3.25/5
£180 as I’ve said is very much the upper end of the market and arguably this is reflected in the quality of materials, design and ultimately performance. However, there are some that could give it a good run for your hard-earned. Parentini Mossa comes in at £130 and is both waterproof, windproof and with wicking prowess of 10,000mm. It also employs three generous pockets, with a zippered fourth for valuables etc.
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DHB Aeron Softshell is £140 and features wind and water repelling front and arms. Temperature range is reckoned between 2 and 12 degrees, which arguably covers most bases. Round the back, there’s a storm flap (drop tail) to protect against rain and spray. There are two drop pockets, whereas the Espresso has three, although these also feature a storm flap. Gore Wear SPINSHIFT Thermo Long Sleeve Jersey is cheaper still at £114.99. It offers a wind and water repelling technology (although this “only” covers the core), four pockets (three traditional terraced and a side entry valuables pocket). The fleece lining is designed to retain welcome warmth while encouraging wicking. At the other end of the spectrum, Santini Adapt Multi-Jacket commands £240. Intended for temperatures between zero and ten degrees. There's a highly effective water repelling layer, waterproof zippers, three large rear pockets and a choice of four colours. We’ve not tested one, so can’t make real world comparisons.
Summary
Perfection is an extremely hard and very subjective thing to achieve, especially when it comes to garments. Some would argue the zippered valuables pocket a missed opportunity and there are designs with more extensive DWR coatings, which might be better fits. For all this, if your wallet can cope, Castelli’s Espresso Air Jacket has proven a stylish and moreover, very capable all-rounder for the cooler, changeable seasons.
Verdict: 4/5 Pricey but very capable three seasons cooler weather jersey.
Michael Stenning
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 2025
