A Guide to Castelli’s Bibshorts Range
Being a leading brand in cycling clothing for decades, Castelli made its come back into the highest level of professional cycling with its partnership with Team Sky in 2017. Since then, many cyclists are being exposed to Castelli’s extensive range of bib shorts.
For many, they all look very similar from the outside. But if you look closer, there are a lot of thoughts and technologies that go into each bib shorts.
So what are the differences and which model could suit your needs?
Before we go deeper, here are a few features and technologies about Castelli’s bibs that you should know.
- Rosso Corsa. It means racing red. Rosso Corsa or RC is an abbreviation Castelli use for their best apparels. If a piece of bib short has RC on it, you can be sure that it features all the best fabric technologies Castelli has to date.
- Progetto X2 refers to Castelli’s top-of-the-line chamois that is made from softer, dual-layer fabrics for added support.
- Kiss Air 2 is the mid-tiered chamois used in all bib shorts from entry to mid-level.
- Giro4 grippers. Castelli’s fourth iteration of leg grippers features vertical silicon strips colored in red on the inner. Usually used in mid to premium-level bib shorts.
- Giro3 grippers. An older leg gripper design used in entry to mid-level bib shorts.
Castelli’s bib shorts start from $100 and up to $260 for the premium versions.
Let’s take a look at each bib shorts model.
| Bib Shorts | Ideal For | Retail Price |
|---|---|---|
| Castelli Premio | Best quality, comfort | $260 |
| Castelli Superleggera | Hot weather, lightweight | $230 |
| Castelli Free Protect Race | Comfort, durability | $250 |
| Castelli Free Aero Race 4 | Racing, aerodynamics | $200 |
| Castelli Endurance 3 | Value for money | $160 |
| Castelli Unlimited Bibshorts | Gravel riding, bikepacking | $140 |
| Castelli Competizione | Value for money | $130 |
| Castelli Entrata | Entry level, budget option | $100 |
Castelli Premio
Now in its third iteration, the Premio Black is Castelli’s best bib shorts to date. It’s designed to provide maximum comfort and muscle support for long-distance rides. It has only three panels and made from very soft and stretchy woven fabrics. Unlike most other models, the leg grippers are cut raw and lie very flat.
- Colors : Black
- Weight : 156g (small)
- Retail Price : $260
Castelli Superleggera
Designed for hot weather, the Superleggera is Castelli’s lightest bib short to date, weighing only 141g for Large size. To bring down the weight, Castelli uses a gradient fabric design where the material gradually gets thinner further down the leg. With such thin fabrics. they’re prone to tear during crashes.
- Colors : Black
- Weight : 141g (Large)
- RRP : $236
Castelli Free Protect Race
Chris Froome requested a pair of bib shorts to give him additional protection for the Roubaix stage of the 2018 Tour de France. Castelli’s answer is the Protekt, a dual-layer side panels are reinformed by Dyneema to increase durability and provide more protection in case of crashes.
- Colors : Black
- Weight : 251g (Large)
- RRP : $250
Castelli Free Aero Race 4
The Free Aero Race 4 is Ineos Grenadiers’ go-to race bib shorts. Now in its fourth generation in the past decade, it uses Castelli’s best chamois, the Progetto X2, and has visible Vortex dimples on the sides for added aerodynamic benefits. There’s also the Giro4 leg grippers which have a greatly improved grip with a larger distribution area.
- Colors : Black, Dark Grey, Savile Blue
- Weight : 172g (Large)
- RRP : $200
Castelli Endurance 3
The Endurance 3 is Castelli’s mid-tiered bib shorts. Designed with recreational cyclists in mind, the focus is on comfort while keeping the price affordable. It features the same Progetto X2 chamois used by the pros, but an older generation Giro3 grippers together mid-tiered, Endurance Evolution fabric.
- Colors : Black, Savile Blue
- Weight : 186g (Large)
- RRP : $160
Castelli Unlimited
The Unlimited is a budget, durable bib shorts. It’s the cheaper version of the Free Protect Race bib shorts. It features the same Protekt fabrics on the sides but uses the Kiss Air 2 chamois instead of the premium Progetto X2. Designed with gravel and off-road riders in mind, there are four hidden pockets at the sides and back for additional storage.
- Colors : Black
- Weight : 200g (Large)
- RRP : $140
Castelli Competizione
The Competizione is another budget bib short designed with recreational cyclists in mind. It has the same Kiss Air 2 chamois as the Endurance 3 bib shorts, but uses a different Lycra fabric and has the newer Giro4 grippers. The side panels are textured for added aerodynamic benefits, similar to the Free Aero Race 4.
- Colors : Black, Dark Grey, Savile Blue, Military Green
- Weight : 173g (Large)
- RRP : $130
Castelli Entrata
The Entrata is Castelli’s entry-level bib shorts. Although it’s designed for budget-conscious cyclists, it still features some of the technologies in more expensive bibs. The Kiss Air 2 and Giro 3 grippers ensure that comfort is not sacrificed in place of price.
- Colors : Black, Savile Blue
- Weight : 175g (Large)
- RRP : $100
